Canucks news: The latest on contract negotiations with Jacob Markstrom
By Alex Hoegler
The Vancouver Canucks are trying to reach an extension with goalie Jacob Markstrom. Here is the latest on contract talks between the two sides.
Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning has several key free agents to re-sign this offseason, but starting goalie Jacob Markstrom is unquestionably the top priority.
Markstrom, who was named the 2018-19 team MVP, was instrumental in helping Vancouver qualify for the 24-team postseason. He went 23-16-4 in the regular season with a 2.75 goals against average and a superb .918 save percentage.
The 30-year-old is in the final season of a three-year, $11 million deal that he signed in 2016. Markstrom certainly deserves a lucrative raise from the the $3.66 million average annual value he made on this deal.
Markstrom has already expressed his desire to stay in Vancouver, and Benning has also made it clear that he wants to retain his top goalie.
“I’ve said all along that he’s an important guy for us,” Benning said last week, per Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province. “My intent is to figure out something that works for him and us. I’m hoping to get him signed, but that’s part of the business — we’ll have to wait and see.”
But keeping Markstrom will reportedly cost the Canucks one pretty penny. Rick Dhaliwal of TSN 1040 explained to Thomas Drance on Thursday that Markstrom “won’t accept less than” $6 million annually. If the Canucks aren’t willing to give that to Markstrom, Dhaliwal suggests “he’ll easily get it on the open market.”
There’s plenty of time for the two sides to try and work out a deal. The NHL remains committed to finishing out the 2019-20 campaign, which could very well stretch into October.
But if the Canucks aren’t able to reach a new deal with Markstrom, Benning will have two options: Either move forward with Thatcher Demko as his starter or look to find a veteran in free agency. Robin Lehner and Braden Holtby are among the notable goalies scheduled to hit the open market.
Through seven seasons with the Canucks, Markstrom is 99-93-27 with a 2.73 goals against average to go along with a .913 save percentage.
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Markstrom was acquired ahead of the 2014 trade deadline from the Florida Panthers as part of the return in the Roberto Luongo blockbuster. Markstrom became Vancouver’s starter after Ryan Miller left for the Anaheim Ducks in 2017 free agency.