Insider Links Devils To 5 Major Goalie Trades

The New Jersey Devils are one of the teams most interested in acquiring a goalie this season. The team sent Akira Schmid down to the AHL to find his game, called up a young and inexperienced Nico Daws they shouldn't put all of their trust and investment in, and still have Vitec Vanecek who has not had a good season.

The Devils are in an interesting place with the potential to add nearly any goaltender this season. They have a lot of money available to them since Dougie Hamilton is on the LTIR, likely until after playoffs start. This is $9 million to spend this season although the team would also like to use some on finding defensive help to fill in Hamilton's role.

The more pressing need is in net for the Devils, and Elliotte Friedman lists five goalies that the Devils may show interest in. This list includes Jacob Markstrom, John Gibson, Kaapo Kahkonen, Jake Allen, and Elvis Merzlikins. The thinking behind a couple of these goalies that make a good deal of money per season is that they are much more experienced and consistent than what the Devils have. That much can be said for four of the five options, all on teams outside of the playoffs and not expected to be in. As for Kahkonen, he is a cheaper option, but has shown good things on the very weak San Jose Sharks.

There's no doubt that the Devils will be able to bring in a more expensive goalie with some term. They have to make a move to benefit them for this season and more as the rest of the team is set up nicely for deep playoff runs.