The New Jersey Devils announced this week that they have secured the services of goaltender Jakub Malek for the next two seasons, inking him to a two‑year agreement that blends NHL and AHL guarantees.
A Two‑Way Deal with Growing Ambitions
Financial terms reveal a two‑way structure: for the 2026‑27 campaign the contract guarantees $850,000 if he remains on the NHL roster, with a $175,000 salary in the AHL, while the following year raises the NHL portion to $900,000 and the AHL floor to $275,000, the latter including a $300,000 guaranteed component.
At 24, Malek arrives after a season split between the Utica Comets of the AHL and the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL, a move that underscores his readiness for greater responsibility.
His most recent overseas stint in Finland’s Liiga with Ilves saw him post a 15‑11‑6 record, a 2.09 goals‑against average and a .910 save percentage, placing him among the league’s more reliable netminders.
Across the 2023‑24 season he compiled a 16‑4‑5 slate with a 2.32 GAA and a .915 save percentage, ranking sixth league‑wide among goalies who reached 16 wins, a testament to his consistency.
Earlier in his career he logged 22 victories in 2021‑22 with a 1.95 GAA and a .932 save percentage, earning Best Junior, Best Goaltender and All‑Star honors in the Czechia2 division.
Drafted in the seventh round of the 2021 NHL Draft, Malek remains the sole Devils goaltender selected that year and the seventh netminder taken overall, a milestone that highlights the organization’s confidence in his development.