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Buyer’s Remorse? Devils Should Lessen Markstrom’s Workload
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- Buyer’s Remorse? Devils Should Lessen Markstrom’s Workload
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Jacob Markstrom has not looked like the goaltender we know he can be for the New Jersey Devils .
Despite a 5-3-1 record, the underlying statistics don't look very good. He's accrued a 3.83 GAA and a .864 SV%. He also ranks 70th overall in the NHL with -4.8 saves above expected.
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So, should the Devils have buyer's remorse after they extended him to a two-year contract on Nov. 1st?
Jeff Marek joined Devils beat reporter James Nichols on the latest Devils Rink Report to discuss New Jersey's goaltending tandem and pushed back on any early concern surrounding Jacob Markstrom .
"I don't think so," Marek started. "When it comes to Jacob Markstrom, this was kind of the hallmark of Markstrom's career," Marek said. "One year he'd be a Vezina trophy candidate, and the next year he'd take a step back… But the thing about it is, when Markstrom is good, he's really good—like he's one of the top goaltenders in the NHL. I don't think that there's buyer's remorse there."
The Devils are winning games in spite of his play, and are typically able to contain the opposition as a puck possession team.
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No one is worried about the Devils making it to the playoffs. And once they get there, that's when the Devils need Markstrom to turn it on, which he typically has in the postseason. The key is timing.
"You just hope that the timing works out, that he hits that hot stride when it's playoff time, and he can help ride you to something significant in the postseason… I don't think that Devils will be having buyer's remorse this early on signing that extension," Marek continued.
When asked if Jake Allen should see an increased workload, Marek was unequivocal.
Not only is Allen providing better starts for New Jersey this season, but considering the age of both goaltenders, head coach Sheldon Keefe should probably consider less starts for Markstrom, which, by default, will give Allen a few more.
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"[Give Allen] More," Marek stated. "Let's not forget, you're looking at two 35-plus goaltenders, right? We're not looking at guys that are 27–28 years old… Jake Allen can handle it. So as long as Jake Allen can handle it, I think the smartest thing to do with older netminders is split it."
He framed it as a straightforward, playoff-focused conversation, one the Devils should consider having.
"That's just a frank conversation that you have with Jacob Markstrom. Like, 'Look, regular season is the regular season, but all of our eyes are on the playoffs, and we need both guys healthy and happy and ready to go.' Allen will have zero problem with that. Allen's been great. And I don't think Jacob Markstrom will pull a Patrick Roy and insist on playing every minute of every single game unless he's getting shelled nine-to-one at the Forum in 1993," Marek quipped.
Bottom line from Marek: keep both veterans fresh, trust the process with Markstrom, and ride the hot hand—or the rested one—into spring.
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