I remember that off-season quite well. Markstrom was undoubtedly the best goalie available that off-season. It was also a year after Bob got $10M per, but due to COVID and the salary cap not increasing the Flames were able to lock him up at a good number. If you remember EDM was after him too, so you prevented your rivals from getting a number 1 goalie.
At the time I was hoping they'd keep Talbot, and spend their cap on Hall/Toffoli instead. Talbot was not the problem with the Flames, but the fact that you didn't know what you were getting from your goalie night in and night out was. The last game in Dallas sealed it. Especially after Elliot, Smith, whomever ####ting the bed in big games. Management figured they wanted stability in the position instead of relying on a tandem, and they got the best guy available.
Markstrom is an amazing goalie, especially if he has time to set up. He has a hard time stopping pucks after moving side to side, but he is very good at finding pucks, stopping deflections, and he is decent on breakaways. Handling the puck is also not one of his strength.
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