RUMOUR: Calgary Flames and New Jersey Devils Talking Trade Once More

The 2023-24 season has been an absolute whirlwind for the Calgary Flames, and for no player has this been more true than star goaltender Jacob Markstrom. After a sub-par season ago by his standards, Markstrom has bouned back into being a Vezina candidate once more, and with that production comes trade rumours.

In fact, Markstrom revealed that he believed he was not returning to Calgary after a recent East coast road trip, with many around the league believing a deal to the New Jersey Devils was all but complete. The sticking point in that trade may have been the Flames willingness to retain salary for the next two years, with the team seemingly willing to hold onto him past the trade deadline.

Now however, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic is reporting that a deal could still be on, with the Devils reaching back out to the Flames this week about a potential deal, including the new caveat that they are willing to do the deal without retention.

After a failed trade attempt a few weeks ago, I’m told New Jersey reached out again to the Calgary Flames this week to say it was still interested in the 34-year-old netminder. And in fact, I believe the Devils are now willing to make that trade without the Flames having to retain salary, which was a sticking point last time around (or at least the asset cost on retaining salary was).

LeBrun does go on to say that a deal still isn't a guarantee or even likely, given that it would force Conroy to trade his team MVP with the Flames still in a playoff battle, but if the future of the organization takes precedence, this is still something that could happen with seven days left until the trade deadline.

If something does happen, don't expect to see it until after the Flames Jersey Retirement Ceremony for Mikka Kipprusoff on Saturday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins, but after that, we may be in for a shocking week.