After another disappointing Toronto Maple Leafs playoff loss, it's time to break up the core four forwards and that might mean moving on from Mitch Marner, who becomes a free agent at the end of the 2024-25 season. Scratch Jacob Markstrom's name off the board. According to TSN's Travis Yost and later confirmed by other hockey insiders, the New Jersey Devils have landed the starting goaltender. According to the TSN's Darren Dreger, the Flames will receive defenseman Kevin Bahl and a first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft as compensation for Markstrom. The Devils, like the Maple Leafs, were in the market for starting goaltender. However, New Jersey had a more pressing need and nearly struck a deal with the Flames back in March before it was reportedly pulled over the Flames' lack of desire to retain any of Markstom's $6 million cap hit. According the DailyFaceoff's Frank Seravalli, the Flames will retain 30 percent of Markstrom's contract in the deal. With Ilya Samsonov expected to hit the open market on July 1, the Maple Leafs are in search of a goaltender to help support Joseph Woll, who has proven himself to be capable of playing well in the NHL, despite a mounting list of injury issues that cropped up. Most recently when Woll was unable to play in Game 7 of the club's first-round series loss to the Boston Bruins back in May. Goaltenders like Laurent Brossoit have been linked as a potential tandem solution for Woll. But an established goaltender like Markstrom would have been a massive improvement in Toronto's goaltending situation. But as seen with the Devils deal, it would have cost some assets. Earlier this month, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman pondered the idea of the Leafs trying to get Markstrom but acknowledged the trickiness of the Leafs trying to do a deal with Calgary, given Toronto GM Brad Treliving's history with the Flames. Treliving departed the Flames as GM following the 2022-23 season. He was hired by Toronto to become GM of the club in May of 2023. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNTk1MTUxMDE2NDM2ODQ0/cf1808c0-6a82-4298-9049-3eb2eae105b0.jpg] Related Report: Maple Leafs and Tyler Bertuzzi Hold 'Productive Talks' But Still No Deal for Pending Free Agent [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/report-maple-leafs-and-tyler-bertuzzi-hold-productive-talks-but-still-no-deal-for-pending-free-agent] Should the Maple Leafs Consider Claiming Rangers Forward Barclay Goodrow Off Waivers? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/should-the-maple-leafs-consider-claiming-rangers-forward-barclay-goodrow-off-waivers] Top 6 Potential Picks for Maple Leafs' First-Round Selection in the 2024 NHL Draft [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/players/six-possible-first-round-candidates-for-the-maple-leafs-at-the-2024-nhl-entry-draft] News from THN.com NHL Rumor Roundup: The Latest on Pavel Buchnevich, Logan Couture and Cam Atkinson [https://thehockeynews.com/news/nhl-rumor-roundup-the-latest-on-pavel-buchnevich-logan-couture-and-cam-atkinson] Dallas Stars' Jim Nill Joins Elite Company With GM of the Year Award Win [https://thehockeynews.com/news/dallas-stars-jim-nill-joins-elite-company-with-gm-of-the-year-award-win] Opinion: Is Joe Pavelski a Hockey Hall of Famer? Sorry, But No [https://thehockeynews.com/news/is-joe-pavelski-a-hockey-hall-of-famer-sorry-but-no]
