"It's never easy," Tallon told ESPN. "I think we were thinking we're going to be conservative and make sure what's best for him long-term. If he's going to be a No. 1, he's got to play No. 1 minutes."
However, during Markstrom's five-game tryout, in which he went 2-2-1 and registered a .944 save percentage and 2.05 goals-against-average, the team's estimated timeline for the 21-year-old increased significantly.
According to ESPN, the next time Markstrom plays for the Panthers it is most likely for keeps, speculating the potential trade of a netminder to generate an opening for the rookie.
Theodore signed a two-year, $3 million deal in July and holds a no-trade clause. However, Clemmensen is currently in the last year of his contract and could eventually be included in trade talks to solve the three-goalie issue in Florida.
In the meantime, Tallon maintains that he doesn't want to rush the young Markstrom, keeping him with the Rampage where he will play bigger minutes.
