Report: Major Move In Goal Still Coming For New Jersey Devils

We know how close the New Jersey Devils came to acquiring Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markström at the trade deadline, but it wasn't to be. Instead, they went out and got a 1B in Jake Allen from the Montréal Canadiens. But does that mean their pursuit of a pure No. 1 goalie has ended? Not by a long shot, according to insider Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic.

The Devils still aim to go out and trade for a bona fide No. 1 if possible this summer, and that includes re-engaging with the Calgary Flames on Jacob Markstrom but also investigating the situation with Nashville Predators goalie Juuse Saros and also a few other situations around the league. 

The idea here is to try to finally reel in a stud goalie and have Allen there to create a 1A-1B situation. 

Both the Flames and the Preds, it would seem, could see themselves free to deal their current top goaltender, as they each have dynamic youngsters between the pipes waiting in the wings. In Calgary, they're waiting on two-time AHL Goalie of the Year Dustin Wolf to make his big breakthrough at the NHL level, and in Nashville, Yaroslav Askarov has been dominant once again in the AHL this season, plus two impressive games with the big club as well. 

Saros still has another year left on his deal at a $5 million AAV, but if the Preds aren't going to extend him this summer, they can't risk losing him for nothing in unrestricted free agency next year. And we've seen that the best time to make a big goaltending move is in the summer, rather than at the trade deadline.

The Devils are going to try to convince Nashville and/or Calgary that the time to make a move, is this June/July. 

 Photo: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports