New Jersey Devils goaltender Jake Allen is an Unrestricted Free Agent and is going to get interest from many teams this summer. The NJ Devils are going to be tight against the cap with many roster holes to address. How should the Devils approach this? Is it time to give Nico Daws his chance in the backup role?
I discuss all of this and more in this video.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
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40 Comments
Agreed on all points here. The plan was always to keep Allen for this season and bring in Daws. Allen had a solid season, sure, but he's not guaranteed to play just as well this season. So people concerned over the risk of whether or not Daws can fill that backup spot need to bear in mind that there's just as much risk hoping Allen will replicate his play from this season, except he's going to cost more than Daws. At least Daws has more NHL experience than most guys you're trying to bring into the lineup. I like Allen, but NJ can't afford to keep him. Simple as that. The focus has to be on clearing out some cap space and fill the holes that are a priority.
What would you think about adding physical LW Mason Marchment to the devils because Dallas is so cap tight.
Also, what do you think of this Robertson mock trade? I think the rumor that he is on the block is BS, but if we sent Hamilton over, Dallas gets their top pair RD they desperately need and the devils create room for nemec/casey. We could also send them a 2026 first and take on a contract such as Dumba's to make the cap work for dallas. Fixing a lot of issues for both teams in one trade.
Agree with everything you’re saying. I’m sorry to say, but this is where we free up cap space as you’re saying. If you like Allen we can’t pay him fairly. Although Daws doesn’t have the experience, he also has Marky to learn under, which will be beneficial because as you said someone is going to have to take over when Marky hangs them up. Yegorov may take the net from Daws, but “proper planning…” Of course with our idiot owners who knows what will happen.
No problem at all Marky and Daws. Is a solid plan. It’s time to see if Daws is legit it’s time. It’s time to buy out Hala. And trade pallat. Trade him and Mercer too somewhere and that’s 10 extra mil not with whatever they bring back. I’d honestly make room and go after Marner. Omg boooo I know. But Keefe loves his guys, loved Marner and I believe it could be a thing here no one is talking about. 13m x 3-4 mill he’s gonna take a bridge and wait for cap to go up id take that swing if could be done.
As The Rocks says, It doesnt matter what we think!
Plan? There is no pla, Ace. We have Tom Fitzgerald as a GM.
Jake Allen played much better than expected and extensively saved the playoffs hopes for thr Devils in 2024.
Allen who seemed washed just 2 seasons ago has now earned himself another season or two as a backup for some one else.
Fitzgerald the goof, gave Daws a new one way deal. So regardless , Allen is out.
Plan? The NJ minor system is bone dry. We have a few defensive prospects, zero forwards aside from the Finn with the funny name, Poulter, and a kid in BU.
The minors have no talent, most especially at forward. The team is nowhere close to a Stanley Cup and this team is cap strapped and the foundation is all locked up for years.
Fitz "we came in second" at the deadline truly has NO PLAN.
This is same GM who got Lindy fired a season after setting the club points record all because he refused to sign a legitimate goaltender.
FItz blows. There is no plan. Allen is gone.
It’s definitely time for Nico Daws, not only does it help us with the cap but he gets to develop directly with a veteran and more importantly vocal goaltender who’d be willing to help finish Daws’ development into a strong starting option
I agree i like robertson hes gona give you 30-40 goals a year even though hes a bigger guy he dosent play with the edge give me a brad marchand in my top six everyday
Marchys projected at 2 years 5 mil now the numbers prob going up cuz hes playing his bag off in the finals either way i dont think hed come to nj
Daws should get the shot for sure. If he does not work out give Yegorov a shot. Need to get a younger goalie ready to replace Markstrom in the next few years. Hats off to you for handling some of the gloom and doomers so civilly in the comment section. Swear some of them could give a person a brain bleed reading their spiels. Lets Go Devils!
I agree, I really like Allen and think he did great for us in his role, but we shouldn't be spending that much extra cap on a position we technically already can handle in house. That being said, just as insurance, maybe there's a journeyman veteran (Reimer, Dreidger, Lyon) who we could sign on at or near league minimum as a third string goalie that we can bury in Utica in case one of/both Markstrom and Daws get hurt would be good too. Just based on our team's injury luck.
If the analytics nerds weren’t in charge, backups wouldn’t be as important. Sadly they are 🙁
I tagged you on twitter to a YT video link btw.
The playoffs — especially the Final Four — proved how critical it is to have a real and reliable #1 goalie. Devils are not going far without a real and reliable goalie. Alexander Holtz sadly was a bust and the Devils should have drafted Yaroslav Askarov instead. We see now that Fitzgerald waited too long to fire Lindy Ruff and to get a real goalie. I sense that the Quinn Hughes talk is clickbait hype. The roster must change and improve.
