The Flames right now are where they could find themselves on the eve of the trade deadline, with plenty of trade partners in need of assets they can provide
It is not even yet December and we already are seeing clearly the conundrum the Calgary Flames could face leading up to the trade deadline.
In theory, the Flames are just outside a playoff position, but close enough to jump into a spot. Meanwhile, roster holes are visible around the league and could be filled by the Calgary’s pending unrestricted free agents. Trade matches abound, and potentially deals which could remake the Flames organization.
The Flames want to both reach the playoffs and keep some of their key pending UFAs in the likes of centre Elias Lindholm and defensemen Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev and Nikita Zadorov. It’s a nice thought.
A starker truth remains: a Stanley Cup title is unlikely, and general manager Craig Conroy can not afford to lose any or all of those players for nothing as free agents.
With this season’s trade deadline on March 8, plenty of time exists to make those moves. However, the potential also exists for teams to be pushing already and what if those teams make the Flames an offer they can’t refuse?
Case in point, the Toronto Maple Leafs and their depleted defence corps. Already with John Klingberg and Timothy Liljegren on long-term injury reserve, and rumours out there Klingberg may require season-ending hip surgery, former Flames captain Mark Giordano was hurt on Tuesday. How desperate will former Flames GM Brad Treliving be to grab Zadorov or Tanev — assuming he’s OK after blocking a shot with his face on Monday — to fill a hole?
There may even be a sign-and-trade deal possible with Hanifin, even though the Leafs have their own key pending UFA to retain in William Nylander amidst their salary cap-crunch with top-dollar deals in place for forwards Auston Matthews, John Tavares and Mitch Marner, with the later two boasting one more season after this one before becoming UFAs.
The New Jersey Devils also have both injury issues and a glaring need for defencemen and must be sniffing around Calgary. Tanev was a mentor and partner for Quinn Hughes in Vancouver and certainly could do much of the same for the younger brother of the Vancouver Canucks captain, Luke Hughes. Maybe a deal could also involve Flames goaltender Dan Vladar, which would open a spot for top prospect Dustin Wolf.
Speaking of the Canucks, they also have a need on defence plus created valuable salary cap space by trading Anthony Beauvillier to Chicago on Tuesday.
Even closer to home, the Edmonton Oilers desperately need to solve their goaltending woes, but could also use a shut-down defenceman.
Let’s be honest, the Flames are not going to throw their division rivals a lifeline, but the Oilers or Canucks may be able to swing a deal through an intermediary, such as something with the San Jose Sharks that would result in Anthony Duclair heading to the Stampede City and reuniting with Jonathan Huberdeau.
The possibilities are out there and the Flames at some point will be best served to be caught in the trade winds. It’s only a matter of when to catch air.