Dr Hockey Segment On Wednesday night, the Calgary Flames traded pending unrestricted free agent forward Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks. He was the second pending UFA the Flames have traded this season. The first was defenseman Nikita Zadorov on Nov. 30, who also landed in Vancouver. Did their latest move signal they will officially be sellers at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline? If so, they could emerge as the perfect trade partner for the New Jersey Devils [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/opinions/new-jersey-devils-adam-henrique-tom-fitzgerald-trade-deadline]? With a little under half the season left, the Flames are still in the postseason picture, but like the Devils, they have work to do. Calgary has a record of 22-22-5 after 49 games, sitting five points away from a wild-card spot and 10 points back of third place in the Pacific Division. To get an idea of Flames general manager Craig Conroy's mindset, one has to go back to an interview [https://twitter.com/JayOnSC/status/1661127310911700993]he did last May. "As far as Johnny (Gaudreau) leaving, I think it was a learning thing for me. I was hoping Johnny was going to come back. I thought Johnny was going to come back," Conroy said. "I don't think I would let that happen again. I truly thought Johnny was going to come back, and when he didn't, it was disappointing. Then you think, uh oh, you just lost an asset, one of your best players of all time, and you didn't get anything for him. That was a real eye-opener for me." The Flames have a few notable UFAs remaining on their roster, including defensemen Chris Tanev [https://www.nhl.com/flames/player/chris-tanev-8475690] and Noah Hanifin [https://www.nhl.com/flames/player/noah-hanifin-8478396]. Tanev is a shot-blocking machine and currently leads his team with 135, which is fourth-most [https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CGY/2024.html] in the league. Many expect him to be moved, while Hanifin is a more interesting case. THN's site editor and reporter for the Calgary Flames [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/calgary-flames/], Randy Sportak, recently wrote about why it would be in the Flames' best interest to re-sign the 27-year-old. He wrote [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/calgary-flames/news/calgary-flames-heading-to-the-trade-deadline-why-re-signing-noah-hanifin-is-the-best-plan-of-attack], "(Hanifin) is second to Rasmus Andersson for ice-time-per-game, a leader in both even-strength and short-handed time, and would log more if the Flames were without a top four that also includes Tanev and MacKenzie Weegar. He faces top lines constantly and has the team's best plus-minus among blueliners along with well above average analytics." Sounds like a player New Jersey could use on their blue line. In addition to bolstering their blue line, several reports have linked the Devils to Flames' goaltender Jacob Markstrom [https://www.nhl.com/flames/player/jacob-markstrom-8474593]. At 34 years old, the netminder has the experience New Jersey lacks in net and could provide the stability the team desperately needs. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA0MDIxMDQzNzU5Njg3MjI4/nhl--new-york-rangers-at-calgary-flames-.jpg] The Devils have previously been trade partners with the Flames, most recently acquiring Tyler Toffoli in exchange for Yegor Sharangovich and a third-round pick. Thus far, it is a deal that has worked out for both sides, and as the trade deadline nears, New Jersey still has young players in their organization who could pique Calgary's interest, including Alexander Holtz [https://www.nhl.com/devils/player/alexander-holtz-8482125]. On Jan. 23, Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald addressed the media and explained his mindset when it comes to the trade deadline and his roster. "I'm always looking to improve the team," he said. "There are areas I'd like to improve, whether it's depth defensemen, whether it's looking in the goaltending market. "I can't force teams to trade people to me. My phone is constantly working and calling teams. That's what we do this time of year to gauge each other's thoughts and interests, what they're thinking, what we're thinking, and if there's a match in there somewhere. That's part of the process of being a general manager. It's always staying connected to the other teams and what they're trying to do and where we are at that point." The Devils and Flames appear to be the perfect trade partners as each possesses what the other seeks. The 2024 NHL Trade Deadline is March 8. It is only a matter of time to see if Conroy's mindset will remain the same and if Fitzgerald can pull off some deadline magic. Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/] for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.
