Jacob Markstrom is hoping that this is the season his immense success in professional leagues abroad will finally translate to the NHL level.

It doesn’t seem long ago that Markstrom was considered the NHL’s best goaltending prospect, but to this point he’s struggled to build on that foundation to develop into a bona fide NHL goaltender. The Canucks are hoping that by adding more detailed technical elements to Markstrom’s game, they can help to ease the transition for their not-quite-that-young netminder in the 2015 season and beyond.

This isn’t an alley-oop by any means, but there are reasons aplenty for optimism that stretch well beyond this organization’s success with Swedes. Well, once he returns from injury, of course.

Markstrom hails from the fabled hockey town of Gavle, Sweden – the same hometown of his backup last season, Joacim Eriksson. Born on January 1st, 1991, Markstrom spent his youth playing minor hockey in Sweden before rising to the ranks of the Swedish junior leagues. Although Markstrom spent the one season with IK Sätra in the Swedish J18 Elit League, the vast majority of his time in Sweden was spent within the Brynäs IF organization. 

After his first season playing against men as the backup for Brynäs IF in the SHL, Markstrom was drafted 31st overall by the Florida Panthers in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Markstrom then spent the next two years as the starter for Brynäs IF, where he posted some very respectable totals in his 18 and 19 year old seasons – although his playoff performances leave much to be desired.

As a 20 year old, Markstrom crossed the pond to ply his trade professionally in North America. Most of this first campaign was spent with the San Antonio Rampage, although there was also a one game call-up to the Florida Panthers. Markstrom’s second year in North America went considerably better and included an extended stay with the Panthers and a much better showing in the AHL than in the season prior. 

Markstrom was unable to build on this success, though. After two more stagnant seasons within the Panthers organization, Florida traded Markstrom to the Canucks as part of a package to acquire Roberto Luongo. In his first season with Vancouver, Markstrom struggled immensely in what limited opportunities he had to play in. 

The following campaign saw Markstrom snuck through waivers to the Utica Comets, where he flourished, posting a .934 regular season sv%. Which brings us to this campaign, where he figures to be the Canucks backup, barring some set of bizarre, unforeseen circumstances.

If this pre-season has been any indicator, the Canucks might be in for yet another goaltending controversy. Markstrom has looked sharp and confident in every showing thus far, which hasn’t necessarily been the case for any of his other starts with the Vancouver Canucks.

Right now, once he returns from injury, the Canucks have Markstrom slated to be the backup to Ryan Miller. Realistically speaking, I think a safe projection for Markstrom would be anywhere between 20-25 starts – barring injury. If the Canucks can get anywhere near league average sv% out of Markstrom, that has to be considered a massive success, given Markstrom’s struggles at the NHL level so far.