[sureLoss]

LeBrun has a behind the scenes look at how the Markstrom trade came together (paywall)

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/577...shared_article

Fitzgerald used the number of available netminders to his advantage, saying he talked to “as many teams as possible” to leverage the Devils’ situation.

Still, there was some urgency to the Devils’ pursuit. Aside from goaltending being a glaring hole on a roster full of young talent, Fitzgerald wanted to know how much salary-cap space he’d have to make other moves in free agency. He says he would have been willing to take Markström’s whole $6 million cap hit at the deadline — he’d have had time to adjust the books accordingly — but by the offseason, that option was gone.

“Once the deadline came and went, I was adamant there was going to be a reduction in his salary,” he says.

Though Morris says Markström never strayed from wanting to be in New Jersey, the goalie began to open his mind to other possibilities early in the summer. “There were more teams interested,” Markström says.

The Devils remained the prime fit, though.

With Calgary and New Jersey’s seasons complete, Fitzgerald re-engaged in talks with Conroy during the playoffs. The worst-case scenario for Conroy was other teams making moves before him, then Calgary ending up without a landing spot for a goalie who wanted out. The Flames deemed it time to make the trade, even if the return was less than they originally envisioned.