MARKSTROM COULD BE IN PLAY FOR CALGARY

TORONTO, ON — The Calgary Flames are going to be one of the busier teams leading up to the March 8 trade deadline. With several players set to become unrestricted free agents July 1, including Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev, Flames GM Craig Conroy is going to be a popular guy moving forward.

The Flames are in an interesting spot. They seem willing to sell off some of their assets — three Flames rank in the top-4 of the TFP Trade Watch List — but they are also exploring the market for players with term and/or those who are controllable. It’s buy and sell mode for Conroy, and as I mentioned on “The Big Show” on Sportsnet 960 in Calgary this morning, he could package some of the pieces he acquires via trade for NHL-caliber players who are locked in well beyond this season.

But teams aren’t calling Calgary only to inquire about his pending UFAs. Conroy has also generated interest in some of his players with term remaining on their contracts, including goaltender Jacob Markstrom.

Markstrom, who starts in goal tonight for Calgary as they take on the Ottawa Senators, has two more years left on his contract, which includes a full no-movement clause, and comes with a $6 million salary cap hit. He turns 34 on Jan. 31. Nothing is imminent, by any stretch, but at least two clubs have poked around on his availability and my understanding is the Flames would entertain trading him if the right offer presented itself.

To date, Conroy has not approached Markstrom or his agent Pat Morris about the possibility of waiving his NMC. I’m told that will only happen if the Flames receive an offer they deem acceptable. There is belief out there that Markstrom would consider a trade to a contender, but that has not been confirmed on my end.

Moving Markstrom would be a big move for the Flames, and whoever acquires him would have to believe he is a significant upgrade over their current tandem. He has had an up-and-down season thus far, though he has performed notably better in his last seven starts, going 4-3-0 with one shutout and a .935 save percentage.

It is premature to speculate on what the Flames would consider for Markstrom. There is a sense the team would be willing to retain part of a contract on an expiring deal to maximize a return and help facilitate a trade, though it is unclear if they would be willing to explore that option for a player under contract for a couple more years.

The silly season is around the corner and after yesterday’s Anaheim/Philadelphia trade, people are itching for more. We’ll see how much Calgary gives them between now and the deadline.

MARNER MANIA THIS SUMMER

With William Nylander locked up to a brand spanking new eight-year, $92 million contract extension, the Toronto Maple Leafs won’t have to worry about dishing out another big deal until the off-season.

While management’s focus shifts to the March 8 trade deadline and exploring options to further improve the roster, Leafs GM Brad Treliving knows in the back of his mind he is going to have to pay out another mega contract to another star player.

As I wrote about last week, Mitch Marner is next on the list for Toronto. He, along with captain John Tavares, will be playing on expiring contracts next season unless they agree to extensions this summer – both are eligible to ink new deals starting July 1.

Tavares will undoubtedly take a pay cut from his current $11 million cap hit, but Marner is due for a nice raise that could see him earn at least $13 million, per season, on his next deal.

For Marner and agent Darren Ferris, this is the bridge they will cross after this season. The Maple Leafs will want to get in front of things this summer and with the salary cap going up – it should fall around $92 million in 2025-26, when Marner’s next deal kicks in – it’s hard to argue paying No.16 less than $13M annual if he continues to produce.

Since 2018-19, Marner has either registered over 90 points or was on pace for 90+ points (during the two Covid-shortened seasons). He is currently on pace for 89 points this year and will likely hit the 90-point mark. That’s six straight years of consistent production.

Marner will be 27 in May and in the prime of his career. He wants to remain a Leaf for life and the team can continue to accommodate another big ticket, so expect these negotiations to steal a few headlines this summer.

HERE AND THERE

• The NHL is still looking for a home this summer’s NHL Awards. The expectation was the event would take place in Los Angeles, but that is no longer on the docket due to another major awards show taking place in town at the end of June, the 24th Annual BET Awards. The NHL is considering its options that include Las Vegas, where the NHL Draft will occur at The Sphere, another city, or even putting on a condensed event during the Stanley Cup Final like it did two seasons ago. Everything is up in the air, even cancelling the event, at this point.

• With Pheonix Copley out for the season, David Rittich is the backup goaltender in Los Angeles for the foreseeable future. Word is the Kings started to explore the goalie market again last week to see if any deals for a veteran backup are to be made.

• The Anaheim Ducks made their first major move on Monday dealing Jamie Drysdale and a second-round pick in 2025 to the Philadelphia Flyers for fan-favourite (!!) Cutter Gauthier. The Ducks will make a few more moves over the next two months and next on the list could be veteran forward Adam Henrique, who is on an expiring contract. According to one source close to the situation, Henrique knows he is likely getting dealt and the preference is for a move to happen in advance of March for family-related reasons. We’ll see if Ducks GM Pat Verbeek can find the right trade to oblige.

• Also on the Ducks: There has been talk going back to the summer that they would entertain trading Trevor Zegras. Some teams believe Anaheim would consider it, and if they go down that road, it would surely be a blockbuster. One team I wonder about, and this is purely in my own head, is the Montreal Canadiens.

• The Drysdale acquisition may result in the Flyers putting Sean Walker on the trade block. That hasn’t happened yet, but my sense is the team will entertain calls for him leading up to the deadline.

• As I mentioned on NHL Network last Friday, contract talks haven’t started yet between the Florida Panthers and All-Star forward Sam Reinhart. The team is expected to reach out at some point, but so far, it’s all quiet. At the start of the season, there was progress made on a new deal for Brandon Montour, but those talks have since cooled.

• Alexander Barabanov is having an off year in San Jose, having missed a good chunk of the season because of a broken finger. The Sharks would like to hold on to him, but he could be a prime addition for a contender. With all the available pieces in San Jose, he will be someone to watch leading up to the deadline.