Flames defenseman Nikita Zadorov reportedly has asked to be traded

Agent for the big blueliner voiced displease shortly after Calgary's 5-4 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday

As the Calgary Flames were preparing to leave Toronto following their 5-4 shootout loss to the Maple Leafs and readying to face the Ottawa Senators, the agent for Nikita Zadorov dropped a bomb on the situation.

In the aftermath of the game — during which Dan Milstein posted on social media a video of Zadrov’s bone-crushing body check on Tyler Bertuzzi and told Toronto fans to get their tickets — Milstein responded to a fan’s question of “Dan, can we keep him?”

The answer from Milstein: “I don’t think so. Not when the best D barely gets the ice time…”

Not long after, former NHL goalie and broadcaster Kevin Weekes reported that Zadorov has requested a trade.

Zadorov, who has said in the past he is interested in staying in Calgary, would be a sought-after player on the trade market. Toronto, with its defensive woes and injuries, would be keen on him, but other clubs would also.

Flames GM Craig Conroy said he does not want to lose his free agents for nothing, and that would mean making trades involving players who will not re-sign.

The Flames have a handful of other key players due to become UFAs, among them center Elias Lindholm and defensemen Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev.