[Igottago]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

Markstrom is currently in a very similar position to what he was in when he was here in Vancouver. If he gives up more than two goals his team loses. When he was in Vancouver, the team was on his back, and everyone knew it. He was the team's MVP. He was their best player. The team went as Markstrom went and would go as far as he could take him. He was beloved for it. It's a big reason Calgary targeted him and inexplicable to some as to why Vancouver let him go.


But, expectations change when you are brought in from the outside. You are expected to be the solution to the problems. You don't have a fanbase that adores you as you come in. So despite the fact what he is doing hasn't changed much, what is expected of him has changed. He's paid more and he's in a results driven league. His absolute meltdown vs the Oilers in the play-offs shortened the leash. That he didn't bounce back at the start of last seasons sealed his fate with a lot of people.


Last night it wasn't that he let in a soft goal. It's that the soft goal was the third goal and the third goal against for the Flames is game over, usually no matter when it is scored. That he let in three and that the third was soft means, to some people, he didn't give the team a chance to win.

He did though. There are higher paid guys that need to be difference makers on the Flames, who aren't. Markstrom got them out of the first with a lead as the Rangers closed the period strong with some great chances. At some point the offense has to get the big goal. The 3rd goal sucked but there was plenty of time before then for someone (maybe a $10.5M player?) to make some kind of impact. Markstrom has been very good this season, he's doing his job. It's not a reasonable expectation that he be perfect. His teammates need to step up, especially the big money guys.