NHL Trade Rumors: Jacob Markstrom Casts Even More Doubt On His Future

 The Calgary Flames have packed up and headed home for the summer, but one story that emerged during the season will not be going away anytime soon. Goaltender Jacob Markström, a noted trade candidate all season, has refused to defuse the ongoing discussion about his Flames future. 

When asked where he saw himself next season, Markstrom had a simple—yet complicated—reply:

I don’t know.

In other words, a return to Calgary is far from a certainty, and a trade elsewhere is fully on the table. He also told Salim Valji of TSN: "“What I do know is I love winning hockey games. I think that’s the competitive side of me. Every time I lace up the skates, that’s something I want – to win hockey games.”

Flames GM Craig Conroy didn't offer any more clarity on Markstrom's situation either: “Time will tell,” was all he said.

Markstrom was famously (or infamously, depending on your point of view) nearly traded to the New Jersey Devils at the deadline before the deal got shot down by Calgary, but he is still apparently fuming about the mere fact of that information getting out there. According to Valji, the goaltender made it clear that "he despised the conversation about his future."

“All the rambling could've been not happening," said Markstrom. "All the talks and stuff going on throughout the season, starting early in the season till the [trade] deadline day, they pretty much could've been not happening and me just focusing on hockey. That's what I would have appreciated because obviously, I'm still here."

He still has two years remaining on his deal at a $6 million cap hit and a full no-move clause. 

But despite that, all this talk would lead us to expect to see Markstrom in a different uniform come the 2024-25 season. There's no question that the Devils are still gung ho to acquire him, but there will undoubtedly be other teams in the mix as well. 

Photo: Simon Fearn-USA TODAY Sports