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Markstrom Causing Problems

November 2, 2011, 12:11 PM ET [ Comments]
Dan Spiegel
Florida Panthers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
GM Dale Tallon has a problem. After Scott Clemmensen returns from knee surgery soon Tallon will have three starting goaltenders, one of them potentially spectacular. The problem is the stud is Jacob Markstrom, the 21 year old phenom who was scheduled to be in San Antonio for the year working on his craft to get ready to take the reigns next season.

Jose Theodore has been solid thus far, and a Clemmensen/Theodore platoon might be good enough to get this team to the postseason. However, there is no denying the "it" factor Markstrom has shown in his starts against Washington,Montreal, and Ottawa.

The defense in front of him is still getting comfortable with the new systems installed by new Head Coach Kevin Dineen, and assistants Craig Ramsey and Gord Murphy. A few of the 7 goals against Markstrom this year were not his fault, and if the systems tighten up he should be even better.

The question then becomes who stays and who goes? The conservative approach would be to send Markstrom back down, showcase Clemmensen as healthy and see how the platoon with Theodore works in the short term. This would be the best case scenario and valuable to have two classy veterans added to the locker room.

The aggressive approach would be to trade Clemmensen or Theodore right now and name Markstrom the starter for the rest of the year. This scenario is very unlikely, but there is no doubt Tallon loves what he has in Markstrom. Looks like Jacques Martin gets a brownie point for that draft pick in 2008, as that is all I'm willing to give.

There were questions as to how ready Markstrom was to take on the American game after practically a half season in the minors last year. It is safe to say he is ready for the next step, but the issue for the Panthers is finding the balance between veteran and youngster to achieve the most success.

Markstrom's .945 save percentage says it all, as well as his respectable 2.11 GAA.

The other problem in this scenario is how much is Clemmensen worth fresh off of knee surgery and an average year last year? Tallon loves to stockpile draft picks so maybe he is worth a 3rd or 4th rounder. Regardless something needs to be done over the next few weeks, as Clemmensen has started skating again and should be ready by mid-November at the latest.

No matter how "problematic" this situation might be, it is unchartered territory for a team that is usually paper thin in talent. Assets have been acquired and now there are pieces to trade away comfortably if needed. A new era in Florida indeed...

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