Devils Acquire Jacob Markstrom From The Flames…Did Tom Fitzgerald Get The Right Goalie?

Devils Acquire Jacob Markstrom From The Flames…Did Tom Fitzgerald Get The Right Goalie?

it finally happened the Devils got Jacob markstrom was this a good move by Tom fisherald and what does the future have in store we have a lot to break down in today’s episode of Locked on Devils buckle up everybody you’re locked on Devils your daily podcast on the New Jersey Devils part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day hi this is Bryce Salvador and you’re locked on devil trade Matthews scores oh Steven stepped up nailed inor got the puck what a shot the Devils win the all righty now what is up New Jersey welcome back to locked on those podcast here on locked on network I’m your host College hockey pl Play announcer Del R the pitch forks and also parttime credential Mia member Trey Matthews I said it in yesterday’s episode that I think it’s in the best interest for the Calgary Flames to part ways with Jacob markstrom and it was widely reported that the New Jersey Devils were one of the front running teams to land his Services I thought I was going to have to wait until after the Stanley Cup Final to see if something would come into fruition but lo and behold Tom fisherald got on the phone lines and he nabbed the Devils a goal in today’s episode we’ll break down the trade in more detail in the first segment we’ll look at some of the assets that the Devils had to surrender in order to get marrom services and I will also give you some more background information on markstrom in general then in the second segment I will play some sound bites from markstrom’s media availability one of the more interesting things that came out recently was that Craig Conroy spoke to the media and he said that marrom had never requested a trade out of Calgary and he sort of felt bad for him in that instance well markstrom spoke on his relationship with Conroy and I will share that in the second segment then in the third and final segment I’ve been preaching heavily on this show that just because the Devils get a goalie it does not mean the job is finished they still have to fill out their roster especially since they sacrificed a defenseman and defense was one of the bigger issues for New Jersey last season the same can be said for their goal tending but if you only fix one and not the other it kind of cancels each other out and Bryce Salvador spoke on that on social media but let’s focus on something a little more positive here’s some more background information on the marrom deal courtesy of the devil’s PR team they announced that they acquired marrom from the Flames yesterday in exchange for Kevin B their first round selection in the 2025 NHL draft top 10 protected and that is crucial Calgary will be retaining 31.25% of Mark’s remaining contract he has this upcoming season and next season remaining markom joins New Jersey after spending parts of the last four seasons with the Calgary Flames he stands 6 foot6 weighs 205 pounds he had a record of 23 23 and two this past season with a 905 save percentage a 2.78 goals against average and had two shutouts in 48 games played between 2017 in 2023 marrom had played in 72% of his club’s total games 327 out of 435 something tells me he is very durable which the Devils need more of and he posted a 2.66 goals against average a 911 save percentage over that Span in 2021 2022 markr recorded a career-high 37 wins which ranked fourth in the NHL That season and posted a career best two. 22 goals against average and a 922 save percentage he also posted nine shutouts that year which led the entire NHL as he finished second in the vzna Trophy voting right behind eigor shesterkin amongst all gold tender since 2019 2020 he ranks fourth in games played 256 fourth in shutouts 17 six in save over shots against 6,594 four saves out of 7,256 shots against and six in wins 138 all right let’s break down this trade let’s look at what the Devils had to sacrifice who won this deal well I’m gonna say the Devils won this matter for more reasons than one let’s look at this from a financial standpoint the Devils have about $16 million remaining in cap space after this deal and they are paying Jacob marstrom and Jake Allen a combined 6.05 million that is a steal if you ask me because if you recall the uh Canadians retained half of Allen’s contract when he was dealt at the deadline we always talk about how the goalie Market is spread thin and sometimes teams have to break the bank in order to secure themselves a legitimate goalie not the case for Devils they have a starting capable goalie in markstrom they have a solid backup in Allen and that once again they’re only paying them a combined $ 6.05 million that’s pretty damn good if you ask me and when looking at what the Devils had to sacrifice I’m sad to see Kevin ball go he had his moments he wasn’t afraid to throw his body around I was present for his first ever career fight he had a good showing in round one of the Stanley Cup playoffs last year against the Rangers and it seemed like he had some decent upside but out of all the defenseman that potentially could have gotten dealt away he is the odd man out John Marino Yona sea thaler they have modified no trade Clauses douge Hamilton has a cap hit of $9 million for the next four seasons he also has a no movement Clause he wasn’t going anywhere shimo Nemitz and Luke Hughes the highly touted defenseman for Devils they’re not going anywhere and I know I said that Tom feral sort of has to try to keep his defense intact and just add more to it but if it meant getting a goalie at that sort of price I guess you have to make the exception in this sort of aspect and that first round selection in next year’s draft top 10 protected