Rumor: Markstrom is asking for Connor Hellebuyck $$$$$

[Javaman]

I'm not sure this injury could weaken Markstrom's bargaining position.

Prior to this injury, he was performing at a Vezina calibre level. Assuming he returns in time for the playoffs, he's likely to be cut some slack if he doesn't immediately return to Vezina form. It's entirely possible the Canucks drop out of a playoff spot given how important JM is to the Canucks' success. Even if the Canucks make the playoffs and get bounced in the first round because JM struggles, I don't think the injury weakens his bargaining position unless GM's are convinced the he will never return to form. I'm not a medical professional, so I can't really comment on the long term implications of his meniscus tear.

If he comes back and keeps up his point-stealing ways, that will only serve to strengthen his bargaining position.

 

[StreetHawk]

Lehner the only starter who got moved at the tdl and he went to LV to backup MAF. Carolina was the only team I figured would have been buying a starter but with their injuries they opted for D help.

 

[VancouverJagger]

I'm not sure this injury could weaken Markstrom's bargaining position.

Prior to this injury, he was performing at a Vezina calibre level. Assuming he returns in time for the playoffs, he's likely to be cut some slack if he doesn't immediately return to Vezina form. It's entirely possible the Canucks drop out of a playoff spot given how important JM is to the Canucks' success. Even if the Canucks make the playoffs and get bounced in the first round because JM struggles, I don't think the injury weakens his bargaining position unless GM's are convinced the he will never return to form. I'm not a medical professional, so I can't really comment on the long term implications of his meniscus tear.

If he comes back and keeps up his point-stealing ways, that will only serve to strengthen his bargaining position.

Well it's certainly not going to help it......... Prior to this his name was being mentioned somewhat frequently in conjunction with the words "Vezina Trophy". Almost assuredly that will go away now. Had he been a Vezina finalist that would have done nothing but drive up his asking price. I think the Canucks might have actually caught a break here. With any luck he's back well before playoffs so he can round into form. In the meantime it's a perfect opportunity to gauge where Demko is at and see whether or team can survive without Markstrom.

 

[NuxFan09]

Feel really bad for the guy. The stars were aligning for him to really cash in, deservedly so. Now perhaps he still can, but his injury now gives the Canucks an excuse and opportunity to see if they can march forward with Demko. As much as I'd love to retain Marky, and as deserving he is of a big contract, the Canucks just can't afford to do it with their cap situation. Even if they could, we all know how perilous signing goaltenders to long term, big money contracts is. All Marky has to do is look at Washington: Braden Holtby is a Stanley Cup and Vezina winner and the Capitals are likely going to let him walk in favour of Ilya Samsonov.

Anyway, this post could end up being pointless if he comes back, picks up right where he left off and somehow gets signed long term, especially if Demko falters. We'll see....

 

[StreetHawk]

Well it's certainly not going to help it......... Prior to this his name was being mentioned somewhat frequently in conjunction with the words "Vezina Trophy". Almost assuredly that will go away now. Had he been a Vezina finalist that would have done nothing but drive up his asking price. I think the Canucks might have actually caught a break here. With any luck he's back well before playoffs so he can round into form. In the meantime it's a perfect opportunity to gauge where Demko is at and see whether or team can survive without Markstrom.

Hopefully Demko can seize this opportunity. There have been several goalies his age who took advantage of their chance when they were Demko’s age like Helly, Murray, Vasilevskiy, Blackwood, Hart, Korpisalo.
Anytime a team can move off their veteran to go with the younger cheaper option they will take it.

 

[Javaman]

Well it's certainly not going to help it......... Prior to this his name was being mentioned somewhat frequently in conjunction with the words "Vezina Trophy". Almost assuredly that will go away now. Had he been a Vezina finalist that would have done nothing but drive up his asking price. I think the Canucks might have actually caught a break here. With any luck he's back well before playoffs so he can round into form. In the meantime it's a perfect opportunity to gauge where Demko is at and see whether or team can survive without Markstrom.

Fair enough. I think that Markstrom's value is effectively locked in for the moment. At this point, either GMs see him as a Vezina calibre goalie for the next few seasons, or they don't, IMO. I don't think the injury will change that very much.

 

[theguardianII]

Hmmm, Demko at 24 and the future or Markstrom at 30 with a NMC clause to 36?
If Markstrom say bye bye to Demko.

Won't matter I don't think because the team does not have enough cap space to compete with other teams.

 

[VancouverJagger]

Hopefully Demko can seize this opportunity. There have been several goalies his age who took advantage of their chance when they were Demko’s age like Helly, Murray, Vasilevskiy, Blackwood, Hart, Korpisalo.
Anytime a team can move off their veteran to go with the younger cheaper option they will take it.

Yeah I agree completely. I mean in today's cap age you have to. As I said I don't really view this as bad news - if Demko performs anywhere near what Markstrom did or at least above average then it allows management to feel a lot more confident letting Markstrom walk, or at least able to use Demko's play as leverage in negotiations - especially if Markstrom reallllly wants to stay here (which I tend to think he does).

It would be big for our team if Demko was able to take the reigns as it would probably mean around 3 mill or so a year in extra cap space for at least the next several years - something I'm sure management is very well aware of.

