The goaltending carousel is already spinning, and the New Jersey Devils are looking for a way off the ride. According to James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now, Devils GM Sunny Mehta is actively gauging the trade market for 36-year-old netminder Jacob Markstrom.
If you are a Devils fan, the motivation here is crystal clear. Shipping out Markstrom completely clears his $6 million AAV through the 2027-28 season from the Devils’ books. That isn’t just pocket change; that is the exact financial breathing room New Jersey needs to lock up franchise center Nico Hischier to a massive, long-term contract extension. But clearing the cap space requires finding a dance partner willing to take on a veteran goalie coming off a brutally tough year.
Our take: This is where the Utah Mammoth enter the chat. Markstrom’s age, heavy cap hit, and undeniable struggles last season have tanked his absolute trade value. Nevertheless, general managers are staring down a brutally thin summer for goaltenders in both the trade and free-agent markets. The lack of quality options means someone is going to take a chance on Markstrom bouncing back and Utah checks every single box.
Why the Utah Mammoth Are the Ideal Trade Partner for the New Jersey Devils
When you look at how GM Bill Armstrong is building the Mammoth, they are uniquely positioned to absorb a contract that other contenders would run from. Utah has the cap space that New Jersey desperately needs to offload, and more importantly, they have a legitimate need for a veteran presence in the crease to stabilize their young, emerging core.
While Karel Vejmelka and Vítek Vaněček helped drag Utah to the playoffs this past season, neither has proven they can be the unquestioned number one on a team looking to make a deep postseason run. A change of scenery, specifically moving behind André Tourigny’s structured defensive system, could be the exact catalyst Markstrom needs to regain his elite form. Furthermore, because Mehta is dealing from a position of cap-relief weakness, the Mammoth wouldn’t have to surrender premium draft capital or top-tier prospects to get the deal done.
Jacob Markstrom’s Value in a Weak NHL Goalie Market
Let’s not sugarcoat it: Markstrom’s recent numbers are a red flag. He posted a 3.07 GAA and a .883 SV% last season. However, when the alternative is overpaying a mid-tier free agent for five years, acquiring Markstrom for two years at a potential retained salary becomes a highly attractive stopgap measure for a team like Utah.
Utah can leverage New Jersey’s desperation for Nico Hischier’s cap space into acquiring a veteran starter at a discount. It is a calculated risk, but in today’s NHL, finding a true number-one goaltender almost always requires a leap of faith.
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