{"id":443122,"date":"2024-06-19T08:45:42","date_gmt":"2024-06-19T12:45:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=443122"},"modified":"2024-06-19T08:28:35","modified_gmt":"2024-06-19T12:28:35","slug":"gm-craig-conroy-talks-on-calgary-flames-goaltending-situation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2024\/06\/19\/gm-craig-conroy-talks-on-calgary-flames-goaltending-situation\/","title":{"rendered":"GM Craig Conroy Talks on the Calgary Flames Goaltending Situation"},"content":{"rendered":"

The <\/span>Calgary Flames<\/span><\/a> and their starting goaltender <\/span>Jacob Markstrom<\/span><\/a> realize that there are, and have been <\/span>for some time<\/span>, rumours swirling about his whereabouts for the 2024-25 season. Thankfully a recent interview between General Manager <\/span>Craig Conroy<\/span><\/a> 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jacob Markstrom is Still the Calgary Flames Starting Netminder<\/span><\/h2>\n

GM Craig Conroy wanted to get the messaging across on how he sees the situation. <\/span>He told Sportsnet<\/span><\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n

“He’s never come and said he wants out.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Essentially, Conroy is trying to do some <\/span>sort of<\/span> damage control amidst all the possible trade rumours involving Markstrom.<\/span><\/p>\n

“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.”<\/span><\/p>\n

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 <\/span>in the sense that<\/span> 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 <\/span>a purely<\/span> unnecessary divide between the player and the organization. This doesn’t appear to be the situation here in Calgary. <\/span><\/p>\n

Furthermore, Markstrom <\/span>does have the<\/span> 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 <\/span>keep in mind<\/span> that his $6 million-a-year deal doesn’t wrap up until the summer of 2026 when he will be 36 years old.<\/span><\/p>\n

Markstrom Ultimately Holds the Cards<\/span><\/h3>\n

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 <\/span>very difficult<\/span> 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, <\/span>is able to<\/span> maintain his high level of play as he gets into his mid-to-late thirties. <\/span>In contrast<\/span>, 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is some debate about <\/span>just<\/span> how close Markstrom was at the trade deadline, or is even today, to being traded, perhaps to the <\/span>New Jersey Devils<\/span><\/a>. However, one of the stumbling blocks could very well be the (lack <\/span>0f<\/span>) potential return the trading partners are willing to offer Conroy.<\/span><\/p>\n

NHL Rumours: Maple Leafs Identify Goaltender as Upgrade in Net<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n