Behind The Bench: Jacob Markstrom

Vitals

Born: Gavle, SWE
Birth date: January 31, 1990
Height: 6’4” (194 cm)
Weight: 185 lbs (84 kg)
Position: Goaltender
Catches: Left
NHL Draft: 31^st overall by the Florida Panthers in 2008
NHL Team: Florida Panthers
Jersey No.: #33
National Team: Sweden
NHL Contract: 12/13
Cap Hit: $1,300,00

History

Markstrom spent the 2006-07 season with Brynas J18 club playing in 13 games with a 2.05 GAA and .911 Sv% and played one game with Brynas J20 with a 2.77 GAA and .903 Sv%.

Markstrom emerged as Brynas’ no.1 goaltender during the 2007-08 season and spent a majority of his season with Brynas’ J20 team. He played in 22 games in the SEL with a 2.00 GAA and .931 Sv%. He played so well that he was called up to play for Brynas in the Elitserien. He played 7 games with a 3.12 GAA and .888 Sv%. In 7 Elitserien games, Markstrom let in 22 goals. Markstrom also played in nine relegation games and his play was a large reason Brynas avoid demotion and stayed in the top league. Markstrom also played for Team Sweden during the U18 World Juniors. Despite a 4^th place finish, Markstrom was voted a top 3 player on Team Sweden.

At the age of 18, Markstrom was the starting goaltender for Brynas and was considered one of the Elitserien’s top goaltenders. Markstrom played in 35 Elitserien games and posted a 2.38 GAA and .917 Sv% with three shutouts. He also started 5 games for team Sweden at the U20 World Juniors where he went 4-1 with 1 shutout during the tournament and finished with a 1.61 GAA and .943 Sv%. Markstrom’s play helped Team Sweden capture a silver medal.

In his second full season in the Elitserien, Markstrom helped Brynas finish 6^th in the twelve-team league after finishing 12^th just two seasons ago. Markstrom played in 43 of Brynas 55 games. He finished the season with a 2.01 GAA and a .927 Sv% with 5 shutouts. Markstrom finished the season as league’s top goaltender with a league leading GAA and Sv% and was awarded the Honken Trophy. Markstrom represented Sweden at the U20 World Juniors and appeared in 5 games with a 4-1 record. He finished the tournament with a 2.21 GAA and .927 Sv% as team Sweden won a bronze medal.

Markstrom made his way to North America during the 2010-11 season. He spent the season in the AHL with the Rochester Americans. Markstrom played in 37 games for the Americans and posted a 16-20-1 record with a 2.98 GAA and .907 Sv%. Unfortunately, Markstrom suffered a knee injury and his season was cut short.

Markstrom has high hopes that his knee will be ready for training camp.

Talent Analysis

Markstrom is a big butterfly goalie that looks even bigger when he’s in net. He’s greatest attribute his is great mental strength; he stays calm and cool but brings intensity to his game and is very competitive. Markstrom has a good glove, good positioning, and the agility and strength to push him post-to-post. His large stature allows him to cover the bottom of the net really well. Markstrom has good vision and can usually see the puck through traffic to make a save.

Markstrom at times does struggle with rebound control and has shown difficulty adjusting to the speed of the North American game. He also has a tendency to go down early on shots and can get beaten up high. Markstrom is known to have difficulty getting back up after he has dropped to his pads to make a save.

Markstrom will need to spend time adjusting to the North American game and will need to improve on his rebound control. He’ll also need to improve on getting back up on his stakes quickly after dropping to his pads to make a save.

Markstrom has a lot of raw potential that he’ll need to refine in North America before he can become as dominate as Florida hopes him to be.

Future

Markstrom is projected to become Florida’s number one goaltender in the near future. Despite a disappointing first season in North America, Markstrom should have little problem reaching his full potential. Markstrom has the talent to be a world-class goalie; he just needs more experience to temper his potential. Expect Florida to play Markstrom as often as they played Tomas Vokoun. Expect him to play 55-65 games a season in Florida and he should win 20-25 by himself. Whether he wins anymore will depend on the team in front of him. Markstrom will have another year of seasoning and adjusting in the AHL before he makes the leap to the NHL.

He has the work ethic and the passion to become the best in the game. Now it’s just a matter of time until her refines all his skills and becomes one of the best.

NHL Highlights

• Drafted 31^st overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft
• 1^st NHL Game Started – January 23, 2011 vs. New Jersey Devils (2-5 L)
• 1^st NHL Game Loss – January 23, 2011 vs. New Jersey Devils (2-5 L)

Career Highlights

• 2007-08 J20 SuperElit (North) Best GAA (1.80)
• 2007-08 J20 SuperElit (North) Best Sv% (.938)
• 2007-08 J20 SuperElit (Overall) Best Sv% (.931)
• 2007-08 J20 SuperElit SM-silver Medal
• 2007-08 U18 WJC Top 3 Player on Team Sweden
• 2007-08 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Champion
• 2008-09 Elitserien Rookie of the Year Nominee
• 2008-09 U20 WJC Best Goaltender
• 2008-09 U20 WJC Best Sv% (.943)
• 2008-09 U20 WJC Silver Medal
• 2008-09 U20 WJC Top 3 Player on Team Sweden
• 2009-10 Elitserien All-Star Team
• 2009-10 Elitserien Best GAA (2.01)
• 2009-10 Elitserien Best Sv% (.927)
• 2009-10 Elitserien Honken Trophy
• 2009-10 Elitserien Rookie of the Year
• 2009-10 J20 SuperElit SM-silver Medal
• 2009-10 Swedish Junior Hockey Player of the Year
• 2009-10 U20 WJC Bronze Medal
• 2009-10 WJC Top 3 Player on Team Sweden
• 2009-10 World Championship Bronze Medal

Career Stats

AHL: 37 GP, 16 W, 20 L, 1 OTL, 1 SO, 2.98 GAA, .907 Sv%
Elitserien: 85 GP, 2.503 GAA, .910 Sv%
Elitserien Playoffs: 14 GP, 2.337 GAA, .921 Sv%
International: 7 GP, 2.22 GAA, .911 Sv%
International-JR: 33 GP, 2.55 GAA, .915 Sv%
J18 Allsvenskan: 14 GP, 2.525 GAA, .909 Sv%
J18 Allsvenskan Playoffs: 3 GP, 1.86 GAA, .905 Sv%
NHL: 1 GP, 0 W, 1 L, 0 OTL, 0 SO, 3.00 GAA, .857 Sv%
SuperElit: 23 GP, 2.385 GAA, .917 Sv%
SuperElit Playoffs: 3 GP, 6.395 GAA, .829 Sv%
TV-Pucken: 8 GP, 3.20 GAA, .890 Sv%
WC: 3 GP, 3 W, 0 L, 0 OTL, 1 SO, 1.33 GAA, .944 Sv%
WJC-20: 10 GP, 1 S0, 1.91 GAA, .935 Sv%
WJC-18: 6 GP, 4 W, 2 L, 0 OTL, 1 SO, 3.04 GAA, .862 Sv%