On Friday afternoon, the New Jersey Devils announced that they will be without Jacob Markstrom for the remainder of the season. Head coach Sheldon Keefe shared the update ahead of tomorrow’s game against the Detroit Red Wings. The news also comes just one day after the club shut down defenseman Luke Hughes so he can undergo surgery and begin his offseason recovery early.
Earlier in the season, Markstrom suffered a lower-body injury and was sidelined for a few weeks in October. Now, he will miss the final three contests of the season to rest and recover from “nagging injuries,” per team reporter Amanda Stein.
#NEWS: Head coach Sheldon Keefe announced Jacob Markstrom will miss the remainder of the regular season to rest and rehab nagging injuries. pic.twitter.com/OFjfkgpfe2
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) April 10, 2026
The 36-year-old goaltender had a rocky season overall. He posted a 23-19-1 record, an .883 save percentage (SV%), and a 3.07 goals against average (GAA) — all of which mark a decline from 2024-25.
Nonetheless, Markstrom managed an end-of-season redemption, with two separate win streaks after the Winter Olympic break. Likewise, he earned his first shutout of the season after a 3-0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday.
In his absence, the Devils recalled Nico Daws from the Utica Comets. He participated in Friday morning’s practice, and Keefe told media that he is expected to start tomorrow night against the Red Wings. This marks Daws’ second NHL game of the season following a 4-1 win against the Minnesota Wild at the end of October. He has a 15-16-8 record with a .891 SV% and 2.84 GAA with the American Hockey League’s Utica Comets this season.
The Devils have dealt with countless injuries and setbacks throughout the season and will now be without their starting goaltender. Hopefully, they’ll find a way to end the season strong, despite being down a few key players.
