Reports now say the New Jersey Devils came to a contract agreement with Jake Allen minutes before the start of free agency. Does it point to a slow day when it comes to the rest of the Devils’ roster?
The New Jersey Devils aimed to make significant changes this offseason following a disappointing conclusion to their season. During Sheldon Keefe’s inaugural year as head coach, he managed to guide the team to the playoffs, but they were eliminated in the first round by the Carolina Hurricanes in just five games.
Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald is eager to enhance the team’s offense and has begun creating space for that by trading Erik Haula to the Nashville Predators in exchange for a fourth-round pick, which the Predators used to select a goalie, Trenten Bennett, the tallest player in the NHL draft—an interesting choice, even if it was seen as a bit of a reach.
This brings us back to the free agency discussion, where the Devils made their first significant offseason move by signing Jake Allen to an unexpected contract.
ESPN’s Kevin Weekes was the first to report that Allen re-signed with the Devils, while Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was the one to reveal the surprisingly unexpected contract details.
Many anticipated that Allen would ask for over $ 4 million annually on a short-term deal. At 34 years old, he had the option to enter the market in hopes of securing a lucrative contract but ultimately opted for financial stability for his family. He’ll be with the Devils for the next five years—at least in terms of salary.
Securing the top goalie in a weak market, especially with teams seeking upgrades at that position, for under $ 2 million a season amidst a rising salary cap is a significant accomplishment for Fitzgerald and the Devils. The trade for Jake Allen from last season is beginning to make more sense.
What does Jake Allen trade mean for Devils’ free agency frenzy?
Surprisingly, this deal doesn’t significantly alter the Devils’ free agency strategy. After signing Allen, they have approximately $ 12 million in cap space. They need to re-sign Luke Hughes to a substantial contract, but that was always part of the plan.
Given the weak free agency class, finalizing this deal is crucial for the Devils. Last season, they relied heavily on their goaltenders to win games, and reuniting Allen with Jacob Markstrom is a major advantage. This move might require the Devils to trade Nico Daws to provide him with an opportunity elsewhere, or they can opt to carry three goalies next season. Regardless, Daws will see a salary increase next year due to his one-way contract, ensuring he earns his NHL salary no matter where he plays.
We still anticipate that the Devils will seek some depth help for their bottom six in free agency. Unless they make a big push for Brock Boeser, there aren’t any suitable top-six options available to them. To free up funds, they may need to consider trading Ondrej Palat, although it’s likely best for both parties to part ways.
The Allen deal is a clever move. We’re noticing more teams offering older players longer contracts to keep cap hits lower. A consistently increasing salary cap makes this feasible. The Allen-Markstrom duo is back, and the Devils have solid goaltending depth once more.
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