Trade Rumor: Trade talk brewing between Flames and Devils

 

Negotiations between the two teams have resumed three months after a proposed trade that would have sent Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames to the New Jersey Devils broke down.

The Flames and Devils are reportedly in talks, according to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun, who also points out that New Jersey is not the only team interested in the 34-year-old goalie.

"Those conversations with the Flames have taken up again. We know that those two teams almost had a deal done before the trade deadline earlier this season before March 8. It fell apart, but the Devils remain interested in Jacob Markstrom and as importantly, Jacob Markstrom has a full no-move, but my understanding is he's willing to go to New Jersey," LeBrun said Wednesday on SC with Jay Onrait. 

"There are other teams now that weren't there on Markstrom before the trade deadline that have now entered the picture. The Flames are getting calls from multiple teams on Markstrom, not just from the Devils... At this point in time, there's still a difference of opinion on the return, on what it should cost the Devils to get Jacob Markstrom out of Calgary and the Flames are willing to be patient in terms of having a team meet their price."

LeBrun revealed in March that the Flames' reluctance to pay Markstrom, who is under contract through 2025–2026 at a $6 million cap cost, was one of the trade's holding points. The Devils were forced to look elsewhere, getting Jake Allen from the Montreal Canadiens and moving Vitek Vanecek to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for fellow netminder Kaapo Kahkonen, despite rumors of a possible deal circulating right up until the deadline.

Markstrom caused a stir just before the deadline when he informed media that the Flames' management might have handled trade discussions about him "a lot differently."

“I think everyone in here, every player in here, I really respect them. Everything that’s been going on and not going on…how everyone in this room has handled everything, I think has been really good, you know? The whole situation and everything, am I happy about that? No, I’m not. And I think it could have been handled a lot different from up top,” Markstrom said. 

After the season, Markstrom said he didn't know whether he'd be back with the Flames, while general manager Craig Conroy said "time will tell" when asked about the goaltender's future in April. 

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman gave an update on Markstrom, who has two years remaining on his contract with a $6 million cap hit and a complete no-movement clause, during Sunday's episode of 32 Thoughts - The Podcast.
While tying Markstrom to the New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Ottawa Senators, Friedman hinted that the 34-year-old goalkeeper may be of interest to "anybody looking for a goalie."
Here's a video of Friedman discussing Markstrom with co-host Jeff Marek from Sunday's show, along with a transcript of their exchange.

Jeff Marek: The one thing that everybody wants as well, one thing everybody — well, a lot of teams, anyhow — is looking for is net-minding. So much of the conversation there has, for the past six months, I suppose, maybe longer, revolved around Jacob Markstrom and the Calgary Flames. Is there a latest on Jacob Markstrom and the Calgary Flames?

Elliotte Friedman: I think the thing here is that it was so crazy during the season. Calgary is trying to do this as quietly as possible. That’s not going to be easy. I mean, good luck with that at this time of the year. […] But they just know what a rollercoaster it was for everybody involved, including the player and themselves, and I think they’re really, really trying to avoid it. But there’s definitely something going on — I mean, New Jersey, Fitzgerald’s on record as saying he will consider moving his 10th overall pick, and I know a lot of people are looking at in goal.

A couple of other teams I wonder about there, too, anybody looking for a goalie, but a couple of teams I wonder about: Toronto, and I know deals with Toronto and Calgary are kind of complicated, but the GM in Toronto is the guy who signed Markstrom in Calgary and, just on paper, a Markstrom-[Joseph] Woll combination is a pretty good combination. So, I look at that and I say, ‘I could see why a team like Toronto would be interested in that, potentially.’ And the other team that I think is in on almost every goalie conversation is Ottawa. Now, I don’t know how Markstrom feels about that, but I was told every conversation that involves a goalie, you have to have Ottawa around it. Now, the thing about Markstrom is trading for him, he’s basically a two times $6 [million] player you’re trading for, and if your choice is trading for a goalie, especially him with that contract, or going out and signing someone in free agency that might be a bigger number, you’re very happy to take [Markstrom]. So I can understand why there’d be a lot of interest in Markstrom, but obviously a lot of people are suspecting New Jersey and there’s a few teams that suspect Toronto and Ottawa.

With a record of 23-23-2, a.905 save percentage, and a 2.78 goals-against average, Markstrom concluded the season with a strong play. Before seeing a sharp decline to a.892 save percentage the previous year, he recorded a career-best.922 save percentage in 2021–2022.

The Gavle, Sweden native has played in 483 games and has a career save percentage of.909 with a goals against average of 2.78.