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The New Jersey Devils have signed goaltender Keith Kinkaid to a two-year contract extension worth an average of $1.25 million per season.
The 27-year-old is coming off the best season of his career where he set new career highs in games played (27), games started (23) and save percentage (.916) while providing the Devils with solid goaltending and giving them a chance in some games they probably didn't deserve to be in.
Prior to last year, Kinkaid talked publicly about how hard he worked to get faster and more agile. Clearly, the changes he made paid off -- literally and figuratively -- as he now has a firm grip on the backup position and his NHL future is far from murky.
Had Kinkaid tested the open market, I think the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs would have been the leading candidates for his services.
The Rangers need a backup, have seen a lot of Kinkaid, and he wouldn't have to move too far to play there.
Meanwhile, the Leafs need a backup and Lou Lamoriello is the one who recruited Kinkaid to the Devils and gave him his start. Surely, reuniting with Lamoriello and playing for one of the best, most exciting, young teams in the league would have been an attractive option as well.
When all was said and done, Kinkaid received an offer he deemed suitable and elected to stay where he's at.
I think Ray Shero and co. did a nice job keeping the price down considering what some other goaltenders are being paid (the Sens strangely gave Mike Condon three years at $2.4M per).
Kinkaid is a capable backup and his teammates seem to love him so I am completely on board with keeping him around.
Scott Wedgewood can't be happy, though. Barring injury, he'll probably never get a shot with the Devils.
By the time Kinkaid's deal expires, Mackenzie Blackwood will likely be more than ready to at least handle backup duties. At least that's the hope.
Nevertheless, I like this move by Shero. Cory Schneider and Keith Kinkaid should be able to give the Devils the goaltending they need to compete on a nightly basis, especially if the defense is a little better in front of them.
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