Real reason exposed for failed Jacob Markstrom trade!

It came so close. A trade for Jacob Markstrom was almost agreed upon between the Calgary Flames and New Jersey Devils when it all fell apart. It was reported that the Devils, who need improvement in net if they want to be contenders in the future, had offered to send forward Alexander Holtz back in a trade with between $2 million and $3 million of Markstrom’s of annual cap hit retained. The netminder is being paid $8 million in actual salary this season, and $6 million in each of the next two seasons.

But according to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the deal fell through when it was expected of the Flames to retain some of that hefty salary. This won’t stop New Jersey from attempting another offer, but they know that was the original road block in the first try at a Markstrom trade:

“The New Jersey Devils are expected to circle back with the Calgary Flames and jump back into those Jacob Markstrom discussions. Terms of a trade were initially agreed upon by both General Managers, I’m told, but something broke down at the last minute – I suspect Flames ownership was not interested in paying part of Markstrom’s contract to have him play elsewhere.”

Markstrom joined the Flames back in 2020 after spending time with the Vancouver Canucks, and we could see him on the move again this season, though his contract holds a no-trade clause. While he has some say in the matter, it sounds like the Flames and general manager Craig Conroy also know what they want, and absorbing part of his cap hit isn’t in the cards. In the meantime, there is a possibility that the Devils take a closer look at Nashville Predators goalie Juuse Saros, who could end up on the move in the next 10 days.

Both Calgary and New Jersey are fighting hard for a playoff spot this season, and it looks like they’re also playing hard on the trade negotiations.

A deal could be revisited and maybe agreed upon way closer to the March 8 deadline than we might have first anticipated.

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