Jessica Belmosto

Jacob Markstrom went from Vezina finalist to a below average goaltender. An .892 SV% won’t get anyone very far but when the team in front of you can’t buy a goal, the weight of their success is on your shoulders.

Markstrom knew he wasn’t playing well. It was back in December when he said it himself. “I suck at hockey right now.” Unfortunately, he was unable to dig himself out of that rut.

It was a long season of trying to get into a rhythm. There was never a moment where he looked comfortable or confident in his game. Apparently, head coach Darryl Sutter wasn’t either.

Former Calgary Flame, Tyler Toffoli shared that Sutter was always ready to pull Markstrom. It could’ve been a scoreless game after the first period and he would tell Vladar to start warming up. He was in Markstrom’s head in the worst way possible.

Markstrom went from a career-high nine shutouts to not earning a lone shutout until March. It was a sigh of relief, a moment of “could it be?” and a glimpse of what Calgary Flames fans were used to.

There is always the human element to the game as well. Markstrom welcomed his first child late in the season. The added pressure of what to expect when you’re expecting can take a toll on you.

Happy to report that both Mom and baby are healthy and doing well!

Markstrom is looking to put last season’s struggles behind him. You can only learn from your mistakes and work hard to not let them happen again. Markstrom was one of the many players that arrived back in Calgary well before camp opened.

The Flames were met with a lot of change this offseason. New coaching, new general manager and a new system. It appears that the defense will be making adjustments as well. Better defense, less work for the goalie.

The Flames’ defense has the capabilities to be one of the best groups in the league. The possibilities are endless with true shut down defensemen like Rasmus Andersson and Mackenzie Weegar. There is just no way Chris Tanev deflects every puck off his leg again. Nikita Zadorov took big strides in his game last season. The adjustment to a stronger system should be good for him.

There is competition knocking on Markstrom’s door. Flames prospect Dustin Wolf is just about ready to make the jump to the NHL. He has proven himself in the AHL and keeping him out of NHL games would be a hinderance to his development.

Fans are under the assumption that Wolf will be the primary starter at some point this season.

Markstrom is still under contract for three seasons. Eating $6m cap hit when you are strapped for cap space is not ideal. Plus, Markstrom is the type to put up a real fight. He won’t fade into obscurity quietly. He knows what he needs to do to get the job done.

It is pretty simple. Markstrom has to be a better goaltender. The goal doesn’t have to be that.922 SV%. As long as he plays at the league average or above, the Flames will be a playoff team.

The Flames play their first preseason game tonight against the Vancouver Canucks. The Flames have Markstrom listed as their starter. Allowing him to get those low risk reps in will benefit him come opening night. Practicing in net with your team is a lot different from going against actual competition. The less of an adjustment period, the better.

It is up to Markstrom to find his stride early and maintain it.

You can watch the Calgary Flames take on the Vancouver Canucks tonight at 6:00 PM Mountain Time on SportsNet.