Canucks news: Jacob Markstrom wants to remain in Vancouver
Jacob Markstrom is scheduled to hit free agency this summer, but he hopes to re-sign with the Vancouver Canucks.
With the 2019-20 NHL season on pause, the Vancouver Canucks have more time to try and figure out their playbook for the offseason.
Without a doubt, the biggest task for general manager Jim Benning is to figure out what to do with 30-year-old goalie Jacob Markstrom, who’s set to enter unrestricted free agency for the first time in his career.
Next year’s Seattle expansion draft complicates things for the Canucks. If they hand Markstrom a multi-year extension, Benning will either have to trade or expose “goalie of the future” Thatcher Demko.
During a conference call from his home in Sweden (via Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province), Markstrom made it clear that he hopes to stay in Vancouver.
“I’m very comfortable in Vancouver for sure,” Markstrom said. “In my mind I want to stay, that’s my goal. And this season isn’t over yet. We want to push to the playoffs and give the people something to cheer for and that’s 100 per cent of my mindset. I’m still a Canuck and proud of that.”
Aside from Markstrom’s asking price, it’s going to come down to if and how much faith the Canucks have in Demko as a starter. The latter struggled with consistency during 2019-20, posting a 13-10-2 record with a 3.06 goals against average and a .905 save percentage.
If Vancouver doesn’t retain Markstrom, they could always target other pending UFA goalies in free agency — including Robin Lehner (Vegas Golden Knights), Jaroslav Halak (Boston Bruins) or Braden Holtby (Washington Capitals).
The cap-strapped Canucks also have to give new contracts to young forwards Jake Virtanen and Adam Gaudette. On defence, Vancouver will most likely have to choose one of Chris Tanev (a pending UFA) and Troy Stecher (a pending RFA).
Suffice to say, it’s going to be Benning’s most pivotal offseason yet, as he tries to keep together a team that was in the playoff race before the season was paused.
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The Canucks also own one of the league’s top goalie prospects in Michael DiPietro, so that could affect Benning’s decision making here. Free agency is still over two months away, so there’s plenty of time for Markstrom and Vancouver management to try and work something out.