Canucks place goaltender Markstrom on waivers

Jacob Markstrom has been placed on waivers by the Vancouver Canucks. (Darryl Dyck/AP)

Score one for the Florida Panthers.

The Vancouver Canucks placed goaltender Jacob Markstrom on waivers Friday, just months after he was acquired by former general manager Mike Gillis as part of the Roberto Luongo trade last March.

The 29 other NHL teams have until 12 p.m. ET on Saturday to claim him.

Markstrom, who served as a backup to Eddie Lack after arriving in Vancouver mid-season, dropped on the Canucks’ depth chart when the team signed No. 1 netminder Ryan Miller as a free agent this summer.

The native of Gavle, Sweden, was acquired by the team, along with forward Shawn Matthias, in exchange for Luongo and forward prospect Steven Anthony. The Canucks also retained a portion of Luongo’s salary in the deal.

“I like Jacob Markstrom. I think he’s a really good young talent in goal,” Gillis told reporters after the trade. “When I look at the return, obviously you want to try and get the absolute best and most that you can get, but there are circumstances that do impact and play a role in these things. And we were impacted by things that were somewhat beyond our control.”

The 24-year-old Swede went 1-2-0 in four appearances with the Canucks in 2013-14, posting a .868 save percentage and 3.00 goals-against average.

Drafted 31st overall by Florida in 2008, Markstrom has amassed a 12-27-5 record and .896 save percentage in his NHL career.

The goalie has one year remaining on a contract that carries a $1.2-million salary cap hit. He is set to become a restricted free agent on July 1, 2015.


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Here is a list of all the players placed on waivers Friday, as per Renaud Lavoie:

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