The Calgary Flames aren't rushing their rebuild, but they could make a few more moves before the 2024-25 NHL season starts.
Wes Gilbertson and Daniel Austin of the Calgary Sun discussed potential moves by Calgary Flames GM Craig Conroy before training camp.
Outside of making several trades at last season's trade deadline and then making additional deals this summer, the Flames haven't been active over the past few weeks. Calling patience the number one offseason storyline, Gilbertson said it was wise not to try and fast-track the rebuild.
But, what is Conroy open to doing, should he want to make additional moves?
Gilbertson noted that Conroy has told cap-strapped teams he’s willing to use the Flames' nearly $20 million in cap space to help them, but only if he receives a player and a sweetener, like a draft pick or prospect, in return. The scribe mentioned the San Jose Sharks deal to add draft picks by taking on Jake Walman and Cody Ceci.
From there, PTOs might be an option for the Flames. Regarding possible players for a Professional Tryout (PTO), Gilbertson mentioned center Steven Lorentz and winger Kailer Yamamoto as options, while Austin suggested Filip Zadina.
News this week noted that Zadina was set to sign a PTO with the Buffalo Sabres. However, Zadina's agent, Darren Ferris, denied those rumors, suggesting he was working on a contract for his client with another team. ESPN's Kevin Weekes reported at least three teams are talking to Ferris. It's not clear if the Flames are among them.
The long and the short of it is that the Flames could be a valuable partner for teams looking to unload salary and they could try to fill out holes on their roster with inexpensive contracts or PTO offers.
Flames Will Remain Patient
Austin writes, "There’s no need to rush into anything until the right deal is available, even if it means waiting a few months." In other words, Conroy will likely remain patient and understands where this Flames team is at. There's no mistaking this is not a contending team. Making moves to try and quickly improve the roster doesn't make sense.