It looks like the Devils have their new starting goalie.
Friday morning, the team announced that they have acquired goaltender Vitek Vanecek and the No. 46 overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft from Washington, in exchange for the Nos. 37 and 70 picks.
Vanecek finished sixth in the Calder Trophy voting as a rookie in 2020-21 after going 21-10-4 with a 2.69 GAA and .908 save percentage in 37 games (36 starts) for the Caps. Last year, he appeared in 42 games (39 starts), going 20-12-0-6 with a 2.67 GAA and .908 save percentage. He also started the first two games of the Caps’ first-round playoff series against Florida, but was benched midway through Game 2 and never returned.
The Devils selected defenseman Simon Nemec with the No. 2 overall pick on Thursday night, and in addition to the newly-acquired No. 46 pick, they will have six other picks remaining in the Draft: three fourth-rounders (Nos. 102, 110, and 126) and one each in the fifth (No. 141 overall), sixth (No. 166 overall), and seventh (No. 198 overall) rounds.
Adding Vanecek also solidifies a Devils goaltending situation that was best described last season as chaotic. Seven different netminders made multiple starts last season, as both Jonathan Bernier (hip surgery) and Mackenzie Blackwood (foot injury) missed large chunks of the season, and 2020 draft pick Nico Daws tied Blackwood for the most appearances with 25.
Vanecek is an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent, but is expected to sign a longer-term deal with the Devils.
Follow Lou DiPietro on Twitter: @LouDiPietroWFAN
Listen live to WFAN via:
Audacy App | Online Stream | Smart Speaker
Follow WFAN on Social Media:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitch