The Latest in the Jacob Markstrom Trade Saga

The Flames goaltender continues to be at the center of trade talks around the league.

We have an update in the long-standing Jacob Markstrom trade saga.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on the 32 Thoughts Podcast that the Flames are still looking to get a deal done with their veteran netminder.

It appeared in February that Markstrom would certainly be heading to the New Jersey Devils as the two teams had a deal in place before it fell apart. Now, Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald is pursuing Markstrom once again. The Devils are considering moving the 10th overall pick in this coming draft and a Markstrom trade could center around that. 

While New Jersey has been considered the front-runners to land him, another team aggressively pursuing Markstrom is the Ottawa Senators. After signing Joonas Korpisalo to a five-year contract last offseason, the team still underperformed heavily in goal. Ottawa has been involved in goalie conversations all over the league, not just about Markstrom, but Boston's Linus Ullmark and Nashville's Juuse Saros as well. 

Friedman also reported the Toronto Maple Leafs could be involved in Markstrom talks. Of course, there is plenty of familiarity there with former Flames GM Brad Treliving now in Toronto. Treliving was the one who signed Markstrom in Calgary and could go after him again to shore up the Maple Leafs goaltending. 

While those are the named teams with interest, another dark horse could be the Carolina Hurricanes. With forward Martin Necas being shopped around and Calgary already expressing interest in him, could Markstrom be part of a Necas package? Carolina has shopped around recently for another goaltender with rumors swirling around a trade for Ullmark. Markstrom could be another option.

Flames GM Craig Conroy is not rushing to trade his Swedish netminder, but this feels like the time to cash in on him. Markstrom has already expressed his frustration not getting the prior deal done to New Jersey and appears expecting a move to be made after saying "I don't know" to where he will play next season in his post-season presser. Dustin Wolf and Dan Vladar are waiting in the wings should Markstrom depart.

Markstrom, 34, has backstopped Calgary for the past four seasons. He earned All-Star honors and finished as a runner-up for the Vezina Trophy in the 2021-22 season, posting nine shutouts. This season, he had a record of 23-23-2 with a .905 save percentage.