Maple Leafs Have No Time for 'What-Ifs' Despite Report of Similar Trade Offer for Markstrom

Jacob Markstrom Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

The NHL is no different than other sports leagues in this regard: no matter which trade you’re referring to, there will be teams that believe they had as much or more to offer than any deal that was ultimately settled on.

The most recent example is the trade involving former Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom and his new team, the New Jersey Devils.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said on the 32 Thoughts podcast he heard the Toronto Maple Leafs had made an offer similar to the Devils’ successful pitch but mentioned their offer would've likely had to be above and beyond "because of the politics there." That's not much of a surprise.

Would anybody be all that surprised that the Flames ownership sent Markstrom to the Devils rather than the Leafs after mutually parting ways with GM Brad Treliving and watching him take the role in Toronto? We’re not confirming that was the deciding factor in Conroy moving Markstrom to New Jersey since it seemed like both teams were negotiating before the trade deadline, but we’re not prepared to state unequivocally that such a choice wasn’t made.

Now, it would be one thing if the Leafs made it known exactly what they offered, and it was far and away a better package of draft picks, players and prospects than what Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald gave up to land Markstrom. But such insight usually isn’t made for public consumption – and really, if it were revealed, what difference would it make? The transaction is complete, and no amount of “what-ifs” will change that.

Another option, of course, is that Treliving simply wasn’t prepared to give up the first-round draft pick that was the centerpiece of the Devils’ deal for Markstrom. If the Leafs decided they want to keep that pick, that all but guarantees Fitzgerald’s offer was the best the Flames could get for Markstrom.

That said, the Leafs should’ve been ready to send a first-rounder Calgary’s way. As we mentioned in a column earlier this week, Toronto’s place in its current competitive cycle means they ought to be all-in in trades, especially for a position that’s key to any team’s success. But we just don’t know all the influences that tipped the scales in favor of New Jersey, and we probably never will. Keep in mind Markstrom also has a no-movement clause as well.

Either way, there are goalies still on the market, whether they're pending free agents or starting netminders who could be pried away from their current clubs. If the Leafs felt they had a comparable offer to the one the Devils offered from Markstrom, they could use that as a guide to either add to or potentially subtract from when negotiating with another club.

With the door shut on Markstrom, there's no longer any time for them to second-guess, and we'll likely see in the next week or two what their Plan B is with the draft and free agency approaching.

Granted, for someone who isn't in an NHL front office, it is fun to play fantasy GM and revisit trades or signings for their historical value. Look no further than the regular debate and discussion over blockbuster deals like the one that sent superstar youngster Eric Lindros from Quebec to Philadelphia. Don’t you think there is a slew of other GMs in that era who were convinced they had the preferable trade package? What about the teams that lost the John Tavares sweepstakes in 2018? Don’t kid yourself.

But for the Leafs and anybody else who missed out on Markstrom, the sweepstakes for other options in net have already begun.

Get the latest news and trending stories right to your inbox by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here.