The New Jersey Devils shored up their goalkeeping unit this week by acquiring one-time All-Star Jacob Markstrom in a trade with the Calgary Flames.
In order to land Markstrom, the Devils sent defenseman Kevin Bahl and a first-round draft pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft to the Flames. The first-rounder is top 10-protected.
As part of the agreement, Calgary will retain 31.25% of Markstrom’s salary. The Swedish international has two years and $12 million left on a six-year, $36 million contract he signed with the Flames as a free agent in 2020.
In order to facilitate the deal, Markstrom waived his no-trade clause. He was reportedly eager to move on from the Flames for a while.
“Always you look at the hockey perspective, like do you feel like the team can win? And when that’s a yes, everything else comes pretty easy,” Markstrom told reporters after the trade was finalized.
The Devils, who have high ambitions after hiring Sheldon Keefe as their new head coach, will now have a strong veteran goalie pairing with Markstrom and Jake Allen.
Markstrom finished the 2023-24 campaign with a 23-23-2 record while posting a .905 save percentage and a 2.78 goals-against average. He previously suited up for the Florida Panthers and the Vancouver Canucks as well and was an All-Star in 2020 while making Second All-Star Team in 2022.
