[browna]

A team made a proposal for Markstrom at a certain point in time that made sense for that team. I am sure other players on this team, also not traded and also not on the block, got inquiries over the past month.

However, the Markstrom inquiry got leaked when it shouldn't have. Player didn't get approached, but t caused all sorts of angst because it did get out by a careless leak from the agent or media member on behalf of one of the sides.

Also, the price the Flames were asking didn't change or was there back and forth between Flames and Devils, it was a high price that the Devils didnt want to meet, nor did they asking price seemingly bring any other team any interest in Markstrom.
I am sure other requests for players the Flames didn't and don't want to trade, had high price tags too.

The rumor stayed in the headlines, not because there was going back and forth with that team, or because Markstrom was being shopped, but only because it was never shut down and with the Flames sell off narrative and not much other trade talk, it didn't really wither away, especially for media where speculation=clicks.

However, that doesn't mean the Flames position on Markstrom, to keep him, has changed because one team wanted him and put an offer.

As mentioned, if every Flames player that had an offer of some variety behind the scenes, they never gets out, would get done, we would have an AHL team out there plus Huberdeau.

So, the media drove this saga, from the initial leak, to keeping it alive for clicks, and fans have run with it, half assuming a trade would get done becuase the Flames would relent or ask for less (or Devil's be reckless and relent a month after the initial inquiry/offer) and then, make the false assumption/set the expectation that if a trade doesn't happen now the same trade is available in the summer, and Flames opinion will change in Markstrom, and that is basically false.

Sure, Markstrom may be traded, but it's not because he got an offer in mid February that made the Flames suddenly realize they could and should trade him and because they didn't get it done March 8th, will trade him ASAP the next time they can.