Report: Devils send Jacob Markstrom to Panthers in multi-player trade

The New Jersey Devils have traded veteran goaltender Jacob Markstrom to the Florida Panthers in a multi-player deal, according to a report by TSN’s Pierre LeBrun that was carried by Yahoo Sports. The transaction also moves Utica Comets forward Angus Crookshank to Florida as part of the exchange.

In return, New Jersey will receive forward Evan Rodrigues, along with Jesper Boqvist and Ben Steeves from the Panthers. The report characterizes the move as a package swap, rather than a straight one-for-one change, with both organizations reshaping multiple roster roles.

Markstrom, long viewed as a stabilizing presence at the NHL level, is a notable target for any contender looking to firm up the final stretch of a season and the pressure points that come with playoff hockey. For Florida, acquiring the Devils’ goaltending centerpiece indicates an emphasis on experience between the pipes, a position where continuity and workload management can determine postseason outcomes.

For New Jersey, the calculus appears to balance goaltending access and roster flexibility. By adding three forwards in exchange for Markstrom and Crookshank, the Devils can realign their mix of skill, depth, and potential match-up options. Rodrigues’ role as a forward capable of contributing across situations is one of the key reasons teams target him in trades, while the inclusion of Boqvist and Steeves suggests New Jersey also valued upside and organizational depth.

The presence of Crookshank, identified in the report as a Utica Comets forward, adds an additional layer to the deal. It indicates the Panthers were willing to look beyond the NHL roster and into New Jersey’s farm system pipeline to address their own forward needs, rather than focusing only on immediate NHL inventory.

Trades like this also tend to reverberate through a team’s internal depth chart. With new arrivals, coaching staffs must decide how to distribute minutes, define defensive responsibilities for forwards, and establish early-season chemistry. Even when players are expected to fill known roles, the first weeks after a trade frequently produce a period of adjustment as line combinations settle.

What to watch next is whether Florida’s goaltending workload and defensive structure are adjusted to maximize Markstrom’s strengths, and whether New Jersey’s incoming forwards are deployed in ways that broaden the Devils’ offensive looks. The next official roster update or transaction confirmation from team or league channels will also clarify contract details and timing, which often matter for how quickly each player can be integrated.

Because this report is not presented as an official league announcement within the available information, the trade should be treated as pending confirmation until New Jersey and Florida publish it through their standard communications. Still, the core of the move, Markstrom for a multi-player return that includes Rodrigues, Boqvist, and Steeves, is straightforward enough to already suggest major intent from both front offices.