[Rumour] Friedman: Devils and Flames have had legit discussions about Markstrom

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Bonded

I wouldn't trade Nemec for two late 1sts and neither will New Jersey

I agree it the odds are heavily against a trade like that, but I don’t know if you can necessarily just equate Markstrom and Hanifin to two late firsts. Jersey wouldn’t do two late firsts because that doesn’t help them now and their window is now. I doubt Jersey would trade any player with value for draft picks right now.

But would they trade for players that can help them now? Absolutely.

[Paulie Walnuts]

If Nemec was on the table and the issue was retention from our side, I would think the management team would go to great lengths to change whoever's mind it is to retain on the deal.

That would be franchise changing potentially to get a player like that.

[Toonage]

Given the past few trades (what we expect, what we get) I'd doubt Mercer is available. Definitely not Nemec. And you should be banned for even thinking the Devils would consider moving Luke Hughes.

[PeteMoss]

I'd say the risk of waiting until the off-season for a Markstrom team is team's tend to convince themselves goalie X will be fine. The Devils willingly went into this season with these goalies. Same with a team like Carolina.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

I'd say the risk of waiting until the off-season for a Markstrom team is team's tend to convince themselves goalie X will be fine. The Devils willingly went into this season with these goalies. Same with a team like Carolina.

Not to mention, Markstrom is playing exceptionally well this season and teams could easily talk themselves into saying yeah but what if he reverts back next season as he often does?

And teams are desperate right now. The historical return for goaltenders in the offseason is less than what's being kicked around right now. A first rounder alone is probably the best value you're going to get in the summer. If that.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Given the past few trades (what we expect, what we get) I'd doubt Mercer is available. Definitely not Nemec. And you should be banned for even thinking the Devils would consider moving Luke Hughes.

I would think that if Marky is on the table that Mercer may be available, and I've been on the "not trading Mercer" fence.

Marky has been a game changer for some time, and the type of play that can bring a team through the playoffs.

[Paulie Walnuts]

If you want until the offseason you are going to be disappointed in the return.

If we are getting good offers like a 1st plus a good prospect or a younger player who can go into the lineup right away you make that trade now if Markstrom agrees.

[Toonage]

My bet is it would be Holtz, two prospects and a 1st.

Maybe Vanecek comes back for cap reasons but as its been pointed out, the Devils don't necessarily need to worry about the cap.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

Not to mention, Markstrom is playing exceptionally well this season and teams could easily talk themselves into saying yeah but what if he reverts back next season as he often does?

I wouldn’t worry too much about this.

Markstrom is among the most consistent goalies in the league.

Since he became an NHL regular, his save percentages are:

.915
.910
.912
.912
.918
.904 - new team/new contract/weird Covid offseason/weird Covid regular season
.922 - Darryl bump
.892 - season from Hell + overload of external chaos
.916

The .892 season is the clear outlier.

[Sofa GM]

Originally Posted by Toonage

My bet is it would be Holtz, two prospects and a 1st.

Maybe Vanecek comes back for cap reasons but as its been pointed out, the Devils don't necessarily need to worry about the cap.

If the prospects are Casey and Hameenaho then you take the deal.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

I wouldn’t worry too much about this.

Markstrom is among the most consistent goalies in the league.

Since he became an NHL regular, his save percentages are:

.915
.910
.912
.912
.918
.904 - new team/new contract/weird Covid offseason/weird Covid regular season
.922 - Darryl bump
.892 - season from Hell + overload of external chaos
.916

The .892 season is the clear outlier.

Brian Elliott consistent as well when we got him and it cost a 2nd and conditional 3rd.

If the offers are firsts and prospects or young roster players now that would be a significant downgrade.

[redmile04]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

I wouldn’t worry too much about this.

Markstrom is among the most consistent goalies in the league.

Since he became an NHL regular, his save percentages are:

.915
.910
.912
.912
.918
.904 - new team/new contract/weird Covid offseason/weird Covid regular season
.922 - Darryl bump
.892 - season from Hell + overload of external chaos
.916

The .892 season is the clear outlier.

I like Markstrom and he has been amazing, but consistent is not the word to describe him. Not even close.

.918 all the way down to .904.. up to .922 and all the way down to .892 ( no excuses, he was awful) .. back up to .916.. and based on track record- next season will be a down year...

Lot of goalies/players go through things lke new teams, changes on teams, have gone through covid years as well, etc No excuses.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

I wouldn’t worry too much about this.

Markstrom is among the most consistent goalies in the league.

Since he became an NHL regular, his save percentages are:

.915
.910
.912
.912
.918
.904 - new team/new contract/weird Covid offseason/weird Covid regular season
.922 - Darryl bump
.892 - season from Hell + overload of external chaos
.916

The .892 season is the clear outlier.

The .904 was when he got injured and came back too early. Before the injury he was fine and he was also good towards the end of the season when he had fully recovered.

[HighLifeMan]

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

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.

[Matty81]

If Friedman was right on his podcast about the breaking point of a Markstrom deal being the flames unwillingness to retain salary, find that very disappointing. Hard to know for sure because he doesn't speak publicly so I try not to judge Edwards on the issue, have seen many people criticize him about it but still don't feel certain he is the problem or want to jump to conclusions there.

This does seems like a great chance to expedite your rebuild going begging based on principle though, the flames are much better served paying 3 million a season the next two years for a stud prospect or two than sitting on a declining asset.

[sureLoss]

Seravalli says that Markstrom was asked and did waive NMC for New Jersey before deal fell apart. If true that means the deal was very far along.

https://newjerseyhockeynow.com/2024/...gerald-flames/

Daily Faceoff insider, Frank Seravalli, reports that the Flames did, in fact, ask Markstrom if he would be willing to waive his no-move clause for an intended deal.

“I think the Devils and Flames were pretty far down the track on a Markstrom deal,” Servalli explained on Daily Faceoff’s Morning Cuppa Hockey. “I think it did get to his level to approve it, there were no issues there. Somehow along the way, that trade was scuttled. Don’t know how & don’t know why. But, they were pretty close to nailing it down. You would have seen Jacob Markstrom become a New Jersey Devil, I think at some point last week.”

[Toonage]

Man, that far along, I don't see how they don't reconvene and get this across the finish line.

[sureLoss]

Article also said Holtz was believed to be part of the package but didn't attribute that to a particular insider.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Toonage

My bet is it would be Holtz, two prospects and a 1st.

Maybe Vanecek comes back for cap reasons but as its been pointed out, the Devils don't necessarily need to worry about the cap.

Originally Posted by Sofa GM

If the prospects are Casey and Hameenaho then you take the deal.

If that deal were on the table and Conroy didn't take it that would be insanity. That would be the best package traded for a goaltender, probably ever in NHL history.

Not sold on Casey. Not sure his game translates to the NHL. His size is a massive detractor. Don't see how a 5'9" 165 pound defenseman survives in the NHL. Giving away 3-4" in height is one thing, but 30-40 pounds is huge. Every other asp[ect of his game would have to be god like to earn a spot on the blueline.

[Heavy Jack]

Damn… if they had that deep of a discussion on it I think there’s a chance Jersey circles back; likely retention is the wrinkle which is a tad disappointing, especially if a Mercer style player is coming back. Wolf needs to make the jump and that kind of addition in a Mercer would help this team both right now and moving forward. What a crazy rollercoaster lol.

Edit: Holtz might also be the wrinkle here, flames likely keyed in on Mercer which is a tall ask. I wonder if they come back to the table to figure this thing out.