BREAKING: Maple Leafs to Lands One Of The Biggest And Best Weapons In Top Netminder
The Toronto Maple Leafs are in need of a goalie, and Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames has been the focus of trade rumors since this year’s deadline.
Although the Flames didn’t trade Markstrom, speculation continues about a potential deal involving several teams, including the Maple Leafs.
The Hockey News mentioned insider Elliotte Friedman’s comments about the New Jersey Devils as a possible destination for the veteran goalie. According to Friedman, the Devils are willing to offer their tenth overall pick in this year’s draft.
Another team interested in Markstrom is Ottawa. The Senators had a disappointing season, with Joonas Korpisalo failing to impress. Therefore, they might pursue Markstrom.
The Senators have the assets for a significant trade, but it’s uncertain if they are willing to part with their seventh overall pick, among other assets.
Friedman also noted that the Carolina Hurricanes might make a bold move by trading Martin Necas to Calgary. It’s rare to see star players traded for a goalie, but Calgary could do worse.
Toronto Maple Leafs Could be in On Deal for Top Netminder
This brings us to the Toronto Maple Leafs. According to Friedman, Markstrom’s familiarity with Leafs GM Brad Treliving could facilitate a trade. However, it’s uncertain if Calgary would be particularly interested in the Leafs’ 23rd overall pick in this year’s draft.
The Leafs might need to put together a package involving players like Nick Robertson, Easton Cowan, or Fraser Minten. Other teams seem to have more attractive trade assets that Calgary might prefer.
Complicating matters is the fact that the Leafs have very few draft picks next season and might be reluctant to trade away players who can contribute on affordable contracts, especially given Markstrom’s age.
Assuming Flames GM Craig Conroy finds Toronto’s offer appealing and Markstrom is willing to reunite with Treliving, a deal could happen without the Leafs being shortchanged.
Would this trade resolve the Leafs’ goaltending issues?
In the short term, it’s highly likely. At 34, Markstrom is a seasoned starter who can handle a heavy workload. Unless injured, he could easily provide around fifty starts. This is a notable improvement compared to last year’s carousel involving Ilya Samsonov, Joseph Woll, and Martin Jones.
The Leafs could use Markstrom as the primary goalie, with Woll as a backup ready to step in. However, there’s a risk given Markstrom’s age and the fact that he’s under contract for two more years, during which his performance could decline sharply.
Ultimately, acquiring Markstrom would be logical if the Leafs see the 2024-2025 season as their last major opportunity to win the Cup for a while. They could go all in and hope for the best. If they fall short again, at least they would gain cap space as Mitch Marner and John Tavares’s contracts expire.
Personally, I wouldn’t consider Markstrom a viable option. There’s no certainty that he would meet the Leafs’ needs, and the cost might not justify the risk. Perhaps Treliving could instead work some magic to convince Chris Drury to trade Igor Shesterkin for Mitch Marner.