Personally I feel very confident in Demko - his trajectory reminds me of Schneider's.........it's taken a while but I think he'll be ready next season to play 50-55 games at a high level if that's the role he's given.

 

[tradervik]

From Mark Lazerus in the Athletic:

A source close to Lehner said he told the Blackhawks he would take a three-year contract extension because he loved it in Chicago, but that he “never got an offer.” The source said Lehner wanted to take less because he “loved the guys — the young guys and the old” and “wanted to do everything to make it work.”

This will put a little bit of pressure on Markstrom's agent to come back with a more realistic demand than "Connor Hellebuyck $$$$$". By "realistic", I mean a contract that makes sense for the Canucks, not a theoretical best case scenario Markstrom might get as a UFA.

 

[mossey3535]

From Mark Lazerus in the Athletic:



This will put a little bit of pressure on Markstrom's agent to come back with a more realistic demand than "Connor Hellebuyck $$$$$". By "realistic", I mean a contract that makes sense for the Canucks, not a theoretical best case scenario Markstrom might get as a UFA.

So Lehner, who is on a 1-year $5M AAV contract, wouldn't mind signing a three year contract extension with the Hawks....somehow this will pressure Marky who is only asking for four years at $5.5M?

As if Lehner will not try to get even more now that he's headed into UFA.

 

[tradervik]

So Lehner, who is on a 1-year $5M AAV contract, wouldn't mind signing a three year contract extension with the Hawks....somehow this will pressure Marky who is only asking for four years at $5.5M?

I hadn't heard about the 4 x 5.5 offer. That is certainly more realistic than Hellebuyck $$$$$. And sure it adds pressure, as any media reports on salary negotiations tend to do, which is why both agents and GMs leak this information. I did use the word "little".

 

[StreetHawk]

Sounds like we can add Chicago as another team that could pursue Markstrom in free agency. They’ve been paying Crawford $6 mill so they may be perfectly comfortable paying that for a starter.

 

[tradervik]

Sounds like we can add Chicago as another team that could pursue Markstrom in free agency. They’ve been paying Crawford $6 mill so they may be perfectly comfortable paying that for a starter.

Chicago might not have the cap room to offer $6 million to Markstrom. CapFriendly shows them with $10 million cap space next year and they have to add 8 players to the NHL roster. Hot rookie Dominik Kubalik will be looking for a raise. The big question is what happens with Brent Seabrook. If they can clear his cap hit, they should have the flexibility to bid for Markstrom if they so choose, but will they want to offer term to a 30 year old goalie? My prediction is they will sign Corey Crawford to a cheap deal and keep a fair amount of cap room so they can pick up a player or two when teams start to panic over the expansion draft.

Carolina is the the only team I can see that is an obvious bidder for Markstrom. They have Reimer and Mrazek signed for next year but can probably unload one of them fairly easily. On the other hand, I recall Bob Mackenzie saying they liked Lehner.

 

[4Twenty]

Not a good few games for the let him walk crowd.

 

[dombrova22]

Won't shock me if the Nucks knock on Lehners door this summer to see if he is commanding less than Marky is.

 

[canuckking1]

Markstrom increasing his demands like

 

[Wo Yorfat]

them holding the line here is actually the first smart thing I’ve heard them doing

Fool Jim 300 times, shame on you...

 

[PG Canuck]

 

[VanJack]

Can you imagine where this team would be if Markstrom had hurt his knee, maybe back in November or December? They'd be as far below the playoff bar as they were last season.

The only thing that's kept them afloat is Markstrom and the general mediocrity of the Pacific Division for most of the season.

Now that the Canucks are getting the same kind of goaltending the rest of the NHL gets most nights, you can see just how bad this team really is.

 

[SillyRabbit]

This is going to blow up spectacularly in Benning’s face because he simply doesn’t have enough cap room to retain Markstrom. I anticipate a longer term deal to compensate for the lower cap hit.

And we all know how long term goalie contracts turn out.

 

[bandwagonesque]

With all the talk about Green possibly being let go in the summer, how many coaches does Benning get?

Usually firing a coach is your one lifeline as a GM.

Benning already hired and fired Willie Desjardins.

Talk among who? I don't think this has been reported anywhere.

 

[SillyRabbit]

Talk among who? I don't think this has been reported anywhere.

Wrong thread, continue this convo in the management thread.

 

[VanJack]

This is going to blow up spectacularly in Benning’s face because he simply doesn’t have enough cap room to retain Markstrom. I anticipate a longer term deal to compensate for the lower cap hit.

And we all know how long term goalie contracts turn out.

Yep, no doubt about it....Tanev and Markstrom will walk, simply because of the term left on the contracts for guys like Eriksson, Roussel, Beagle and Sutter.

If you're the GM, that's the quintessential definition of a hand grenade "blowing up spectacularly in your face'.

 

[LordBacon]

If jb actually built a good d core then we shouldn’t be worrying about a 30 y/o goalie leaving, but Unfortunately we have a below average d and need someone to bail the team on a nightly basis badly.
Marky is getting paid for sure

 

[ayoshi]

Markstrom is the Canucks MVP and arguably best player. The next few weeks without him will be tough.