Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom linked to three teams

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Cooper Godin
June 10, 2024 (7:40)

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Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom has been linked with a trade away from the Alberta-based team for months now, but could a deal be on its way in the coming weeks?

During a recent edition of the 32 Thoughts podcast, Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman revealed that the New Jersey Devils may have interest in trading for Jacob Markstrom after the two sides weren't able to get a deal done three months ago.

Prior to the trade deadline in March, the two teams were engaged in talks on a potential move, but ultimately the Devils decided to bring in Jake Allen from the Montreal Canadiens.

Friedman also mentioned a couple of other teams that he's wondering if they'd be interested in Markstrom - the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs. Markstrom is very familiar with Maple Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving, who signed him as a free agent in 2020 in Calgary. As for the Senators, they made a big commitment last summer, signing free agent goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, but after a difficult season and a sense of urgency to take the next step, Markstrom could be good fit in the nation's capital.

"It was so crazy during the regular season, Calgary is trying to do this as quietly as possible. But there's definitely something going on. I mean, New Jersey, you know anybody looking for a goalie. But a couple of teams I wonder about: Toronto - the GM in Toronto was the guy who signed Markstrom in Calgary and just on paper a Markstrom/Woll combination is a pretty good combination." Friedman said.

He added, "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, like, every conversation that involves a goalie, you have the Ottawa Senators around it."

Markstrom, 34, appeared in 48 games this season for the Flames where he had a record of 23-23-2 with a 2.78 goals against average, a .905 save percentage and two shutouts. The Galve, Sweden native has two years remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $6 million, along with a full no-movement clause, so the Calgary Flames may need to retain a bit of salary to make a trade work. It'll be interesting to see how this situation develops in the coming weeks and if the Flames are able to find a new home for their Swedish netminder.