The Calgary Flames have agreed to trade star goaltender Jacob Markstrom to the New Jersey Devils. In return, the Flames will receive defenseman Kevin Bahl and a top-10 protected 2025 draft pick.
Calgary will retain 31.25% of Markstrom's remaining contract. The veteran netminder is entering the fifth season of a six-year, $36-million deal he signed with the Flames in 2020. His cap hit for the Devils will be $4,125,000 per season.
Markstrom has been one of the top goalies in the NHL since joining Calgary and was a Vezina Trophy finalist in the 2021-22 season. Last season, he posted a .905 save percentage and a 23-23-2 record. He ranks fifth all-time among Flames goalies in games played and wins, and third in shutouts.
In a recent interview with Sportsnet's Eric Francis, Calgary GM Craig Conroy confirmed that Markstrom did not request a trade, despite persistent rumors. «It's part of the game, but it does bother me because it's always out there � there's something about the goalie all the time and I don't think it's fair to the goalie either,» Conroy stated.
Reports indicate that the Flames and Devils nearly completed a deal for Markstrom at the trade deadline, but Calgary decided to retain their top goalie following a strong performance stretch.
During his exit interview at the end of the season, Markstrom addressed his future, stating, «What I do know is I love winning hockey games. That's the competitive side of me. Every time I lace up my skates that's what I want to accomplish.»
Markstrom did not disclose details about the potential pre-deadline trade but mentioned that his relationship with the front office was not strained. «In my mind, I'm here now, so all the rambling could have been not happening,» he said, expressing frustration over mid-season trade rumors.
Kevin Bahl, 23, played in all 82 games for New Jersey last season, scoring one goal and ten points, with a plus-one rating and 82 penalty minutes. Originally a second-round pick by the Arizona Coyotes in 2018, Bahl was traded to New Jersey in a package for forward Taylor Hall in 2019. He made his NHL debut in the 2020-21 season and has since appeared in 148 career games, recording four goals and 25 points.
