Issue is Markstrom is IN his prime, and these other guys are 3/4/5 years older and are LEAVING their prime. Also, Anton never had a starter's role and was always shielded by being in a backup role on mostly good teams.

Yeah Mark is younger but he's also a ton worse than Halak (whose doing well as a 34yr ol - your buddy Lou just hung them at 40).
Prime!? Lets be real, he's 2 or 3-years past that probably (has a bum knee and head issues if I recall).
So you'd sign J Mark at US$5/6Mil for 4/5/6 yrs?? (that's the rates being posted) - until he's 35/36?
yikes!

If I'm JB (and with all the dead 3rd/4th line money I've c o c k e d up) I'd save my $$$ for EP/QH etc. and sooner tank with the kids versus muddle-around the middle-of-the-pack and hope for 1st round playoff exits to please the blueberry Boss...

Halak is also in a more sheltered position, and is 35 years old. Next year he could fall off a cliff, and he has not played in a starter's role for a long time now. His stats on paper might be better, but he has also had considerably more time as a backup and has almost always been on contending teams. Markstrom has had those numbers on a bottom of the barrel team, and this year has been a top 10 goalie. Given the difference in games, right now, there's no comparing Markstrom to Halak, Khudobin or Greiss. He's obviously better (right now, career numbers are irrelevant with this signing)

Markstrom's best year has been this year. Goalies tend to prime later (28 - 33), so signing him at probably 4/5 years buys us 3 good years and possibly 1 or two bad ones. Still though, if we bring him back, I see it more likely that Seattle takes him next year, so there is little worry about his long term game. Losing that contract, as well as the 6M cap of Edler will allow plenty of room for those signings.

The Starbucks will not - not - take him at 31yrs and $5Mil/per
You'll lose T.D. (if he meets the expansion threshold) or a skater (think perhaps a Virtanen, Gaudette etc.)

So I think the US$5Mil stays...come on CBO and Loui huh!!!

Can't take Demko if he is protected. One goalie is always protected.

It would not be smart for Seattle to pass on Markstrom. There will not be many other goalies in his tier available next year. Given that they will be very unlikely to have cap issues right away, the contract will not scare them away.
I think you are unnecessarily low on Markstrom. Most goalies still hold their own at 35. He is highly unlikely to suddenly fall off a cliff like you are suggesting.

TML for example have a dude named Campbell...I'd take him first...so will the 'Kraken'
Sooo, back to Marky and the $5Mil on Van's books...uggggg

Tyler Johnson isn't waiving from Tampa to San Jose, The Sharks are nowhere close enough to being cup contenders. I only see him waiving for a legit cup contender not a pretender like San Jose.