As New Jersey discreetly examines the goalie market, Sheldon Keefe and Jacob Markstrom just posed a new question for the Devils.
Kevin Weekes’ study is the true read. This is more than random offseason noise now because the Devils are evaluating interest, even though a trade is not close.
Teams will quickly recognize Markstrom’s name. There aren’t many opportunities for clubs searching for a seasoned crease answer to land a goalie with his background. He has 2 years left on his contract, and he is 36 years old.
The first team to circle is obviously Edmonton. After Kris Knoblauch’s departure, the Oilers are already immersed in an offseason problem, and goaltending has continued to be a focal point around Connor McDavid’s time for many years. Stan Bowman should at the very least check.
Utah makes sense for a different reason. A seasoned goaltender can calm a youthful team more quickly than another little roster adjustment, and Andre Tourigny’s team is still attempting to make its climb into something real.
Anaheim should also be considered. Pat Verbeek and Joel Quenneville are attempting to get the Ducks out of the soft middle, and if they don’t want another year of ambiguity in net, a tried-and-true veteran might be useful.
Florida is a swing state, but it is not out of the question. Any club that is built to win now should give a veteran goalie some thought if one becomes available, since Paul Maurice’s team is aware of what a Cup window feels like.
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The Western fit that leaps is Los Angeles. Ken Holland is in charge of the front office, D.J. Smith is there, and the Kings are precisely the kind of club that could persuade itself into a veteran crease play if the terms are agreeable.
Ottawa is the sly one. Markstrom would give a lot of calm to a chamber that still appears youthful in significant situations, and Steve Staios and Travis Green have a club attempting to get tougher to knock out.
This has the Devils’ side too. New Jersey has a hockey incentive to investigate the market if it wants a different crease setup, since Markstrom played 44 games in 2025–26 and had an .883 save percentage and a 3.07 goals-against average.
That doesn’t imply that New Jersey is giving him up. A team attempting to gauge interest is typically attempting to learn price, fit, and timing before deciding whether this should really result in a move.
Edmonton is connected automatically. However, if this truly takes off, Utah, Anaheim, Florida, Los Angeles, and Ottawa all have a strong case. None of these are completed deals, and they are not equivalent matches. If the market for Jacob Markstrom becomes busier, they are merely the most logical teams to observe.
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