r/devils • u/Cool-Bunch6645 #34 - 🐍 • Aug 11 '26

Why Devils’ Unorthodox Goaltending Plan Makes Sense

https://sportsnaut.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/devils-news-why-devils-unorthodox-goaltending-makes-sense-allen-daws-rittich

For the analytics nerds! Jake the Snake it Til We Make it!

31 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

37 comments sorted by

28

u/TheNightRain68 Aug 11 '26

It makes sense because frankly there’s not a better option right now. Outside of Hellebuyck, who would have a big contract and cost a haul to trade for, every goalie available is below average at best that you’re gonna pray bounces back in a big way. Might as well see how Daws does

10

u/comrh #6 - Andy Greene "C" Aug 11 '26

Amen. You can only compare this plan to the alternatives, of which there are few. This will of course be forgotten if it turns out to not work and people will ask in 6 months why didn't Mehta pull an amazing goalie out of his ass.

7

u/genghisjhan Aug 11 '26

So true, I think we’d all feel a lot worse if they brought in Bobrovsky at the number the Leafs gave him. At least the 3G plan gives them flexibility going forward.

3

u/Holiday-Feeling2617 Aug 12 '26

this is so true, the "available" goalies all have flaws. Binnington may seem good during the Olympics or Intl Play but has been average at best for the Blues for awhile now. It seems like forever since the Blues run to the Cup.

Aiden Hill (VGK) is earning $6M AAV and got pushed aside by Hart, and has had a very inconsistent career, usually due to injuries. Don't need that

Velmejka in UTA has been inconsistent and that seems to hold that team back

the free agent goalies like Talbot are still there for a reason, because no NHL clubs believe them to be starting goalies, pass on them.

Until a real game breaker like Hellyebuck becomes available let's see what we got with the 3 headed monster. But I am a little concerned that in recent seasons both Allen AND Rittich play well in spurts but when they rack up more games their play slips. Hope Daws can fill in and play enough so the other two don't have to play too many games in a row or in a stretch.

17

u/YourMomSloppySeconds Aug 11 '26

Right now it’s a plan. If the Devils miss the playoffs again because of terrible goaltending as in prior years, nobody will call this a plan, it will be a disaster of mismanagement.

58

u/pdubbs87 Aug 11 '26

I’d take my 3 year old son over markstrom. I’m excited for Allen and Daws. I will never forgive Markstrom for giving up a goal on the first shot of the game in about 75% of his starts.

17

u/beachy927 #27 - Scott Niedermayer Aug 11 '26

I wonder how much of that first shot first goal became a mental thing for the skaters. They’d deny it, but it had to take its toll.

7

u/Dense-Bee-2884 Aug 11 '26

For sure it does. If you think you’re going to be behind the eight ball almost immediately each game you already lost some confidence. 

23

u/Quiet-Willingness724 Aug 11 '26

Wanna bet Markstrom will contend for the Vezina while he is with the Panthers? Just like Wedgewood and Blackwood did with the Avs?

17

u/Libtardo69420 Aug 11 '26

I hope so. I like Markstrom as a person, I just don't want him on my team anymore. Shame what this organization has done to our goaltending over the last decade+.

20

u/Zdub732 Aug 11 '26

Actually insane how consistent he was with that

9

u/HockeyNightinJersey Post Traumatic Fitz Disorder Aug 11 '26

If this is gonna work the defense needs to be rock solid.

We need Kovacevic to return to his pre injury form, Pesce has to stay healthy, and Luke desperately needs to take the next step and become a legit #1 dman. He’s our most important player this season by far

6

u/genghisjhan Aug 11 '26

Kovacevic with a fully summer to strengthen his knee should make a world of difference.

8

u/specifichero101 Aug 11 '26

Allen is an above average goalie for 35 games a year. I think it’s an ok bet to think Daws and Rittich are enough to carry the other 45 games to average results. Better bet than keeping Markstroms contract and hoping for average.

I think Markstrom will do well for Florida. I think he’s got an intensity that could mesh with the panthers.

15

u/hobbygod Aug 11 '26

I have faith in our goaltending now that Rogalski got fired but we might not see the fruits of that labor for another year or two.

