Jacob Markstrom is not a happy camper.
After being in the middle of trade rumors for the last few months and the most recent trade of one of his closest teammates, Chris Tanev, Markstrom has clearly reached a limit.
During his media availability after practice on Friday morning, Markstrom let it be known that he wasn’t a big fan of how things were being handled by the Flames organization.
Markstrom’s comments
Eric Francis asked Markstrom during the availability if he had parked all trade talk and what that looked like. He fired back with this:
“Everyone in here I really respect everything that’s been going on, and not going on, and how everyone in this room has handled everything. I think it’s been really good. And then the whole situation and everything, am I happy about that? No I’m not. I think it could have been handled a lot different from up top.”
– Jacob Markstrom via Eric Francis on Twitter
Not a great look for anyone.
A difficult time for the Flames’ dressing room
I think it is important to note that this has been a very tough time for the entire Flames roster. Each week, there is a new rumour, a bunch of key teammates are being traded, and there are still more moves to come. All of this during an up-and-down season where the team is still competing for a playoff spot.
Markstrom has been the team’s MVP but is also a player who was extremely close to being dealt. Per reports, Markstrom had agreed to waive his no movement clause to facilitate a trade to the New Jersey Devils before the deal fell apart. It screams as if the team has a deal in place, asked him to waive, and then went back to New Jersey to ask for more assets to retain salary.
Just a mess and something that he clearly should be frustrated with.
Who were Markstrom’s comments referring to?
Now, it’s unclear as to whether Markstrom was referring to Craig Conroy, the entire staff, or even ownership, but it’s safe to say that Markstrom clearly isn’t thrilled to be sticking with the Flames long-term. If a trade doesn’t consummate before the deadline, you can bet the team looks to move him in the summer.
You never want an unhappy player—like Nikita Zadorov, that can hurt trade conversations—but in this situation, I think Markstrom has a valid argument to be upset, and it’s only fair of him to voice those frustrations publicly.
