After 270 games in the NHL, Canucks goaltender Jacob Markstrom finally has a chance to prove he can be a playoff starter in the best league in the world. (via imacSportsnet)
Of the seven Canucks expected to make their Stanley Cup playoffs debut against the Wild, Markstrom is easily the oldest at age 30. The next closest is 26-year-old defenceman Troy Stecher, who has been a pro for only four years.
But emerging Canucks stars like Brock Boeser, 23, Elias Pettersson, 21, and Quinn Hughes, 20, still have their professional hockey lives ahead of them. Unless he plays until he is 40, Markstrom’s career is more than half over. He was their most valuable player this season. Now the six-foot-six netminder just has to be that good again in the playoffs. After a five-month layoff that started with knee surgery in February. And only one warmup game to get ready. On an expiring contract. No pressure.
He said he knew Markstrom was good during Roussel’s first season with the Canucks, but concluded the goaltender was special last fall when he was able to deliver some astounding performances while dealing with the death of his dad back in Sweden due to cancer. Roussel was amazed at Markstrom’s mental and emotional strength.
Third-line centre Adam Gaudette, 23, and fourth-line penalty-killer Tyler Motte, 25, are also expected to make their Stanley Cup playoff debuts on Sunday.
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