I saw something recently online that said Jake Allen communicated his desire to the Devils that he wants to stay on the team and that he enjoys playing here in Jersey. I think he might be back next season and we might have to wait a bit longer for Daws to get his turn in the backup role.
Agreed completely. Allen served his purpose..gave Daws another season to develop in the AHL, but Daws has shown he is capable of making that next step. Thank you for your service, Allen…but we need forward help…BADLY
I really hope Daws gets his chance . It may be very discouraging for a young player to make it to the big team at rare occasions , perform very well and to be demoted back . Same applies to Casey .
I agree with you about Jake Allen. I still think our off season will amount to nothing. Our management is not clever enough.to make any kind any good moves.
Im with you Ace. Gotta be daws for every reason you mentioned and eventually we get Yegorov in the works. This to me seems objective. Lets go devils!!
Would love to keep Allen, but you're right – they can't keep him without moving ppl. Haula and Palat may get bought out, but the money saving moves will be Daws at 1B, Gritsyuk hopefully sticking as a winger. Getting Luke's extension done will give more clarity. I wouldn't move Dougie for another year, but they will have to move him in 2026 or 2027 imo.
Daws doesn't even break the top 50 AHL goaltenders in GAA and Save %. Poulter isn't much better. If Markstrom goes down, we'll be left with 2 mid Ahl goalies as our duo. We know where that road leads… With retention, we're only paying Marky 4 million. If we can get Allen for 3 million or under that would put us middle of the league in goalie salary and top of the league in goalie performance. If Allen truly wants to be here, I'd do that deal all day.
I saw a channel that called Sam Bennett "the king of Accidentally on Purpose." 😂😂😂
I don't think that Allen comes back. I think Daws will be the backup starting next season.
Ace you’re looking lean, mean, edgier and more violent.😄👏 no recent devils games buffet.😄
UFC Devs gear is fire love it
Great video. Agree with all your takes, and this time Fitz needs to instead focus on getting high goal scoring forwards rather than heavy and slow ones. (Not including skill and grit cause having a Sam Reignhart type would be incredible) and as much as like Mitch Marner would be nice, it’s now time for us to take the next step IN the playoffs, we need a playoff performer
Only thing I care about is Wins, if it’s Allen as backup or daws I don’t care
I love Brad Marchand. I wish we could get him, he’s insane in the playoffs like it’s incredible to watch.
I agree with what you're saying. My only concern is what if daws or marky goes out for any amount of time, especially late in the season.
Issac Poulter is damn good to. If he gets the coaching he'll be the Devils future.
Ace has a win now problem
I love Allen but we have so many young goalies in the pipeline. They need to develop, and with Markstrom next year, there are clearly more.pressing matters to address with Allen's money.
Big dog!! I’ve been off the grid for a bit. Hopefully the NJ summer is treating you good. Great stuff as always. Had no faith in Allen rolling into this past season. The dude proved me wrong. Daws in that Pittsburgh shootout was insane. LGD!
I’m fine with Marky & Daws next season.
🎉 Congrats on getting to 7K subscribers
I hear you talk a lot about the Devils being up against the CAP, up against the CAP……. If we are up against the CAP and we are an Average team according to Fitz, who's fault is it and who's getting too much of the budget ?? And does this Average team fall back on the owners ???
They can’t afford Jake Allen. He was a great surprise. It’s time for Nico Daws. They should sign a cheap vet that can goto Utica. They’ll be Plenty of guys available (Husso, Samsonov, Lyon, Driedger, Kahkonen) I’d love Kahkonen back as insurance.
Sad but true. Love ya Jake, but good luck. 🙁
Hey Ace congrats on 7K bro bro! It should be way more but we’re a damn small market team 😂 who’ve won 3 Cups 👏
Totally agree with you Ace, Markstrom/Dawes needs to be next season’s tandem! That way we can smoothly move in Poulter and Yegorov to see if they’re better than Dawes
Let’s get the likes up boys, 100 ain’t cutting it at 800 views, we need 2 to 300 more 🏒 LGD
Not much of a dilemma, imo. He is/was great and should be paid. Unless it's coffee change and pocket lint, it's likely too much. This is a prove it year for everyone else. Give Marky the majority of starts (like Marty had, but probably not that extreme) and see if he can earn another contract here. If not, you tried. Let Daws prove he is a backup at least. If he outperforms Marky, you reflect it in next years contract. If not, you either pay Marky and groom a backup solution or look elsewhere again. They need some contract magic, especially with the amount of defense, to fix their offense. But goaltending isn't the problem area.
Please tell me that you all saw that insane hilarious look Jonah Gadjovich had on his face after his Game#3 fight with Darnell Nurse.😂😂 Hockey teams need to have a few psychos like Gadjovich on their roster.😂😂