NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — One of the first moves former poker player-turned-hockey executive Sunny Mehta made in his new gig as general manager of the New Jersey Devils involved trading goaltender Jacob Markstrom to his old team, the Florida Panthers.

Old boss Bill Zito made Mehta an offer he couldn't refuse.

“That was an important trade for us, the Markstrom trade, but it wasn’t for any reason of, ‘Oh my gosh, we have to trade Markstrom,'” Mehta said. “I think there was an alternate universe in which we very realistically would have and could have started the season with Markstrom on the team.”

In this universe, the Devils don't have Markstrom and instead turned the starting job over to 36-year-old Jake Allen, with longtime prospect Nico Daws and journeyman David Rittich in the mix for the backup role. And while they are among the teams that have been linked to three-time Vezina Trophy-winning goalie and 2024-25 MVP Connor Hellebuyck, Mehta expressed confidence in the team's current situation in net.

“I’m very comfortable with our goaltending,” Mehta said Thursday after the first practice sessions of training camp. “(Daws has) got a path in front of him right now. And, as I’ve told him, it’s going to be up to him to decide what to do with that opportunity. But the opportunity’s there.”

New Jersey as constructed does not have the salary cap space to fit Hellebuyck, whose trade request to get out of Winnipeg is one of the biggest storylines around the NHL, though there are ways to clear room, if needed. Buffalo was rumored to be involved in Hellebuyck trade talks in June, with San Jose and Carolina also leading the list of potential destinations for the 33-year-old who backstopped the U.S. to gold at the Olympics in Milan.

While the Jets seek a resolution to the situation, New Jersey's camp goes on with Allen, Daws and Rittich. Allen is nearly a decade removed from his prime but started 59 games over the past two seasons with a 2.71 goals-against average and .904 save percentage

“He’s been in the league for a long time,” captain Nico Hischier said. "He’s a very smart guy. And, at the end of the day, what he brings to the ice for us great. We saw it last year. He can be a really, really good goalie and just a great influence in the locker room."

Markstrom had an .883 save percentage last season, fourth worst in the league among goaltenders who made 40 or more starts. Daws, in very limited action the past two seasons, was at .925.

Sheldon Keefe, who is going into his third season as coach, called Allen a tremendous leader and teammate who will serve as a mentor of sorts for Daws, who is 25.

"He’s going to do a lot to help (Daws) prepare while also making sure that he’s taking care of his own business to make sure he’s prepared when he’s in the net," Keefe said. “It’s a great opportunity for Daws, a great opportunity for both guys. Both guys are competitive and want to play.”

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