Trade Buzz Growing: Teams Want Several Calgary Flames Players

With the Calgary Flames starting to come back to Earth after their red-hot start to the season, the trade chatter has picked up once again. Remember last year, the Flames had four players, Nikita Zadorov, Noah Hanifin, Elias Lindholm, and Chris Tanev, all on expiring deals. All four players were moved before the deadline. This season, general manager Craig Conroy has some decisions to make regarding a couple of his players who are on expiring deals: Andrei Kuzmenko and Dan Vladar. 

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According to Dave Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, the Flames have pieces teams could use at the trade deadline. 

“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. 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.”

Could Be More Than Just Expiring Deals Traded by Flames

However, the moves may not be limited to players on expiring deals. Remember, goaltender Jacob Markstrom had term left on his deal before he was traded to the New Jersey Devils in the summer. There could be a similar situation with Nazem Kadri and Rasmus Andersson. 

Pagnotta added:

“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.”

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

“Ramsus 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.”

In addition, Pagnotta stated that the Flames are looking to add to the center position. 

“So something to look at from Calgary’s perspective, not going to be exclusive to guys on expiring deals. I think Craig Conroy’s open to making additional moves, ” Pagnotta said.

The Flames Aren’t Just Selling

“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 Flames were looking for a center earlier in the season. RG reported during their exclusive interview with Craig Conroy that 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. 

As NHLTradeTalk documented on Friday, the Buffalo Sabres are getting calls on Dylan Cozens. At his age and cap hit, he is the type of player Conroy is looking for. 

Next: Defenseman Cam Fowler Traded To St. Louis Blues from Ducks