Evaluating Goaltending: Is Save Percentage Still Relevant for the Devils?

This season, goaltending has emerged as a critical topic of discussion for the New Jersey Devils. Despite the team’s efforts, they have struggled to secure victories with Jacob Markstrom showing signs of decline and Jake Allen relegated to backup duty despite boasting better statistics. While the entire roster has had its share of defensive lapses, the underlying issue remains clear: a goaltender must make saves, and the Devils have frequently found themselves lacking in that department.

But the question arises: are the Devils alone in grappling with these goaltending challenges? A look at the NHL’s statistics this season reveals some surprising trends. For instance, Jake Allen currently ranks tied for 16th in the league with a save percentage of .906, just a hair’s breadth behind league leader Scott Wedgewood at .916. Interestingly, even last season, when the top four goaltenders all boasted save percentages above .920, Allen’s .908 still positioned him tied for 14th. While Allen’s performance remains at the league average, the Devils as a whole continue to falter, and a significant part of that can be attributed to Markstrom’s struggles. His recent seasons have seen him plummet to tied for 29th in 2024-25 and now tied for 49th in the league, raising eyebrows given that he received a two-year contract extension from general manager Tom Fitzgerald.

As I analyze the league-wide data, I find myself questioning the effectiveness of save percentage as a measure of a goaltender’s skill. Wedgewood’s current .916 is a mere .01 lower than Anthony Stolarz’s league-leading percentage from last season, suggesting a downward trend in goaltending performance across the board. With only ten goalies currently maintaining save percentages above .910, the standard for success seems to have shifted. Historically, a starter would be expected to achieve at least a .915 to contribute to team success, but now we see that a .916 leads the league, correlating with a team that has amassed an impressive 108 points as of now. This downward trajectory prompts a reevaluation of how we assess goaltending effectiveness.

The NHL’s desire for higher-scoring games has long been evident—more goals equate to increased excitement and happier fans, provided those goals aren’t scored against their team. As teams adopt faster-paced, high-scoring strategies, the frequency of odd-man rushes and defensive lapses has risen, further complicating the goaltending landscape. With fewer goalies posting elite numbers, it raises the question: are the current goaltenders failing to make saves that their predecessors would have easily stopped? Perhaps it’s a matter of skill; one has to wonder how a goaltender as physically imposing as Markstrom can seem to play so small in the net.

To truly evaluate goaltending performance, it may be time to delve into more advanced statistics. When two goalies exhibit similar stats, it becomes challenging to discern whether the issues stem from their play or the performance of the defense in front of them. In the case of the Devils, the disparity in performance between their two goalies suggests a more significant issue with one of them. Analyzing high-danger chances versus medium and low-danger shots could provide further insight; if a goalie allows a high volume of medium or low-danger shots to enter the net, it raises serious questions about their NHL viability.

This conversation extends beyond mere opinion—it’s crucial to reconsider how we define goaltender effectiveness in today’s game. Once a straightforward metric, save percentage may no longer suffice as the primary gauge of a goalie’s value. With league-wide numbers on the decline, perhaps it’s time to establish a new benchmark for starting goalies. For the Devils, setting a specific save percentage target for their goaltenders could be a step toward addressing their ongoing struggles. If not, they risk repeating past mistakes, potentially handing out contracts to players whose performance clearly indicates a decline.

What are your thoughts on the dip in save percentages around the league? Do you believe this is an anomaly for the current season, or is it indicative of a broader trend? What save percentage should starting goalies aim for in today’s NHL? Are there better metrics available to assess goaltending performance? Share your insights in the comments below, and thank you for reading!

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.