Canucks: 3 takeaways from Jacob Markstrom’s season
Markstrom deserves extension with Canucks
It’s no secret that Markstrom believes in the Canucks and wants nothing more than to finish his career playing in Vancouver. I mean, why wouldn’t he? He’s playing at the peak of his career under a tremendous goalie coach and some of the NHL’s best young and exciting franchise players. It’s clear that the 30-year-old Swede wants to re-up, but if he gets offered the dollar figure required to reach an agreement remains unanswered for the time being.
But when the time does come, Benning better open the checkbook and pray Markstrom doesn’t take him for a walk. The Canucks are in a dark and gloomy cap crunch situation and can’t afford to mishandle it. Benning will have to get creative because Marky’s numbers are proof he’s a top-dollar goaltender, and it’s unlikely his agent picks up the phone for anything less than $6 million.
Rightfully so, though. Markstrom ran with the big dogs all season long and turned down anybody who fired a puck in his direction. He deserves the right to determine a suitable figure to present to the Canucks. If it’ll work like that I doubt it, but two seasons of standing on his head have shown the fans enough to be considered a must re-sign.
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If a number gets agreed upon remains to be seen, but the confidence in both parties remains high. Benning has made signing Markstrom his top priority and it’s safe to say that the GM’s job could ride on this very decision. If he gets it right the Canucks will be sitting pretty for the considerable future.