Welcome to another edition of NHL Rumours! The All-Star break has passed and the Trade Deadline looms. Trade chatter has grown louder as we enter the final stretch of the regular season. One team that has been at the forefront of trade speculation, more specifically goalie speculation, is the New Jersey Devils.
NHL Rumours
New Jersey Devils
Rumour: Kevin Weekes links the New Jersey Devils with Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins.
Analysis: If there’s a goalie on the trade market, the Devils have likely called about them. Over the weekend, Elliotte Friedman revealed that the Devils and the Calgary Flames were deep into trade talks surrounding Jacob Markstrom. However, those talks have hit a snag over the Flames willingness to retain salary.
Elliotte Friedman reports that the Calgary #Flames and #NJDevils talked about a Jacob Markstrom trade last week.
Retention and the trade return were two issues the team ran into.
📽️: Sportsnet | NHL pic.twitter.com/B3cS98ofEs
— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) February 11, 2024
Just a few days later Kevin Weekes is reporting that the Devils have interest in Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins. Around and around Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald goes as he tries to acquire a number one goalie for the team. The Devils have the third-worst save percentage in the league at 0.893 and don’t have a goalie with a positive Goals Saved Above Expected. Enter Elvis Merzlikins. The 29-year-old goalie has struggled this season and earlier in the year had discussed a “new scenario” for the goalie after being unhappy with a backup role.
Does this Make Sense?
The expensive question is if the move makes sense for the Devils. At times this season they have had statistically the worst goaltending in the entire league, to the point where it may likely cost them a playoff spot. So from that standpoint, yes, Merzlikins is an upgrade. He’s posted at 3.21 GAA and a 0.904 SV% to go along with a 1.3 GSAx. All numbers that would be best on the Devils.
However, from an acquisition perspective, it’s a move that doesn’t make much sense. While the Devils do have a little over $9 million in cap space due to Dougie Hamilton being on LTIR, Merzlikins carries a $5.4 million cap hit for another three seasons. Would Tom Fitzgerald risk the cost of acquisition AND that much cap space on a career 3.15 GAA and 0.906 SV% goalie? Also, if the main holdup in a Markstrom trade was salary retention, then that surely will be an ask by Fitzgerald in Merzlikins’ negotiations.
Main Photo Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