really that’s a win-win for New Jersey because if they have another poor performance then they can sort of tank to secure themselves a top 10 selection or if they have a good year and find themselves back in the playoffs they’re not going to care about that draft piic here’s an example what happened at around this time last year we were fast approaching the draft but no one was really talking about it for the Devils they didn’t have a first round selection due to the Teemo Meer trade and they also acquired Tyler to Foley from the Flames ironically around this time last year they also resigned Jesper brat to a lengthy extension the Devils were preoccupied with trying to build a playoff caliber roster versus just looking at the draft and a draft pick that they selected was Lenny hamino but I haven’t really heard many people talk about hamino and what his potential or his ceiling might be and he did pretty well during development camp from what I saw but it just goes to show you that if the devils are back in the playoffs they’re not really going to care about the draft and they still have their 10th overall selection this year they can either use it to select a prospect or they can use it in some other trade scenario and get another highly touted player it was rumored that Tom feral is not only looking for a goalie but he’s looking for a top six forward a bottom six forward a top four defenseman and a bottom four defenseman he’s going to have to search for a bottom four defenseman now since Kevin ball is no longer on the roster but I I think for the Flames what you’re gonna get from Kevin Ball you’re going to get a stay-at-home defenseman I don’t think ball has as much upside as Sharon goich I said for Sharon goich he’s a little inconsistent but he still has a lot of potential he can contribute on the power play the penalty kill he snags himself electrifying goals he’s pretty quick and I I said if you develop him the right way then maybe you could get something out of them I had my doubts but look what Sharon goic is doing in Calgary I don’t think that’s going to be a similar circumstance for ball I think at best he’s more of a filler defenseman type of person but he knows how to play his role that’s the one thing I’ll say and that was on full display during the Stanley Cup playoffs and he showed Snippets of it but if we’re being completely honest he took a couple steps back this year so when looking at this deal the Devils they saved themselves some money they didn’t have to sacrifice someone like Alexander Holtz for Jacob markstrom they didn’t have to sacrifice their 10th overall pick I think this was a pretty good deal for Tom Fitzgerald and I think the Devils learned their lesson from the Corey Schneider Fiasco because if that pick lands at number nine come next year then it goes back to the devils and maybe they could draft a player that reminds them of Bo Horvat but in in all honesty this is not Corey Schneider trade 2.0 what does the future hold well we’ll talk about that a little later in the episode but before we continue let me tell you about game time I’ve actually used the game time app before to purchase myself some baseball tickets recently I need to see sh Otani play in person last minute deals save up to 60% off buying last minute for sports concerts comedy theater and 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a personal level but uh you know I had players uh that I play with and and play with him and uh you know that I you always ask about what the goalie is and and then obviously we’re the we’re were the same draft and I think I think we were pick 31 and 32 if I’m not mistaken uh he was going to St Louis and I went to Florida but uh it’s it’s exciting I got a got a text from him uh T text from him already and uh you know I’m excited I think uh you know throughout my career it’s important that you know you know both goalies push each other and enjoy each other’s uh you know battle with each other and uh you know you that’s that’s how you build and you uh you become a better goalie but and you know that’s on and off the ice of uh uh making the team better too to to work together and I and I think you know Jake is a great goalie and uh you know I can’t wait to to work with him and uh and uh try to win as many games as possible I’m actually excited for it because Jake Allen performed decent second half of the year when he was Delta New Jersey and I said maybe getting a change of scenery and just getting out of Montreal was what Allan needed and now for markstrom I literally just said in the first segment he finished second in the vzna trophy race during the 2021 2022 season maybe he’s not like lenaar and actually won it but marrom is still a solid choice if you ask me and he’s durable he’s capable of playing in a lot of games and he’s been around the block before I I’m looking forward to it and now let’s look at what he had to say about his no movement clause and ultimately why did he settle with New Jersey take a listen I think yeah you you know you obviously look at the hockey perspective and uh you know that’s like do you feel like the team can win and and when that’s a yes everything else comes pretty easy and then they uh you know obviously you know New Jersey and Tom really made a push for me and that you know when when somebody wants you to come play for that team it it makes you feel good and uh you know it doesn’t take take much more more than that for me to to get excited and want to want to jump on the ship and and be a part of it and and hopefully hopefully sail it in the in the right direction I think that the the team has uh something really good going on and you know you look at the players and the the roster and the the skill set and everything they have there and then you