Scoring 2.76 goals per game left the New Jersey Devils outside the playoffs and 27th in the NHL. Their best forwards still created dangerous opportunities. The rest of the lineup did not finish enough chances or survive injuries well enough to keep the team in contention.
General Manager Sunny Mehta responded by changing the roster at both ends. He shipped 36-year-old goalie Jacob Markstrom and forward Angus Crookshank to Florida. New Jersey received Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist, and Ben Steeves.
Mehta then signed Anthony Mantha to a contract worth $9.5 million over two years. The winger had just scored 33 goals for Pittsburgh during the most productive season of his career.
Those moves give coach Sheldon Keefe credible options across four lines. They also remove the security of an established starting goalie. Markstrom carried an incoming $6 million cap hit, while David Rittich signed for $1 million. New Jersey chose to spend less in the crease and place more support around its skilled core.
The Devils Created Chances But Failed To Finish
New Jersey did not spend last season trapped on the perimeter. The Devils recorded 691 high-danger shots on goal, the ninth-highest total in the league. They also ranked 10th in midrange shots and eighth in long-range attempts.
Nico Hischier produced 103 high-danger shots, tied for 10th among NHL forwards. Timo Meier recorded 91, placing him in the 97th percentile. Dawson Mercer reached the 90th percentile with 69.
Those figures expose the real problem. New Jersey reached dangerous areas without converting enough opportunities.
The offense also became too fragile when its best creator disappeared. Jack Hughes underwent surgery after suffering an off-ice finger injury in November. During his first 16 missed games, New Jersey went 6 and 10. Its scoring rate fell from 3.35 goals per game with Hughes to 2.38 without him.
Hughes eventually returned and finished with 77 points in 61 games. His production reinforced his importance, but his absence revealed how quickly the attack lost its edge. A contender cannot ask one player to hold the entire scoring structure together.
The Florida Trade Gives New Jersey Defined Roles
Mehta did more than clear Markstromās contract. He imported players who understand the demands of long playoff runs.
Rodrigues arrives with 41 points in 61 postseason games and consecutive Stanley Cup championships in 2024 and 2025. He recorded 11 goals and 20 assists last season.
His value comes from flexibility. Keefe can use Rodrigues in a checking role, place him beside skilled forwards, or move him higher in the lineup when injuries strike. He gives New Jersey a veteran who can contribute without controlling the puck on every shift.
Boqvist offers speed, defensive detail, and familiarity with the organization. New Jersey drafted him in 2017 before he later helped Florida win the 2025 Stanley Cup.
His production dropped to 13 points last season, but he scored 12 goals during Floridaās championship campaign the previous year. Boqvist can provide responsible minutes, pressure defenders with his speed, and help the Devils maintain their pace deeper in the lineup.
Steeves brings a different kind of pressure. The 24-year-old scored 23 goals and produced 45 points in 72 American Hockey League games. He has not played in the NHL, but his arrival makes training camp more competitive and gives New Jersey another credible call-up option.
None of the three must become a star for the trade to work. Rodrigues needs to stabilize the lower half of the lineup. Boqvist must bring pace and responsible minutes. Steeves has to challenge established players and provide scoring cover when injuries arrive.
Mantha Brings The Finishing New Jersey Lacked
Mantha represents the clearest attempt to turn shot volume into goals. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound winger set career highs with 33 goals, 31 assists, and 64 points in 81 games for Pittsburgh. His seven power-play goals also marked his best total since the 2018 season.
New Jersey committed $4.75 million per season to that production. The contract carries risk because Mantha had never scored 30 goals before last season. Still, the Devils did not pay him to drive a line by himself. They signed him to finish chances created by Hughes, Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and the rest of a skilled forward group.
Keefe can place Mantha beside Cody Glass and Arseny Gritsyuk to give the third line a proven shooter. He can also move the winger beside Hughes or Hischier when the offense needs more size around the crease. On the power play, Mantha offers reach, a heavy shot, and a large screen that goaltenders must see around. He expects the talent surrounding him to make the transition easier, saying, āThereās so much talent that I think itās going to be an easy group to kind of fit in.ā
Mantha, Rodrigues, and Boqvist bring 108 combined NHL playoff games. Rodrigues and Boqvist also carry championship experience from Florida. That history does not guarantee success in New Jersey, but it gives the Devils more players who understand how roles shrink and details grow during the postseason.
Captain Nico Hischier has already framed the coming season around accountability rather than excuses. He said he wanted to be āpart of the solutionā because he believes the Devils have a strong team. The offseason additions now give him and the existing core more support, but they also raise the expectation that New Jersey should return to the playoffs.
The Savings Come With A Goaltending Bill
Markstrom struggled last season. He posted a 3.07 goals-against average and an .883 save percentage across 44 appearances. Moving a 36-year-old goalie after those numbers made financial sense, especially before his new contract began.
The decision still carries weight beyond the salary cap. New Jersey had spent years searching for stability in goal. Markstrom brought the experience and presence of a recognized starter, even when his performance declined.
A veteran goalie can steady a defense after a bad shift and prevent one mistake from spreading across the bench. His departure places that responsibility on a cheaper and less certain group.
Jake Allen enters the season with a $1.8 million annual cap hit. Nico Daws carries a $1.1 million figure, while Rittich agreed to a $1 million contract. Their combined annual commitment is $3.9 million, which sits $2.1 million below Markstromās individual cap hit.
The price is uncertain. Daws played only three NHL games last season and posted an .892 save percentage in 44 games with Utica. Rittich managed an .894 save percentage in 30 appearances for the Islanders. Allen owns the strongest track record of the group, but asking him to handle a major workload at 35 would create another concern.
New Jersey has made its position clear. The club believes deeper forward lines will matter more than paying heavily for one established goalie.
If Mantha and the Florida arrivals convert the chances this team already creates, the Devils should return to the playoff race. If Allen and Daws stumble, New Jersey will have traded a scoring problem for a goaltending crisis.
Mehta chose four lines over one proven starter. The Devils now have to make both ends of that gamble work.
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FAQs
Q1. Why did the Devils trade Jacob Markstrom?
A. New Jersey wanted greater forward depth and lower goaltending costs. The trade brought Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist and Ben Steeves to the Devils.
Q2. What contract did Anthony Mantha sign with New Jersey?
A. Mantha signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract. The deal carries a $4.75 million annual value.
Q3. Who are the Devils’ goalies after the Markstrom trade?
A. Jake Allen, Nico Daws and David Rittich form New Jerseyās current goaltending group.
Q4. How did the Devils offense rank last season?
A. New Jersey averaged 2.76 goals per game and ranked 27th in the NHL.
Q5. What does Evan Rodrigues bring to the Devils?
A. Rodrigues brings lineup flexibility, 41 playoff points, and experience from Floridaās 2024 and 2025 Stanley Cup championships.
Front row energy everywhere I go. Chasing championships and good times. ššāØ