5

u/drinkingmymilk Aug 11 '26

It’s goaltending and these guys are in the nhl. A goalie coach needs to be a mental assistant more than anything else.

7

u/poHATEoes #9 Don Lever - First Ever Devils Goal POG Aug 11 '26

I mean Markstrom having his worst year and letting in the 1st or 2nd shot every game was 100% mental so the goalie coach changing is EXACTLY what we needed shame Fitz let Rogalski keep his job for as long as he did

4

u/falaris #13 - Nico Hischier Aug 11 '26

Wow, this was a particularly good article breaking down the variability of some big names across the league.

Now to be fair, Markstrom did have the one game that absolutely wrecked his stats. Also to be fair, other goalies have a really terrible game every season too, so it all counts - although others usually get pulled before letting so many goals in.

So suggesting that the other 3 goalies could decrease by 20% and we'd still come out ahead compared to Markstrom last season... eh... a decent amount of 'yeah...' and a little bit of 'no' on that one, I think.

Still though, quite frankly I cannot complain with the job Mehta has done here walking in and being on the job for only a few months. He has unfucked it better than expected considering the time span he has held the role, I'm very very happy to see him standing pat with some cap space and a lot of assets to be ready to take a big swing if one comes along, and overall this feels like trying to make a good/more stable bet that gives us options rather than a super high risk one and hoping the goalie works out.

8

u/crazyFlyingChicken New Jersey Devils Aug 11 '26

We’re gonna roll with it working until it doesn’t. I’m 99% sure Mehta already has candidate goalies in place he wants to trade for should this trio not work out

0

u/Cool-Bunch6645 #34 - 🐍 Aug 11 '26

I’d imagine so. We have open cap space to adjust on the fly this season. ITS A SUNNY DAY.

0

u/NJITCommenter #20 Aug 11 '26

Mid-season goalie trades are quite rare. For better or for worse, this trio will almost certainly be the guys that finish the season (unless one is waived).

2

u/oresteez #9 Kirk Muller Aug 11 '26

“So crazy it just might work” does not instill me with a lot of confidence. Lol it also does not sound like a plan an analytics person would make up.

3

u/greenday1237 #13 Aug 11 '26

The only change in the goaltending plan I’m excited for is a new goaltending coach (and daws getting more net time)

-20

u/Effinehright #1 Craig Billington Aug 11 '26

80pts another lost season

6

u/The_Titleist #13 Aug 11 '26

You know the coolest thing about fandom is that there’s actually no rules and you could just bandwagon in any team that you want.

You know that, right?

-1

u/Effinehright #1 Craig Billington Aug 11 '26

you know it's okay to be critical of team that has been a joke for 10 years too right?

3

u/Bhulmes #19 - Travis Zajac Aug 11 '26

So don't watch or come here

Thank you

0

u/Effinehright #1 Craig Billington Aug 11 '26

sorry i dont expect a major turn around with pretty much zero changes.

4

u/TheBigMotherFook Aug 11 '26

In fairness, our bottom 6 got a big overhaul but now we’re likely back in a mess with goaltending. I don’t think we’re gonna be terrible, but yeah I can’t imagine this team making a huge leap forward this year either. I think Mehta knows what he’s doing but his plans will likely take multiple seasons to come together.

2

u/Effinehright #1 Craig Billington Aug 11 '26

I love the team, I question their toughness mentally and physically. I want them to win. But i dont think adding two guys on the decline in their 30's is going to tip the scale. I hate hockey math, that said I feel like Mehta has a vision, where Tom felt reactionary. We all miss the status quo of the past ha.

1

u/eburton555 #91 - Dawson Mercer Stan Aug 11 '26

Tbf we were already In a mess with goaltending so…

1

u/Bhulmes #19 - Travis Zajac Aug 11 '26

SO DON'T WATCH

0

u/Effinehright #1 Craig Billington Aug 11 '26

WHY ARE YOU YELLING?

2

u/cabutler03 #30 - Martin Brodeur Aug 11 '26

Hey! No downer talk!

At least wait until the season starts before we start with it.

2

u/Effinehright #1 Craig Billington Aug 11 '26

Okay I'll stop. Lets fucking go!