know obviously they they really wanted they uh you know most of you guys knew they made a they made a push and it was a lot of talk throughout the year last year and uh you know nothing happened there and then uh you know this after the season uh H you know it kind of picked up again so it was uh you know obviously they they really wanted me to to come and uh it’s uh you know it’s was exciting to to join a group and a team and an organization like New Jersey Devil who who has a lot of history and uh you know I know a bunch of players who play there and and they absolutely love it so can’t wait to to make it my home if I’ve said it once I’ve said it a thousand times this Devil’s team when fully healthy they’re a very good unit and I said regardless of who’s going to be behind the bench regardless of what happens this Devil’s team they still have their core and their window is just opening I don’t think it’s going to be closing anytime soon and all they needed is just some more capable Defenders and also a legitimate goalie someone who has a better track history compared to someone like bch van kappo kinan and also Akira Schmid the playoffs are a different animal and I think Jacob marstrom and Jake Allen will be up for the challenge if the Devils do make it to the playoffs we’ll talk more about this in the third segment but for anyone who’s complaining about the deal you need to remember what the goal is going into this season all right markom also spoke on his relationship with Craig Conroy and how the trade circumstances were panning out and I found his response somewhat interesting considering what Conroy recently said in the media take a listen you know Craigs uh is is an unbelievable guy like you know and he uh uh you know for me too I you know it’s it’s a difficult position but I you know I have a I have an agent who who I trust and you know kind of let him do most of the talking for me and just you know that started last year and just let me play hockey which uh you know that helps and then uh I I got off the phone Connie called me right when it it was done today and uh you know wish me good luck so there’s uh there’s no bad blood there well it’s nice to see that markstrom didn’t hold any ill feelings towards Conroy and how they were handling a circumstance but I think it was quite evident that he wanted out of Calgary and I said the best way to predict future behavior is relevant past behavior and I didn’t care what Conroy was saying in the media the writing was on the wall Matthew kachuck no longer with the team Johnny good same thing Chris tanov Nikita zadorov Tyler tley and now Jacob markstrom and just to add on to that Sam Bennett is also with Matthew kachuck with the Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final I don’t know how Flames fans feel about Sam Bennett but I just wanted to put that out there it it hasn’t been easy in Calgary with all due respect and I think markstrom saw where the organization was heading to and I said it in the prior episode which is for the Flames they had no choice but to deal them away because the longer you sit on this trade the lower his value goes and they got a first- round draft pick albeit if the Devils absolutely have a crap show and their tanking Flames fans do not root for that otherwise that top 10 protected pick is going right back to New Jersey if they land like the fifth overall pick or or something like that but just that’s worse case scenario the point I’m just trying to say is that it’s it’s been somewhat intriguing seeing that markstrom and his name was brought up in trade circumstances the last few months and the Devils Were Somehow linked to him and they they got their guy they got a goalie and they didn’t have to break the bank to get that goalie but I’m curious to see how Calgary is gonna unfold these next few seasons but I liked markum’s answers it was nice to see that he spoke fondly of New Jersey and he also mentioned that he kept in contact were TI toley and he said that to Foley enjoyed being in New Jersey Unfortunately they just couldn’t come to an agreement with an extension and I’m sure T Foley wanted some sort of stability since he’s been a bit of a journeyman but no hard feelings between tley and New Jersey and I’m I’m glad that that he sort of enticed Mark strom’s decision to ultimately wave his no movement Clause to play with New Jersey because getting a goalie that was essential for Tom Fitzgerald okay it’s been evident that the Devils needed a goalie and now they’re sort of getting closer to where people want them to be and here’s what markom had to say about being sort of like that big puzzle piece goal tending was a need not a want it’s been an issue since Tom feral took over it’s been a revolving door and the Devils have been playing Musical chairs when it comes to goalies here’s what Marsh had to say about sort of being a big role in what the Devils need moving forward my position is uh is important goal tending is important and and I feel like uh uh you know when you’re playing on other team it’s tough to follow what’s going on you know around the league with with everything but it’s uh you know it’s an important position and I uh you know the the pressure I have on myself is every time you you lace your skates up you want to win the hockey game you want to be that Difference Maker which is a goalie you have a chance to do that every night and uh I think that uh that challenge uh you know that’s what you know gets me up every morning in the gym and it makes me want to come into the rink and work hard and uh you know try to get better and I still think that I have uh you know I still haven’t reached my uh my my top as how good I can play I still still feel like I’m learning every day and I uh I feel like this was a