Connect with us

Calgary Flames

Flames Currently Feeling Heat, Gaudreau Trade Talk

The Calgary Flames are all but mathematically out of the playoffs and there’s talk that players like Johnny Gaudreau could be moved.

Certainly not the first time insiders have looked at the future of Johnny Gaudreau in Calgary, a recent report by Boston Hockey Now’s Jimmy Murphy likely won’t be the last time someone looks at the forward’s status with the team and a potential trade. Murphy speculates some big changes could be coming for struggling Flames who are 5-9-1 under Darryl Sutter and Gaudreau potentially finding a new home is something to keep an eye on.

Related: Flames Losses Means Selling Ahead of Trade Deadline

The team has lost 7 of 8 and it’s fairly clear they won’t be playing during the 2021 NHL playoffs unless a miracle happens. As such, there could be major shakeup to this roster and Gaudreau could be worth watching as an NHL source claimed the winger is in Sutter’s doghouse.

As has been the case in the past, the Philadelphia Flyers are being heavily connected to Gaudreau and the source believes he could be a good fit. Gaudreau grew up cheering for the Flyers and many believe that team will be the first he looks at when he reaches free agency at the end of the 2021-22 season.

Calgary general manager Brad Treliving has to be feeling the heat, but is he looking to make a trade before the NHL deadline? Or, is he better served to let the season come to a close and make big moves during the offseason? Names like Derek Ryan, Sam Bennett and David Rittich could be on the move over the next few days, but those aren’t needle movers for most teams. Gaudreau’s departure, if it comes to pass, would represent a major change.

TSN’s Darren Dreger said during the on Daily Faceoff podcast that it’s real quiet on the trade front for Calgary which comes as a borderline shock to him. He asks, “How can it be given the way this team has played ’til this point?” Dreger goes on to say that either means clubs around the NHL don’t like the Flames players or they know their big name players like Sean Monahan, Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk will not be moved in season so you might as well wait until the offseason.

Johnny Gaudreau Calgary Flames
Johnny Gaudreau Calgary Flames

Is Gaudreau a Good Bet for Another Team?

The winger has been mentioned as a trade candidate in the past and this summer, he represents a season-long rental for a team. He’s not necessarily an inexpensive rental at $6.75 million so a team would either need to believe he can turn things around in a different environment, or they believe he’ll make less on an extension in a flat cap environment.

His declining production and reputation as an invisible man during the playoffs might not help when it comes to stirring up interest.

Next: Devils Held Palmieri Out of Lineup Because of Imminent Trade

1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. Pingback: Oilers Have Specific Plan Heading into 2020-21 NHL Trade Deadline

Leave a Reply

More News

Discover more from NHL Trade Talk

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading