The Calgary Flames and their starting goaltender Jacob Markstrom realize that there are, and have been for some time, rumours swirling about his whereabouts for the 2024-25 season. Thankfully a recent interview between General Manager Craig Conroy and Sportsnet’s Eric Francis did bring some clarity to the situation. So, let’s try to piece it all together to see what truths unravel themselves.
Jacob Markstrom is Still the Calgary Flames Starting Netminder
GM Craig Conroy wanted to get the messaging across on how he sees the situation. He told Sportsnet:
“He’s never come and said he wants out.”
Essentially, Conroy is trying to do some sort of damage control amidst all the possible trade rumours involving Markstrom.
“It does bother me because it’s always out there – there’s something about the goalie all the time and I don’t think it’s fair to the goalie either.”
This was mirroring the messaging from earlier on back as far as the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline. Now, of course, both Conroy and Markstrom know the rumours are okay in the sense that they happen all the time, and these people are professionals and need to deal with that type of rhetoric. However, it can be understandably frustrating to deal with through the process. And more so if the situation internally isn’t (or wasn’t) frayed. The rumours could cause a purely unnecessary divide between the player and the organization. This doesn’t appear to be the situation here in Calgary.
Furthermore, Markstrom does have the peace of mind knowing that he holds autonomy over where he ends up thanks to his full no-movement clause. Also, it is good for everyone to keep in mind that his $6 million-a-year deal doesn’t wrap up until the summer of 2026 when he will be 36 years old.
Markstrom Ultimately Holds the Cards
To try and see where Markstrom might fit, let’s analyze some of Markstrom’s statistics. Collectively, his stats do not paint a clear picture, which could make it difficult to predict the return on a potential trade. Moreover, he is at an age where it is very difficult for a goaltender to understand which direction he, or any goaltender under similar circumstances, is trending. On the one hand, goaltenders tend to be late bloomers. Therefore, it is plausible that he, like many goalies, is able to maintain his high level of play as he gets into his mid-to-late thirties. In contrast, his career numbers don’t necessarily jump off the page. He has a career .909 SV%, 2.72 GAA, 215-196-57 record good for a .520 win %. In addition, he still only has two post-season appearances but does have strong numbers there, with a .911 SV% in 26 games.
There is some debate about just how close Markstrom was at the trade deadline, or is even today, to being traded, perhaps to the New Jersey Devils. However, one of the stumbling blocks could very well be the (lack 0f) potential return the trading partners are willing to offer Conroy.
NHL Rumours: Maple Leafs Identify Goaltender as Upgrade in Net
What About the Rest of the Goaltending Situation in Calgary
One aspect of the likelihood of moving Markstrom is the rest of the Calgary Flame goaltending depth chart, most specifically on the readiness of young NHL prospect Dustin Wolf. Wolf was a seventh-round pick by the Flames in 2019.
Conversely, the 23-year-old has shown that he is, if not ready for the NHL, at least very close to being as ready as he will ever be. He has put up very strong statistics at the AHL level. In each of his three full seasons in the AHL, his save percentage has been a minimum of .922, playing in at least 36 games in each of those same three campaigns. His success hasn’t exactly translated to the NHL, as noted from his 2023-24 statistics with the big club. In 17 games with Calgary, he posted a .893 SV% this past season. However, you could easily point to a sub-par team in front of him.
Basically, it appears as though Conroy is sticking by Markstrom. That is especially so until Wolf is ready to claim an NHL job. Additionally, their other NHL goaltender, Dan Vladar is recovering from hip surgery. He does fully expect to be ready for September’s training camp. Therefore, Conroy does anticipate having a solid, NHL-capable goaltender in place for 2024-25.
The Direction of the Flames Does Depend on Jacob Markstrom
There is also some uncertainty in the direction of the club as a whole. Are they fighting for a 2025 NHL Stanley Cup playoff spot? Or, are they content developing their young players in a retool? You’d think with veterans like Nazem Kadri, Jonathan Huberdeau, and MacKenzie Weegar around, many of the players don’t want to wait on a rebuild or be okay with missing the playoffs. Hence, having Markstrom around would really tip the scales on whether Calgary wants to fight for a post-season spot in 2024-25, or let players, like Wolf, develop at the NHL level, at the expense of a more competitive team in this coming season.
Main photo: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
