Latest news with #JacobMarkstrom
New York Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Times
NHL contract grades: Jake Allen is a solid ‘1B' for Devils at a reasonable price
Jake Allen has agreed to a five-year contract with a $1.8 million average annual value with the New Jersey Devils. It's been said for months that Allen would be the best goaltender to hit the market on July 1. That turned out to not be the case — Allen never made it to unrestricted free agency, agreeing to terms with New Jersey in the last hour of his previous contract. Allen, 34, deserved to be atop all those free-agent lists. He put up a .906 save percentage for the Devils in 31 appearances last year, which is directly in line with his career numbers. Allen's save percentage has been .905 or better in 10 of his 12 seasons. Advertisement Where he really popped in his first full season with the Devils, though, was in goals saved above expected. Allen's 19.04 were 14th in the league, a tick behind Jake Oettinger and a tick ahead of Mackenzie Blackwood. Is Allen a true-blue starter? At this point in his career, probably not. He's certainly a high-end backup, though, and miles ahead of the other options on the market. That's why seeing him stick with the Devils, where he'll once again back up Jacob Markstrom, is a bit of a surprise — even without many open starter's nets across the league. The term, in all likelihood, was the deciding factor here; five years is a long time for a goaltender in his mid-30s. Other teams might've been willing to pay Allen more in terms of AAV, but there's something to be said for certainty. Allen got that — and the Devils locked in a solid 1B at a highly reasonable price. That carries some extra value for New Jersey, given how much of an issue goaltending had been before they turned things over to Markstrom and Allen. Now, they've got two competent options for the coming season and a nice insurance policy if Markstrom (a UFA after 2025-26) has another up-and-down season. Contract grade: B+
New York Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Devils re-sign Jake Allen to 5-year deal, taking top option off weak goalie market
The Athletic has live coverage of NHL free agency. The New Jersey Devils are re-signing free agent goaltender Jake Allen to a five-year contract with a $1.8 million cap hit on Tuesday, league sources confirmed to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. Allen was arguably the best goalie in a weak free agent class for the position this summer. The 34-year-old veteran is a well-known commodity as he approaches 500 games in the NHL. He's coming off an excellent season as the Devils' backup behind Jacob Markstrom, posting a .906 save percentage and saving 19.07 goals above expected, which ranked 15th among all goalies, despite starting only 29 games. Advertisement After spending the first half of his career as a workhorse starter for the Blues, Allen has transitioned into being one of the league's most reliable backups. He showed flashes this season that he can handle a bit more workload, though. When Markstrom missed more than a month from January to early March with an injury, Allen excelled as the Devils No. 1, posting a .919 save percentage and the third-most GSAx in the league during that span. Allen is as steady as they come. His play style and temperament are calming forces behind any team on a nightly basis, and he has proven he still has good goaltending left in the tank as he approaches 35 this August. Kevin Weekes was first to report that Allen was signing the extension.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Holy smokes it's beautiful here' Bahl staying in Calgary
First, Kevin Bahl decided to stay in Calgary for the summer. Then, on Saturday, he decided to stick around with the Flames for six more years. The first choice didn't lead directly to the second, but it did make it awfully easy for the towering defenceman to simply pop in to the Saddledome to put pen-to-paper on a deal that will carry an annual cap-hit of US$5.35 million. And like so many people who have decided to settle in Calgary over the years, after a long winter, being able to see the city in the spring for the first time certainly didn't hurt his desire to stick around. 'We were hanging out the first couple weeks and like a month ago we got, like, 29 degrees and just sunny every day for a week or two and I was like 'OK, I can hang out here no problem, it's actually pretty beautiful', ' Bahl said. 'Just going to Banff and stuff, it's a nice, dry heat. 