Calgary Flames Weighing All Trade Options

The Calgary Flames are still in the mix in the Western Conference playoff mix. Even though the Flames have returned to pack some, they are still within striking distance. However, there is a lot of noise surrounding the  Calgary Flames, especially regarding their trade options and whether they will move out or add certain players this season.

Unlike last season when the Flames had multiple unrestricted free agents with Nikita Zadorov, Noah Hanifin, Elias Lindholm, and Chris Tanev, the Flames only have two players in Andre Kuzmenko and Dan Vladar. Also, throw in the fact that before the 23-24 season, the Flames moved out Tyler Toffoli for Yegor Sharangovich. Calgary had to deal with the trade speculation surrounding Jacob Markstrom. That deal finally happened with the Devils as Full Press Hockey reported it would.

When you look at the team this season, Calgary is finding the right mix under head coach Ryan Huska. And look, that does not mean the distractions of moving out players are gone. But this team is handling it better. As we saw at the beginning of training camp, Flames players wanted no part in trade talks with the media.

However, that has not stopped speculation about Kuzemko, Vladar and others heading into the NHL Trade Deadline, as Dave Pagnotta of the Fourth Period reports.

“Conroy Conroy, GM, has to navigate the trade waters with respect to what direction he wants to go in. They’ve got some pieces on expiring deals, and Andrei Kuzmenko is leading that charge up front. You’ve got Dan Vladar in goal, also on an expiring deal. Those are going to be two guys that are going to get talked about as the season moves along closer to the March 7 trade deadline.” 

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There are also pieces, as he notes, that could move in the summer that teams have been calling on, like Rasmus Andersson and Nazem Kadri. Both of whom still have term left on their current contracts.

But they have other pieces that have been making headlines for one way or another, that were available in the summer that teams are going to start to circle back on, or the Flames are going to start to explore as well. You’ve got Nazem Kadri at the center position up front, and you’ve got Rasmus Andersson on that back end, who will continue to draw significant interest from Calgary. He’s got another year on his contract. He’s got a little bit of protection, but he’s a coveted asset for teams looking to shore up their blue line, especially in the top four now and next season, not exclusive to a run this year because of the extra year on his contract. So I believe, at least in the summer, he was open to a change of scenery. He wanted to see, and the Flames wanted to see how they would do this here.” – Full Press Hockey Transcription

However, according to Flames GM Craig Conroy, who spoke with RG exclusively, he hopes to re-sign the defenseman to a long-term deal.

“Ramusa loves being a Calgary Flame,” Conroy said. “And again, some of this decision is up to him. When you have a player who likes the market and wants to be there, you try to get that guy signed. And he’s at a great age.”

Similarly, Pagnotta confirmed what Conroy had told RG, which he wants to add to the center position.

“I think Craig Conroy‘s open to making additional moves. Plus he also wants to kind of buy, they’re going through their retool right now, and if they can find a center, a young center in his mid 20s. That’s going to be a piece that he would like to add that might be more achievable in the summer.”

It had been reported that the Calgary Flames were looking for a center earlier in the season as one of their trade options. RG, in their exclusive interview with Conroy, said he is open to an age-appropriate right-shot center. He would be willing to use one of his first-round picks to get that player.

“When I talk to teams, I had talked about a right-shot center, and a lot of teams are looking for a right-shot center. So, it’s not easy. Those are the things you know when you talk to teams,” Conroy said. “If there were a younger player we could grow with, that would make more sense to use a first-round pick. I wouldn’t trade for a 31- or 32-year-old, but I’d be willing to move picks for a younger player, for sure.”

We have seen with Sharangovich and Kevin Bahl that all they need is the right situation to succeed. A player like Dylan Cozens out of Buffalo or Kaapo Kakko out of New York could be a piece they could use.

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