The Calgary Flames are trying to move former Vezina Trophy runner-up Jacob Markstrom as discretely as possible, shares Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on the latest 32 Thoughts podcast. Friedman adds that the team was aware of the theatrics brought on by Markstrom’s trade rumors earlier this season. Markstrom publicly expressed his frustration with the team over his pre-Deadline speculation, amidst rumors of a pending move to the New Jersey Devils being reversed after Calgary went 9-3-0 throughout February. Markstrom posted a .928 save percentage while appearing in 10 games during the hot streak. He’d go on to post a measly .869 save percentage in 10 games following the strong stretch, floundering on a Flames lineup that went on to miss the postseason by 17 points.
The second half of season felt like an encapsulation of Markstrom’s play over the last few years – with dramatically up-and-down stretches culminating in a modest stat line. He posted 23 wins and a .905 save percentage in 48 games this year – finding the same number of wins and a stronger save percentage than he did last season, despite playing in 11 fewer games.
Markstrom has been a no-doubt starter for much of the last eight seasons, after joining the Vancouver Canucks in 2014 in the trade that sent Roberto Luongo to the Florida Panthers. Markstrom would make his first stand as a full-fledged starter in the 2017-18 season, posting 23 wins and a .912 save percentage in 60 appearances with Vancouver. He’s played in 40 or more games in every season since, totaling a .910 save percentage in 376 games. And while last season’s sub-.900 save percentage – and a tally this year that came close – have caused some to pause, it’s hard to think Markstrom isn’t bound for the lion’s share of games with whoever he may suit up for next season.
That could be the New Jersey Devils, who have Markstrom as one of their top trade targets this summer, but Friedman notes they’re not the only teams involved. Friedman specifically named the Toronto Maple Leafs as a strong candidate for trade, largely thanks to Toronto now being manned by Brad Treliving, the general manager who signed Markstrom to the six-year, $36MM contract he’s currently on with the Flames. The price of a Markstrom trade could quickly test Toronto’s budget – especially as they approach a summer with just $18.83MM in cap space and 12 pending free agents. The Leafs are also woefully juxtaposed by a Devils team willing to move the 10th-overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft for lineup improvements. That offer could be tantalizing for a Calgary team looking for a breadth of young talent. At the very least, it’s an exciting bar in a goalie market that, per Friedman, has plenty of invested teams.
Can someone please find me a time when a team traded a top 10 pick for a goalie in his age 35 season, and it worked out?
SV% last 4 years .905 .892 .922 .904
GAA last 4 years 2.78 2.92 2.22 2.68
Career playoffs 13-13 .911 2.90
He’s not the franchise he’s being made out to be.
Yes it seems unlikely; but Flames can also offer Canucks first pick so it may be more of a heady jump up, giving the Flames a better chance to get baby Iggy
He’s a starting goalie with great underlying numbers that is cost controlled for 2 more years at a good value (especially if Flames hold money). No one is talking about a franchise player here.
Markstrom at half his AAV and the Flames first round pick for Marner, who says no?
I think the Flames would say no. He’s not a Conroy/Iginla type player. Also, the Flames are not in win mode especially if they trade their starter. They would be wasting a good potential trade prospect for one possible year of his services (even if Marner agreed to the trade) would not fit what Conroy wants to do.
Sooo no!!
Marner wouldn’t agree to that potential year of turmoil.
Marner says no ,that’s who
Gotta love 32 Thoughts, the Mothership Content Teat for so many hockey sites/blogs.
Lot of excitement over an overpaid average at best old goalie.
Did you even watch hockey last year? lol
Anything the Leafs can get for marner is a win/win. Just getting rid of 50% or any % of that insane contract, a soft whiny player with no competitive bone in his body, is a win for the Leafs organization. He must go and anything of value in return is a bonus.
I’m not a Leafs fan by any means but Marner is a no doubt 1st line player who is good defensively. He may not be a tough, take the body hard nosed player but he does so many good things
Marner to Seattle for either Larsson or Borgen and maybe a draft pick or Tolvanen is a good deal for both sides. I’d love Dunn but doubt he’s on the block.
Marner to Nashville straight up for Saros is another good deal for both teams as well if Askarov is ready to take over in net.
The topic at hand however on Markstrom – NJ Devils seem like a good fit but not for the 10th overall pick alone. Calgary should want some young controllable talent from NJ. I don’t see that 10th pick going unless they can grab a strong starting goalie nobody is thinking of at the moment.
The Devils could still grab Markstrom from Calgary perhaps in return for a package of Schmid and a top prospect like Chase Stillman (Cory Stillmans son former Flame) or Dylan Wendt?)
I don’t see NJ giving up controllable young talent like Mercer, Bratt, or Hughes for a 35 year old yet #1 starter still. Perhaps Nolan Foote could be part of that deal as well?
Not Markstrom straight up of course, but maybe an Andersson and 28th pick included. Constantly, someone is questioning the 10th overall for Markstrom, which will never happen. It’s the and/plus/minus that would easily make it a good trade for both involved
Flames aren’t taking Schmid while they have Wolf as one of the top G prospects to come in a long time. At the same time, sorry flames fans but you’re not getting the 10th and a top prospect for a 35 year old declining since Edmonton broke him a couple years ago.
Nobody is talking about Utah as well who wants to make a splash, needs a goalie and defencemen. 6th pick would be difficult but not impossible
Nobody is talking about Utah because they have 2 competent, not elite but competent G’s in Ingram and Vejmelka signed for another season. Rumor is they want to add some vets to teach their young FW core and a top pair D. Content at G for the moment. The 6oa will land them a GREAT D prospect and there will likely only be 1 or 2 taken before they go in this top 10-12 heavy draft. They’ll be looking at a Marner if available, Draisaitl if he says he won’t resign, or something of the sort to hit marketing. Not a maybe upgrade with 35+ year old goalie who the Oilers broke 2 years ago.
I’m not talking alone but with pieces like maybe Mangiapane and Andersson. They have like 100 picks the next 3 years with one of the best prospect pools in the league. Trade 9th for 6th even…hold money.
To get an upper stop gap goalie to help with the growth for the next 2 years? I think it’s very possible…