Welcome back to NHL rumours. Each day, we look at all that is happening throughout the league. Breaking down the latest trade, signings, and roster rumours. Today, we examine a rumour from Ryan Novozinsky of NJ.com. Ryan asked Devils General Manager Tom Fitzgerald about the New Jersey Devils goaltending situation and if he would explore a trade. Fitzgerald answered “We’ll explore anything and everything. If it makes sense to keep us from overworking certain goalies or if we prefer to keep our (young goalies) in AHL.”
Asked #NJDevils GM Tom Fitzgerald today if he’d explore potential goalie trades. His response:
“We’ll explore anything and everything. If it makes sense to keep us from overworking certain goalies or if we prefer to keep our (young goalies) in AHL.”
More in my story tomorrow.
— Ryan Novozinsky (@ryannovo62) November 11, 2022
New Jersey Devils Goaltending Area of Question
If you have been paying attention to the New Jersey Devils goaltending situation this season, this report shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. The Devils have been off to an amazing start, despite poor goaltending. However, the results were something that both team and fans were hoping would turn around. What they didn’t want to see was the injuries pile up. Unfortunately, that is exactly what has happened.
Mackenzie Blackwood was announced out with an MCL sprain. That will keep him out for a while as he is currently on the injured reserve list. Tandem goalie Vitek Vanecek is also out with an injury that has not been disclosed. His doesn’t seem as serious being listed just day-to-day. Still, Vanecek isn’t even a proven starter by himself.
Currently, in the net, the Devils have Nico Daws. Daws was a solid prospect but has really struggled to find his game in the NHL. He had a very poor .893 in 25 games last season. Daws is just 21 years old, so there is lots of time to develop, but is the NHL the best place for him? They also have 22-year-old Akira Schmidt on the roster. Schmidt has played in eight total NHL games with an .849 save percentage. However, in the two games he has played this season he posted a .920. Jonathan Bernier is also on the Devils team but hasn’t played in over a year due to a hip injury.
What Are the Options?
This is where things get tough. Finding an NHL goalie can be hard regardless the time of year. What is even tougher is how New Jersey wants to approach this. Sure, it’s easy enough to say they should simply go get a guy to start games for them. James Reimer from the San Jose Sharks will be a popular name on the board this year. But what happens when Blackwood comes back? Rotating three goalies is never seen in the NHL. And the team just traded for Vanecek this summer. Not to mention, they still hope Blackwood can show he is the goalie of the future.
This may limit their options even further. New Jersey may have to make a decision about the long-term future of its net if they wish to fix it in the short term. Blackwood has struggled pretty heavily at times in his NHL career, but would they really give up on him? Possibly for the right player, but it doesn’t seem like anyone like that is available. A popular name thrown around in trade rumours is John Gibson. But Gibson hasn’t been anywhere close to his best in close to half a decade now. Spending big assets on him feels like a big risk.
Overall, the Devils decision will likely come down to the timeline on both Vanecek and Blackwood. If Vanecek can return soon, they may just ride him as the starter. But if either of them is out for a long period of time, maybe we see plans change.
Going for 8.
📺: MSGSN2, @DevilsMSGN
🎧: https://t.co/GDJDPJuw40
💻: https://t.co/eQQHFQg2bn#GetItLocked | @betwayusa pic.twitter.com/1hHoIexTS0— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) November 11, 2022