'It's like 'Holy smokes, it's beautiful here'. ' Bahl will have many more chances to enjoy the finer pleasures of Calgary over the next six years and he is going to have the opportunity to establish himself as a core piece of a young Flames blueline that it's hoped will lead the team back to contention sooner rather than later. After being acquired from the New Jersey Devils in the trade that sent Jacob Markstrom the other way last summer, Bahl didn't waste any time making an immediate impression. Still only 25-years-old, the 6-foot-6 and 230 lbs. Bahl established an easy chemistry with Rasmus Andersson and played in 73 games, recording three goals and 20 points while finishing third on the team in average ice-time, logging 21:23 per night. Those are all career highs, and Bahl isn't going to be counted on to lead the power-play or drive the offence. He's a stay-at-home type, but the Flames need those. He's also left-handed, which means you could easily see him playing alongside someone like Zayne Parekh or Hunter Brzustewicz when they break into the NHL full-time. All that makes Bahl a good fit for the Flames and as his long-term commitment signals, the feeling is mutual. 'I remember when I got traded here, it was all 'Oh, how are the Flames going to do?' ' Bahl explained. 'It was unbelievable, I came into the first meeting and I don't know anybody and I forget if it was (head coach Ryan Huska or GM Craig Conroy), but one of the first things that was said and maybe the first sentence was 'This team right here, our goal is to make the playoffs. There's nothing else in our mindset, we're going to make the playoffs.' 'Every single day during the year, it was 'We need to win every single game …' Just coming into that first meeting, I was like 'I like this'. ' For the Flames, getting Bahl signed to an extension represents an important piece of business just days before free-agency opens. His best years are ahead of him and his combination of skill and size is something the Flames just don't have elsewhere in their defensive corps. 'I think when you watch the games this year, when he wasn't in the lineup you're missing that big, heavy, long defender,' said Flames GM Craig Conroy. 'I thought his puck-play got much better as the season went along and he actually was more physical as the season went along, too. 'Sometimes you want him to be more physical at that size, but I did see that progression and I do think he's going to keep taking steps. He's still only (25)-years-old and I think the sky's the limit. To have him locked-up and be a big part of this moving forward is big.' The Flames signed Matt Coronato to a seven-year extension earlier in the spring and with Bahl now committed, Connor Zary and Morgan Frost remain the biggest names on their list of soon-to-be restricted free-agents. The spectre of an Andersson trade looms large, too, as he's entering the final year of his contract and reports indicate an extension isn't close. Bahl hasn't talked to his defensive partner about the situation. 'If he was around I'd probably want to talk to him about it, just pick his mind on it. I haven't really reached out, it's hard with something like that,' Bahl said. 'Love the guy to death, he's an amazing competitor, he's one of those guys, he's just chippy, a ratty little guy, amazing competitor and he's going to show up every day.' daustin@
New York Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Flames sign defenseman Kevin Bahl to 6-year, $32.1 million extension
The Calgary Flames have signed defenceman Kevin Bahl to a six-year contract worth $32.1 million, carrying a $5.35 million cap hit through 2031. Calgary acquired Bahl last summer as part of the Jacob Markstrom trade that also netted them a 2025 first-round pick. The Flames used that pick to select Cole Reschny at No. 18 in Friday night's first round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Advertisement The 25-year-old defenceman scored three goals and 20 points in 73 games with the Flames this season, his first full season with Calgary. Bahl averaged the third-highest time on ice among Flames skaters with 21:23, trailing MacKenzie Weegar and Rasmus Andersson. The New Westminster, B.C. native alternated between the top and second pair on the left side, while also being relied upon for penalty-killing duties. Calgary now has $19.82 million in cap space, according to PuckPedia. Rumours also continue to swirl around the Flames over the future of Andersson, who will become a free agent next summer. The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun says the Flames aren't 'close' to moving Andersson, but he remains No.1 atop fellow insider Chris Johnston's latest trade board. (Photo of Bahl: Sergei Belski / Imagn Images)
Reuters
4 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Flames D Kevin Bahl signs 6-year, $32.1M contract
June 28 - Calgary defenseman Kevin Bahl signed a six-year, $32.1 million contract on Saturday to remain with the Flames. Bahl, who turned 25 on Friday, would have become a restricted free agent next week. The 6-foot-6, 230-pound blueliner recorded 20 points (three goals, 17 assists) while averaging 21:23 of ice time in 73 games this past season, his first with the Flames. Bahl was acquired along with a 2025 first-round draft pick from the New Jersey Devils last June in exchange for goaltender Jacob Markstrom. Bahl has totaled 45 points (seven goals, 38 assists) in 221 career games with the Devils (2020-24) and Flames. --Field Level Media