this was a great step all right they got a goalie that’s great but here’s what Bryce Salvador put out on social media he said with big baller being traded big baller being Kevin Ball you have to think the Devils have a big gritty dman or two next on their radar can’t go into the season with all skill and no snarl on the back end and as my buddy Jersey Joe would say colleague of mine over at pucks and pitchforks Rec curring guests on this show Kevin Ball was sort of the epitome as to what a Sasquatch player is he brings the aggressiveness he knows how to throw his body around and we saw that in the playoffs last year and yes he did take a step backwards but like I said when the Devils lost one of their defenseman no matter how good or bad it really hurt their depth in terms of who do they put in when douge Hamilton went down with his injury the Devils didn’t get any better if you ask me and a lot of people said that they would get better because douge Hamilton wasn’t good defensively at the end of the day you need a lot of depth Assets in order to have a successful roster and I I think the Devils learned that the hard way and Bryce is absolutely right the Devils need to continue to add to their blue line you just lost Kevin Ball but you got a goalie however that’s not going to be enough to get you to the cup or to get you far in the playoffs in general you need to have a collective team in front of you and if your defense is weak then good goal tending it’s just gonna go to waste I’m happy that the devil’s got Jacob marrom don’t get me wrong but the job is not finish and I hate to be that guy but it’s true the Devils really need to focus on adding more defenseman to the roster who’s going to replace Kevin Ball now I really hope it’s not Sheamus Casey that’s going to make things worse find someone in the free agency market that can bring physicality and aggressiveness or you can look in the trade market because you might find some under the radar type assets and we’ll talk more about that in a future episode but going back to Bryce’s point now that you lost Kevin Ball what does your blue line look like all right douge Hamilton Yona sea thaler John Marino shimo Nemitz and Luke Hughes you need to add a few more options to table as proven Sean thaler Marino they’re decent not spectacular but once they play their roles the correct way they really do help this Devil’s team as proven during the historic season and then Nemitz Hughes and Hamilton they’re not going to help you much defensively great offensively but it’s going to be wash rinse and repeat in terms of how many odd man rushes or open breakaways the Devils allow because those three def they’re not going to play all that aggressive they’re more focused on the offensive side of things get a defensive minded defenseman who isn’t afraid to play physical and I think Curtis mcder is going to be used as a forward more than a defenseman considering what his role was with the Devils last season all right the future plan for the Devils a lot of people are complaining saying like why didn’t they get UC Soros why didn’t they get Lena alar the reality of it is if you get UC Soros and lenaar they’re going to become ufas before you know it then you’re really gonna have to break the bank in order to keep them here and keep in mind nemit and Hughes they’re still on their entry-level contracts Dawson merer needs a contract this year and you have a few players are assigned long term and you have a few other players who are decent role players but they have a say in how they want to be utilized in trade discussion if that’s the Avenue you decide to take I’ve been heavily talking about it on this show SOS andark their contracts would have been way too expensive if the Devils wanted to resign them and that can really put them into a snap Fu this upcoming year for the Devils their goal is to get back into the playoffs two years from now we’ll see what happens but for right now with marrom and Allen get back to the playoffs and add more to your defense and get a bottom six forward and then that’s the perfect off season for New Jersey 2024 2025 playoffs or bust 2025 2026 go even further maybe you can get to the Stanley Cup I don’t know I’m not a psychic did anyone two years ago thought that the Stanley Cup Final would consist of Edmonton and Florida I don’t think so but that’s where I stand with Jacob marstrom he is getting older and he won’t be here long term but he’s a good fix to have and I don’t think people should be complaining about him all that much he’s still a very good goalie and the Devils didn’t have to sacrifice much to get his Services let me know what you guys think what do you think of Jacob markstrom are you happy with the deal if not what should the Devils have done instead I’m curious to hear your thoughts leave a comment down below if you’re watching on YouTube if you’re listening on podcast streaming service hit me up on my personal xpage app at trat 4 or the shows xpage app on Devils as’s episode that’s all the time I have for you continue to stay safe at wonderful day New Jersey go Devils I’ll catch you guys next episode thanks for listening once again

Well, it finally happened. The New Jersey Devils obtained a goalie with a respectable track history. Jacob Markstrom was acquired by the organization in exchange for Kevin Bahl, a 2025 first-round draft pick (top-10 protected), and 31.25% of his salary was retained. Markstrom led the league in shutouts during the 2021-22 season, finished second in the Vezina Trophy race, & was also an all-star. Even though getting a goalie was imperative, the job is still not finished for Tom Fitzgerald.

Interview soundbite: Jacob Markstrom (Courtesy of the New Jersey Devils)

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