Canucks Extend Jacob Markstrom

The Vancouver Canucks and goaltender Jacob Markstrom have agreed to terms on a deal that will keep the 26-year-old in Vancouver for another three years following this season. The deal will see Markstrom earn $3.67 million per season from the 2017-18 season until the 2019-20 season. Markstrom was drafted in the 2nd round (31st overall) by the Florida Panthers before being traded to Vancouver as part of the deal that sent Roberto Luongo to the Panthers back in 2014.

Jacob Markstom has signed a three-year contract extension with the #Canucks!

RELEASE → https://t.co/uKJzswZ7G9https://t.co/k51rZs2vBV

— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) July 7, 2016

The 2015-16 season was Markstrom’s sixth in the NHL, and he set career highs in multiple categories including games played with 33, starts with 30, wins with 13, shots against with 944, saves with 904, and minutes with 1,848. His 2.73 goals against average and .915 save percentage were solid, and encouraging enough for the Canucks to lock up their young goalie for at least the next three years.

Markstrom’s cap hit for the 2016-17 season will remain $1.55 million, and this deal is likely a precursor of things to come following the season with Ryan Miller’s contract set to expire following this season. Starting goaltenders are of the utmost importance, and locking up Markstrom to a team-friendly cap hit was a smart move on the part of Jim Benning and the Canucks management group.

Internationally, Markstrom has proven that he can compete with the best of the best as well. While representing his native country of Sweden, Markstrom has played in the IIHF World Championships in 2010 (where he won bronze), 2013 (where he won gold) and 2016, as well as at the IIHF World Junior Championships in 2009 (where he won silver) and 2010 (where he won bronze). His international resume will continue to grow in September as he has been selected to be one of the goaltenders representing Sweden at the upcoming World Cup of Hockey.