Despite repeatedly saying he wants to stay with Vancouver Canucks, All-Star goalie Jacob Markstrom will be suiting up for a different franchise in 2020/21. Markstrom agreed to a six-year deal with Calgary Flames, which will see him staying Pacific Division.
Markstrom will reportedly get $36 million total and $6 million annually from Flames over the course of the deal.
Markstrom steps in for Cam Talbot, who recently left Calgary to join Minnesota Wild. David Rittich, who started for the better part of 2019/20, is expected to serve as a backup.
Jacob Markstrom is coming off an impressive season with Canucks in which he posted a 2.75 goals-against average, and a .918 save percentage. His stellar form helped Vancouver to a 23-16-4 record while Markstrom earned his first career All-Star appearance.
Both Vancouver and Markstrom were interested in an extension, have been negotiating for a while, but failed to reach an agreement. Once the free agency officially opened up, the 30-year-old goalie decided not to wait any longer and took the best option available.
Canucks, on the other hand, will go with offseason acquisition Braden Holtby and last season’s backup Thatcher Demko.
