The Devils are right to explore the trade market for Jacob Markstrom
New Jersey’s cap situation and Markstrom’s decline make this a logical course of action.
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Jacob Markstrom has not played a game on the two-year, $12 million contract extension he signed in October and the New Jersey Devils are already looking to move on.
Kevin Weekes reported that the team is testing the waters on the trade market for Markstrom.
Markstrom does have trade protection in the way of a 20-team no-trade list for this coming year.
It’s not exactly open season for the front office, but I don’t think it should come as a surprise to anybody they’re seeing what’s out there.
I highlighted Markstrom as someone Sunny Mehta might not want to bet on very shortly after he took over as GM of the Devils.
He ranked 55th in Goals Saved Above Expected over the past two seasons and was drastically out-performed by tandemmate Jake Allen both years.
Markstrom has not played up to the standards of a $6 million AAV goaltender, and it is probably in the team’s best interest to move on if possible.
The Devils begin the off-season with the 5th-lowest amount of cap space in the league, according to CapWages.
They need to re-sign Arseny Gritsyuk, add a top-6 forward, change the mix on defense, and figure out what to do with Simon Nemec.
That is going to cost money and, again, the Devils aren’t exactly flush with space. Getting off of Markstrom would give Mehta more flexibility, which he could certainly use.
While the Devils would be selling somewhat low on Markstrom, a further decline could prevent them from selling him at all.
I don’t think teams will be flooding Mehta’s inbox with quality offers but it’s certainly possible he can find a taker.
