Jacob Markstrom Reassigned to AHL for Conditioning

The Vancouver Canucks have reassigned goaltender Jacob Markstrom to the Utica Comets of the AHL on a conditioning stint, the team announced Friday.

Markstrom, who took over back-up duties when Eddie Lack was traded to Carolina over the summer, didn’t make it far into the season before suffering a hamstring injury that has kept him out of any regular season action.

After a stellar year in the AHL where he posted a .934 save percentage through 32 games, the team was ready to upgrade Markstrom and it was paying off in the preseason to the tune of a .962 save percentage in four matches.

The 25-year-old has struggled making the jump to the NHL ranks previously, with a collective .896 save percentage through 50 career games split over five seasons, making his NHL debut at 21. He was a highly regarded prospect who was pushed into the league early due to huge success at lower levels. But we have yet to see that level of play from him in the NHL.

Since being placed on the shelf with an injury, Richard Bachman has backed up Ryan Miller.

In addition to Markstrom’s conditioning assignment, the Canucks also sent forward Brendan Gaunce and defenseman Alex Biega to the AHL.

Markstrom, Biega and Gaunce have been assigned to the @UticaComets.

RELEASE → https://t.co/vl0EiHON4M pic.twitter.com/3KFhH0U0uS

— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) November 6, 2015