Are the Devils the favorites to land Jacob Markstrom?

Bruce Garrioch suggested as much in his latest for the Ottawa Citizen.

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The New Jersey Devils were believed to be at the finish line on a trade for Jacob Markstrom prior to the deadline, only for the Calgary Flames to pull the plug at the last moment.

With the Devils still in desperate need of a starting goaltender, and Markstrom one of the few marquee names available on the market, it’s no surprise trade talks have rekindled.

The Devils are not exactly alone in their pursuit of the veteran netminder, though.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are thought to be firmly in the mix – they want someone to play ahead of a developing Joseph Woll, not to mention GM Brad Treliving brought Markstrom to Calgary – while the Ottawa Senators have also joined the fray, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen.

Excerpt below:

While the New Jersey Devils are considered the frontrunner in trying to acquire Markstrom, a league executive stated that Staios and the Senators have held several discussions with Calgary Flames general manager Craig Conroy to see if they can find a fit to make a deal.

…

The belief is Devils’ general manager Tom Fitzgerald is willing to offer up his No. 10 overall selection in the draft as part of a deal to acquire a goalie.

“If we feel it helps us now and in the foreseeable future, then, yes, I’m listening,” Fitzgerald told NHL.com’s Mike Morreale last Monday. “I haven’t gotten anything yet but the more I talk to teams, I say ‘Listen, I’m open to moving No. 10, but it’s going to have to be something (significant).'”

First and foremost, I don’t know how much the Senators’ interest in Markstrom changes the picture for the Devils.

He has a full no-movement clause and wants to play for a contender. I don’t think waiving it to go to a team that ranks 25th in points over the past two seasons would be too attractive to Markstrom.

For perspective, the Flames sit 23rd in that span. Markstrom might feel he’d be just as well off staying put.