Despite the near-simultaneous departures of Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau, the Calgary Flames have improved this summer…or so their goaltender Jakob Markstrom believes.
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A finalist for the Vezina Trophy last season – with a record of 37-15-9 and a save percentage of .922 – Markstrom has been one of the best goalkeepers on the Bettman circuit for seven seasons now.
However, he has only tasted the playoffs twice and has never reached an association final. At 32 and under contract with the Flames until 2026, the Swede had every reason to fear a reconstruction when Tkachuk and Gaudreau announced their intentions to leave the Alberta metropolis. However, general manager Brad Treliving was quickly reassured.
“Tre called everyone to reassure us that he was not going to start rebuilding and that our team was going to be competitive,” Markstrom explained in an interview with the Sportsnet network.
“I think we have a great team on paper, and now we have to put it together on the ice.”
An eventful summer
It must be said that the portrait has changed drastically for the Flames in the space of a few days. Before Treliving pulled a rabbit out of his hat by getting his hands on Jonathan Huberdeau, he made a call to Markstrom, who he played with for two seasons with the Florida Panthers.
“I was in Sweden and he called me in the middle of the night,” he said. Obviously, with Tkachuk not wanting to stay, things had to move quickly. He asked me what kind of person was [Huberdeau] and I told him he’s a good guy and would be a great addition to our team.”
In addition to the acquisition of the Quebecer, those of Nazem Kadri and Mackenzie Weegar allow even today to wonder if the Flames have improved, despite the departures of their two star forwards.
“I think so,” Markstrom said. I’m excited and can’t wait to see what product we can offer on the ice. In my head, I am convinced that we will be better next year.
To do this, the Calgary team would not only have to present a better record than in 2021-2022 (50-21-11), but above all reach a first conference final since 2004; a challenge Markstrom is ready to take on.
“I’ve played a lot of hockey games, but I want to play even more. There are some games that we should have won last year. We have to adjust what has worked less well to reach the highest level.