Jacob Markstrom signed a six-year, $36 million contract with the Calgary Flames on Friday. It has an average annual value of $6 million.
Goalie Jacob Markstrom (#25) of the Vancouver Canucks
“It’s been a really long day and a lot of phone calls, listening to some teams,” Markstrom said. “At the end of the day, I felt Calgary was the best fit for me. I’m super happy we got the deal done and not too late during the night Swedish time. Just excitement and happiness in the whole family here.”
The 30-year-old goalie was an unrestricted free agent after going 23-16-4 with a 2.75 goals-against average, .918 save percentage and two shutouts in 43 games with the Vancouver Canucks last season. He went 8-6 with a 2.85 GAA, .919 save percentage and one shutout in 14 postseason games, but was unfit to play the final three games of the best-of-7 Western Conference Second Round, a seven-game loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in Edmonton, the hub city in the West.
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“For the bubble, it was a different experience that nobody has ever been through since they were kids, playing in front of no fans and empty stands,” Markstrom said. “I can’t wait to play playoff hockey in front of fans. That’s going to be a whole new experience compared to what we did in Edmonton here. I believe that Calgary has got something really big going and I can’t wait to be part of it.”
Markstrom was selected to play in the 2020 NHL All-Star Game but was unable to because of a knee injury. He’s played 60 games in consecutive seasons with the Canucks and was 99-93-27 with a 2.73 GAA and .913 save percentage in 229 games (218 starts) after he was traded to Vancouver by the Florida Panthers for goalie Roberto Luongo on March 4, 2014.
“I felt like the last two years have been when I figured out my game a little bit with the help of the goalie coaches and the coaches and for me, kind of understand what it takes to be a top goalie in this league and the amount of work it takes,” Markstrom said. “I feel like I’ve got plenty more levels to reach and evolve and I can’t wait to do that in a Flames jersey. I think we’ve got something big going.”
Chosen by Florida in the second round (No. 31) of the 2008 NHL Draft, Markstrom is 110-118-32 with a 2.80 GAA, .911 save percentage and five shutouts in 272 regular-season games (256 starts) with the Canucks and Panthers.
“I’ve been in Vancouver for the majority of my adult life almost,” Markstrom said. “I’ve got so many friends on and off the ice and they have a great young team there with great people in the room and great staff and I’ve got nothing but good things to say. Coming to Calgary now, it’s super exciting times and I couldn’t be happier. What happened behind the scenes happened behind the scenes. We couldn’t get anything done and I couldn’t be more happy to be a Calgary Flame right now.”
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