According to Elliotte Friedman, a Hockey News insider, the New Jersey Devils may be interested in signing the veteran netminder. According to Friedman, the Devils are ready to use their tenth overall pick in this year’s draft.

Ottawa appears to be another team interested in signing Jacob Markstrom. The Senators had a terrible season this year, with Joonas Korpisalo struggling in the nation’s capital. As a result, the Senators could make a bid for Markstrom.

The Sens could have the pieces to make a major move. However, it remains to be seen if Sens are willing to part with their seventh overall pick, among other assets.

Friedman also pointed out that the Carolina Hurricanes could make a splash by sending Martin Necas to Calgary. You rarely see star players traded for a Goalie, but Calgary could do a lot worse.

Toronto Maple Leafs Could be in On Deal for Top Netminder

This brings us to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Friedman indicated that Markstrom’s familiarity with Leafs GM Brad Treliving may lead to a successful deal. However, it is questionable whether the Leafs’ 23rd overall pick in this year’s draft will entice Calgary significantly.

The Leafs may need to develop a package around players like Nick Robertson, Easton Cowan, or Fraser Minten. Other teams appear to have more obvious trade pieces that Calgary would like.

Complicating matters is that the Leafs have absolutely no draft picks next season and would be unlikely to trade players who can play for them next year on inexpensive terms, especially given Markstrom’s age.

Let’s assume for a moment that Flames GM Craig Conroy likes what he gets from Toronto. Let’s also assume that Markstrom is happy to rejoin Treliving. The deal gets down, and the Leafs don’t get fleeced.

Will that arrangement resolve the Leafs’ goalie issues?

In the short term, it appears quite plausible. Markstrom, 34, is a solid senior starter who can handle the workload. Unless he gets hurt, Markstrom should be able to start 50 games or so. That’s not terrible, considering last year’s carousel with Ilya Samsonov, Joseph Woll, and Martin Jones.

The Leafs might start Markstrom, with Woll as the backup. But this is when things become complicated. Markstrom is under contract for two more years and is already 34, so his performance could plummet at any point.

Finally, getting Markstrom makes sense if Toronto believes 2024-2025 is their last opportunity at a Cup in a while. The club might go all-in and hope for the best outcome. If the Leafs fall short again, the consolation prize will be cap space, as Mitch Marner and John Tavares’ contracts expire.

Personally, I would avoid Markstrom at all costs. There is no certainty that the Leafs will obtain the player they need. Furthermore, the cost does not justify the risk. Treliving may deploy a voodoo spell to mesmerize Chris Drury into agreeing to a Marner-for-Shesterkin transaction.