On Halloween, New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald signed goalie Jacob Markstrom to a two-year contract extension. Yet, roughly five months later, it’s hard to argue that Markstrom has been the Devils’ most important player, and not in a good way. Markstrom has swiftly proven incapable of doing what he was acquired to, which was provide stability behind a potential championship-caliber roster.

So due to his season-long struggles in net, the Devils have just a 0.1% playoff odds with 10 games left. The Devils traded a first-round pick and a valuable player, defenseman Kevin Bahl, to the Calgary Flames for Markstrom in hopes the veteran would shore their goaltending. After all, Markstrom finished eighth in Vezina Trophy voting in 2023-24, and the combo of Vitek Vanecek, Akira Schmid and Nico Daws teamed up to cost Lindy Ruff his job and leave the Devils 30th in save percentage (.885%) that year.

Markstrom did his job, helping the Devils make the playoffs in Year 1. But in what was set to be his walk year, Markstrom started slowly, posting a .830 save% in his first four starts before he signed the two-year, $12 million contract. The move, in theory, could have taken Markstrom’s mind off the potential uncertainty of pending free agency, especially in what could be his final contract.

Instead, the deal so far has aged like milk, even though it won’t kick in until July 2026. Markstrom ranks 52nd in save percentage (.884), 46th in goals-against average (3.09) and 55th in goals-saved above average (minus-13.02) among goalies with at least 1,000 minutes played this season. Couple that with the Devils’ 27th-ranked offense, and it’s easy to see why the Devils are 11 points out of a playoff spot with 10 games left.

The Devils’ inability to score goals will generate headlines and drive narratives about this season for years to come. If you boil it down, Jack Hughes’ devastating, and entirely preventable hand injury will be what ultimately kept the Devils out of the postseason. But Markstrom bears a large responsibility as well, mainly because Devils coach Sheldon Keefe has had almost no other choice but to use the 36-year-old in crucial games down the stretch.

Markstrom has the third-worst save percentage and GSAA among goalies with at least 40 starts, and like his peers Kevin Lankinen and Sergei Bobrovsky, Markstrom will be at home for the playoffs.

The Devils’ recent offensive uptick has masked Markstrom’s continued struggles, especially in March. Markstrom has just an .876 save percentage this month but a 6-3 record, due to the fact the Devils are averaging about four goals per game and allowing only 25.3 shots per game. Of course, goaltending can change on a year-to-year basis, so Devils fans can hope Markstrom rebounds for next season. But he and 1A goalie Jake Allen are both locked in for the foreseeable future, with only Daws and his .888 season-long AHL save percentage behind them.

That means it’ll be Allen and Markstrom in the Devils’ net in 2026-27, and it’ll be anyone’s guess if that will be good enough — in what stands to be a crucial year for the organization. Markstrom’s situation is a clear example of how a bad signing can affect an entire team, especially when it comes to such a crucial position as goaltender. The Devils will need to carefully evaluate their options for the future of their goaltending and hope that Markstrom can regain his level of play for next season. Fans are hoping the team can turn things around and become competitive in the NHL again.