The Devils still have questions in goal, but the early preseason work has given them something they can actually feel good about.
Through two exhibition games, New Jersey has seen Nico Daws and David Rittich both turn in steady showings, while prospect Jakub Malek has also flashed in the net. That kind of early stability matters for a team that entered camp with plenty of uncertainty at the position.
Daws got two periods against the New York Rangers and stopped 13 of 15 shots. Rittich followed that up by turning aside 23 of 24 shots in a 2-1 win over the New York Islanders. Neither performance was perfect, but both were enough to show the Devils they have options if they need them.
The bigger picture around the position has not changed much. The Devils were already facing questions in net heading into the season, and those questions only grew after the Jacob Markstrom trade. The current setup leans on a 36-year-old Jake Allen as the main starter, with Daws, 25, expected to back him up despite still being relatively untested at the NHL level.
Still, Daws’ work against the Rangers offered a reason for optimism. He did not dominate, but he came through on the important stops and helped New Jersey come away with a 3-2 win.
The hope is that he can handle a share of the starts with Allen and give the Devils a functional tandem. How that plays out once the games count is another matter, but the preseason has at least pointed in the right direction.
Rittich fits more as insurance than a long-term answer. At 34, he can help out for a few games, but he is not the kind of goalie you want leaning on for 20 or more starts. He started 30 games last season for the New York Islanders, though that stretch was not what the team wanted, and he struggled while serving behind Vezina Trophy finalist Ilya Sorokin.
That said, he still gives New Jersey a workable fallback if Allen or Daws runs into trouble or gets hurt. It is not the cleanest solution, but it is a useful one.
Malek adds another layer. The 24-year-old goaltending prospect impressed in the two prospect games he played before preseason began, and he is expected to spend the year with the Utica Comets. Even so, he looks like another option who can give the organization depth and, if needed, handle NHL action.
That depth could matter in more than one place. The Devils are aiming to build a winning culture under general manager Sunny Mehta, and strong goaltending helps with that. A tandem that can steal games gives a team a lift and can make life easier for everyone skating in front of them.
In Utica, a Malek-Rittich pairing would be a major asset. It could give the Devils’ AHL affiliate one of the better goalie tandems in the league and help support a farm system that is not especially deep entering the season. That would be especially useful for prospects expected to spend time there, including Anton Silaev and Seamus Casey.
The Devils still do not have their goaltending situation fully sorted out. But after two preseason games and the work in camp, they can at least point to one thing with confidence: the depth in net looks better than expected. Now they just need it to carry over once the season starts.
In Other News...
Devils Already Have A Tough Bottom-Six Decision To Make
The Devils used their first preseason game to lean heavily on lower-line players and prospects, a useful early look at how the bottom of the roster might shake out before the regular season arrives. With camp still offering chances to make an impression, players such as Amadeus Lombardi have already helped add some intrigue to a group that is trying to sort out fit as much as pure talent.
Stefan Noesen looks like the likeliest player to be exposed to waivers because of roster and contract considerations, while Jesper Boqvist, acquired in an offseason trade, is another name in the mix. For New Jersey, the challenge is less about finding bodies than deciding which depth pieces best match the lineup it wants to carry into the season, and the next few preseason games should make that decision even tighter. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Fans May Be Rethinking Just How Risky That Markstrom Era Was
When Sunny Mehta took over the Devils, one of his first major moves was sending Jacob Markstrom to Florida in a deal that brought back Evan Rodrigues and Jesper Boqvist. The trade also cleared the cap room New Jersey needed to add Anthony Mantha and Luke Evangelista, giving the roster a different shape up front and signaling a clear pivot in how the team wanted to build around its goalie situation.
Markstroms preseason debut with the Panthers offered an early reminder of why that decision will be watched closely in New Jersey. The Devils, meanwhile, are heading into the season with Nico Daws, Jake Allen and David Rittich in the crease, a tandem-and-a-half arrangement that leaves the position looking very different than it did when Markstrom was still in the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Fans Get An Early Look At A Much Different Lineup
After a preseason opener that offered the usual first glimpse of October hockey, the Devils are turning quickly to a much different look against the Rangers. Sheldon Keefe is rolling out a lineup far heavier on established NHL talent this time, with Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt all set to be part of the mix as New Jersey keeps building toward opening night.
The night also brings several fresh faces to Prudential Center, including Luke Evangelista, Anthony Mantha and Evan Rodrigues. Keefe pointed to Evangelistas fit on the power play, noting the value of his right-handed shot and his ability to move the puck, and this game should give Devils fans a better sense of how those additions can change the teams feel early in the preseason. [Read more 🡒]