Flames set huge asking price for Markstrom ahead of Draft.

It seems like a forgone conclusion that the Calgary Flames will be trading veteran goaltender Jacob Markstrom sooner rather than later, especially with the National Hockey League's Entry Draft right around the corner, and it also sounds like the team that ends up getting him is going to have to pay a fortune to make it happen.

On Sunday, I reported on comments made by NHL insider Elliotte Friedman that indicate rival teams around the NHL believe Markstrom could be headed to the province of Ontario, and now a second NHL insider is chiming in to share some additional details on the matter.

Senators insider Bruce Garrioch recently touched on the possibility of Markstrom joining the ranks of the Ottawa Senators, a move he believes will come with a massive price tag attached to it. Garrioch reports that, in order to acquire Markstrom from the Flames, the Senators would have to come up with a package that included a first round pick as well as a high-end prospect.

"They want a lot in return," said one NHL executive as per Garrioch.

That asking price will of course extend to the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New Jersey Devils, both of whom have been linked to this potential Markstrom deal by multiple sources. That could result in a bidding war between the 3 teams, with reports that the Devils may be prepared to include the 10th overall pick at the 2024 NHL Entry Draft as part of their package for Markstrom.

Markstrom is a particularly attractive target not only because of his stellar play, Markstrom maintained a 2.78 goals against average and a .905 save percentage this season amid rampant trade speculation on a team that failed to make the playoffs, but also because of the affordable cost certainty of his contract. The reality is that these teams are unlikely to find a goaltender of Markstrom's quality on the open market that they will be able to secure at a cost below 2 x $6 million, which is what remains on Markstrom's current contract with the Flames.

The NHL draft is only 18 days away, so we won't have to wait long to see who steps up to the plate with the best offer for the Flames.