Jacob Markstrom 'ready now to play in the NHL', says Canucks GM

A little seasoning can go a long way.

That appears to be the case with Jacob Markstrom, who has excelled this season for the Vancouver Canucks' AHL affiliate, backstopping the Utica Comets to a Calder Cup Final appearance.

The 25-year-old's career has been full of more downs than ups since being drafted in the second round back in 2008 by the Florida Panthers. Included in the deal that saw Roberto Luongo sent the other way, Markstrom was viewed as one who may never live up to his full potential.

Now, however, Canucks general manager Jim Benning believes Markstrom is indeed ready for the big time.

"Jacob Markstrom is ready now to play in the NHL," Benning said Wednesday on TSN 1040 Radio.

"He’s had an excellent playoff. He’s always had a good skill-set, but the thing I notice about him now is his mental toughness," he continued. "His ability to, if he lets in a bad goal or he doesn’t have a particularly good game, (to have) that bounce-back. That competitiveness to show up the next night and play real good and not only give his team a chance to win ... He’s been excellent."

In 17 playoff games, Markstrom boasts a save percentage of .928, down only slightly from the .934 mark he posted in 32 regular season games. This, of course, is a definite improvement over his career save percentage of .896 in 50 NHL appearances, albeit against lesser competition.

With Ryan Miller and Eddie Lack also in the mix, Benning may be forced to make a move, and with relative ease.

"I think there’s enough teams that need goalies that if we decide to move someone that we won’t have a problem doing it," he said.

- with h/t to Today's Slapshot