With news John Klingberg is out for the season, do not be surprised if Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving is again talking turkey with Flames GM Craig Conroy regarding Tanev
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced the expected on Wednesday; defenceman John Klingberg is likely done for season due to hip surgery.
Does that put a trade between the Leafs and the Calgary Flames, likely involving Chris Tanev, back on the front burner?
It only makes sense. The Maple Leafs desperately need a boost to their blueline brigade, which already is without Jake Muzzin for the season while Timothy Liljegren is on long-term injury reserve (albeit expected back before Christmas) and Mark Giordano is on regular injured reserve with a broken finger.
The good-ship Flames is listing, and a retool is entirely necessary, especially if their three remaining key pending unrestricted free agents in centre Elias Lindholm, as well as Tanev and fellow defenceman Noah Hanifin are not going to re-sign.
Flames general manager Craig Conroy specifically did not want to retain salary with the trade that sent Nikita Zadorov to the Vancouver Canucks, a player the Maple Leafs had interest in acquiring.
The Flames still have all three slots available for deals in which they retain salary, with swaps involving Lindholm, Hanifin and Tanev all being transactions that could earn the Flames a larger return by keeping salary.
For a Tanev comparable, consider the deal that sent Josh Manson from Anaheim to Colorado a couple seasons ago, which netted the Anaheim Ducks a second-round pick and prospect Drew Helleson. A home run would be a repeat of the deal that sent David Savard to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2020-21 season, a first- and third-round pick.
Now, there are a few issues. The Maple Leafs are low on draft picks (no second rounders in each of the next three drafts and no 2025 first-round pick), are not blessed with a deep prospect pool, and any deal would likely mean taking money back.
Potentially, the Flames could ask Toronto to add a forward such as David Kampf to sweeten the pot.
The Flames certainly hold the cards right now with Tanev a target for a few teams (say hello to the New Jersey Devils and Dallas Stars).
That said, one week into December and the chase for Calgary’s players sitting on the trade board has begun.