Veteran goaltender Jacob Markstrom made a great first impression in his debut for the New Jersey Devils, but will he make enough of a difference this season?
Markstrom was the star of the NHL’s Global Series season opener in Prague, Czech Republic, helping the Devils top the Buffalo Sabres 4-1. The 34-year-old turned away 30 of 31 shots and produced an early contender for save of the year.
With the Devils leading 2-0 and three minutes remaining in the first period, Markstrom made an outrageous stick save, denying a tap-in attempt from Sabres forward Nicholas Aube-Kubel.
After the victory, head coach Sheldon Keefe marveled at his goaltender’s performance, saying Markstrom was “great.” Likewise, he pointed out how vital his addition was this offseason by general manager Tom Fitzgerald.
“Goes without saying how important goaltending is,” Keefe said via Devils’ reporter Amanda Stein. “That’s why Fitz prioritized it this summer.”
The Devils acquired Markstrom in a trade with the Calgary Flames in July for a 2025 first-round pick and defenseman Kevin Bahl, hoping he’d upgrade a position that’s needed one for a while.
If nothing else, Markstrom will offer the Devils consistency between the pipes, which they haven’t had since Cory Schneider made 302 starts for the team from 2013-14 to 2019-20. Over the last five seasons, New Jersey has started 13 different goalies with only two recording 20-win campaigns: Vitek Vanecek (33, 2022-23) and Mackenzie Blackwood (22, 2019-20).
Conversely, Markstrom has won 22 games or more in seven consecutive seasons. During that stretch, the 14-year veteran went 179-143-45 and was one of only six netminders with at least 300 starts to post a .910 save percentage or higher and a goals-against average of 2.68 or lower, per Stathead.
It’s a long season, and one game won’t tell the story of the Devils’ remaining 81 contests. However, Markstrom’s strong first outing gives the franchise hope that its goaltending woes are behind it.
