Jacob Markstrom is back with the New Jersey Devils after recovering from a lower-body injury. That means contract negotiations very well could start back up soon.
On the latest episode of Devils Rink Report with James Nichols, The Fourth Period insider, David Pagnotta explained that Markstrom and the Devils decided to let the Swedish goaltender focus on rehab. Negotiations would resume soon after.
“When Markstrom went down, they kind of put a pause in negotiations, simply because, I mean, both sides seem pretty confident that they’re going to figure this out,” Pagnotta explained to Nichols. “And let’s just have him focus on rehabbing and getting back to it. And he’s a little bit ahead of schedule by all accounts. So he’s on the mend he’s on the road to recovery, and ready to get back in it pretty soon here. I suspect shortly after that is when the conversation is going to continue.”
The Devils inked Jake Allen to a five-year contract with a $1.8 million average annual value (AAV) over the summer. Many believed that the Devils might extend Markstrom to the same term, although, he’d come at a higher price. Pagnotta, however, notes that the term could be shorter, given the higher demand for dollars.
“I think overall it’s going to come down to term,” Pagnotta said. “Are we talking three years, or are we talking five years? What’s the AAV, and how do the bonuses come into light here?”
“From a short-term perspective, a three-to-five-year term, and I might be more on the three-year side, personally, with what he’s capable of and what he’s shown, you look at some of the goaltenders that have had longevity over their careers, they’ve been sustainable. I think he fits in that mix, and I don’t think it will be a concern, quite frankly.”
Elliotte Friedman on the latest episode of 32 Thoughts Podcast echoed the same sentiments.
“[The Devils] were in town last week and Tom Fitzgerald was quoted saying they’re working at it with Markstrom, and it seems like they’re pretty hopeful,” Friedman explained.
“The last I heard Markstrom, they were looking maybe a couple of years. Like with Allen, they did five years at $1.8 million. So there was obviously a number there, which is around $9-$10 million, and they found a way to get to the number. With Markstrom, I heard it’s the other way around. It was shorter term, bigger number. I think the overall number was higher than the $9 million that Allen got, but they were trying that. Obviously, it hasn’t gotten it done, but I still think they’re going at it here, trying to close something with Markstrom.”
Shorter term will certainly be good news for Devils fans, who appeared hesitant to commit to Jacob Markstrom at a higher AAV. Pagnotta explained how he believed the structure would pan out on a 35+ contract for the veteran goaltender.
“You can structure things a little bit differently, and adding in different incentivized bonuses is going to play a role by all accounts in this contract,” Pagnotta said. “He’ll have his base salary. I’m sure there’s going to be some type of signing bonus, and then there’s going to be different incentivized bonuses along the way. Things such as games played, game starts, [playoff] round by round achievements, etc. And all of that kind of has to be figured out in order to get to that ultimate number.”
“Fitzgerald made it very clear to me that he wants to keep him, and that the team wants to keep him,” Pagnotta concluded. “By all accounts, from everything I’ve I’ve heard on the other side of it, the feeling is pretty much mutual. They just have to figure out more the structure of anything than the overall dollar value.”
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