Insider: Devils Have Huge Plan B If Markstrom Falls Through

By all accounts, the New Jersey Devils are continuing to try to work out a deal with the Calgary Flames to secure goaltender Jacob Markstrom, despite the problems they've encountered over the past week after seemingly having a deal done. And if the Markström trade is really dead in the water, the Devils might have a pretty big Plan B in the works.

According to hockey insider Pierre LeBrun of  The Athletic, New Jersey also has their eyes on defending Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark of the Boston Bruins:

I was also told Monday that the Devils have looked at Ullmark as a possible option if they can’t swing a deal with Calgary. So stay tuned there. Perhaps Ullmark, who’s signed through next season at a $5 million AAV, ends up in New Jersey if Calgary won’t move Markstrom.

Expunging the 30-year-old Ullmark from the roster would allow the Bruins to acquire the cap flexibility to address lineup needs up front and on the blue line, notes LeBrun. And they've already got a younger (25 yrs old) Jeremy Swayman to pick up the slack, who, as a co-Jennings Trophy winner with Ullmark last season, is actually having a better campaign than his older netminding companion. The Bruins would still be in good hands between the pipes. 

As for the Devils, they are desperate to get a serious upgrade in net, and thought they had a deal with Calgary for Markstrom late last month, and the Flames goalie even waived his no-trade clause to allow a trade to go through, but the deal apparently got nixed at the level of Calgary's upper management.

It now appears that the Flames, who had won five in a row before a loss Monday night, are trying to make a run at the playoffs and want to hang on to Markstrom. Calgary is seven points back of a Wild Card spot in the West. 

The Devils, who are eight points behind the Wild Card berths in the East, are doing whatever they can to stay in the playoff hunt, and need a boost in goal for this year and next. 

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