Quote:
Originally Posted by Naitix
Yes he does with retention, why? Because Flames are trading from a position of power. Flames do not need or want to trade Markstrom, but they could do it. Flames do not need Mercer, they could get a different comparable player down the line, or draft him or whatever. Flames are not competing this or next year. Devils need Markstrom, and they do not particularly need Mercer.
Devils without Markstrom, aka an elite goalie, are not making the playoffs and are wasting their contention window. Devils with Markstrom are a better team.
Ya you could trade for a different goalie but who is better that is available? You would be trading for an average goalie that you hope would solve your issue, well what if he does not, then you waste more draft capital and more years of their core.
A goalie who is playing like Markstrom is this year can win you a cup
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That's an incredibly one sided way of looking at things if you ask me. Sure, Calgary holds some leverage here, but a deal still has to work for both sides.
NJ holds significant leverage in this situation too as Mercer clearly has a much larger trade market than Markstrom. It's far easier to trade a 21 year old coming of a 27 goal season who is making under a million bucks than it is a 34 year old netminder making 6 million.
I can just as easily say that Calgary doesn't "need" Markstrom either considering the state of affairs here. That doesn't change his value, nor should it change Mercer's.
You are approaching this from a very narrow minded view that NJ must try and salvage this season, but why are you setting NJ's cup window to this year or next? You could easily make the argument that trading for Markstrom now in fact shortens their window especially given the ludicrous prices being bandied around here. They are four points out of a wildcard spot in an injury riddled year where they haven't gotten any traction. This isn't a team that's firing on all cylinders and is simply missing one piece at the moment. Overreacting and overpaying for potential short term needs is how organizations slam shut their contention periods. Why wouldn't they circle back in the summer when more option are available and the prices come down?
This is also ignoring the fact that a goaltender hasn't returned anywhere near the type of value being speculated here in who knows how long. Yes, Markstorm is currently playing at an elite level, but if anything he has shown to be inconsistent during his tenure here and has just five playoff series under his belt at 34. To pretend their isn't risk associated with this player is disingenuous.