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Markstrom Traded to New Jersey — The Wrecking Bahl — Pick Potential |
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General Manager Craig Conroy took another step towards a new era in Flames hockey today when he shipped off, well, let’s just list it in a viewer-friendly format.
To New Jersey
G – Jacob Markstrom (31.25% retained salary)
To Calgary
D – Kevin Bahl
2025 top ten protected first round pick
It’s important to address that Markstrom’s time in Calgary appeared to be over. He had almost been dealt prior to the NHL Trade Deadline and things had gotten, well, weird. Like a couple that had broken up and were still paying rent together weird.
There is also a bit of disappointment on the Calgary side due to the fact that Jersey GM Tom Fitzgerald had been publicly dangling the 10th overall pick on June 28 as a potential return for a star goaltender.
It’s safe enough to say that the whole disclosure of that asset being available was merely reindeer games. There was no Dawson Mercer, no Alexander Holtz. Conroy would have traded for them if they were available. As a fan, you can be sour about what could have been, but at the end of the day, this is what they got for a 34 year old goaltender with trade control in the form of an NMC.
Let’s look at the first asset heading back to Calgary.
The Wrecking Bahl
His nickname for a reason. Kevin Bahl is huge at 6’6” and 229 pounds. He hits and he hits hard.
The 23 year old left shot defender finished last season in the second pairing and has four career fights in 148 games. That number would likely be higher if Kurtis MacDermid wasn’t patrolling Devils games as the in-house enforcer.
Another benefit to Kevin Bahl is that he will likely even out a very offence-oriented blue line. The Flames back end by season’s end had no issue making a pass, but they were pushovers and they were soft. Tough, but fair assessment.
Bahl is in the final year of a contract paying him $1,050,000 per year and will be an RFA next offseason. He had four goals and 25 assists in 148 games with New Jersey.
The pick involved in the deal is interesting. Markstrom tends to alternate between good and bad seasons. If an injury derails his play, the Devils might end up giving up something in the 11-20 range.
How do you feel about the trade? Should Conroy have held out for more?
Stats courtesy of naturalstattrick.com, hockeyfights.com, and capfriendly.com.
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
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