It’s been one of those seasons in Calgary.
From a 2-9-2 start to a pair of poorly received interviews with president of hockey operations Don Maloney and rampant trade speculation surrounding high-profile veteran players, there’s been no shortage of things to talk about in this market.
And even with a correction in results to the tune of a 7-3-1 stretch since mid-November, many Flames fans are ready for a change. As Eric Francis has suggested many times, the concept of “leaning in” to this being a down season has never felt more attractive on the outside.
Even with a nice run of late, Calgary sits 31st overall in points percentage. For many, the potential to draft a franchise player like Gavin McKenna or Keaton Verhoeff in June is an exciting prospect. And for a team building for the long-term with a new building opening in less than two years, there may never be a better time to make that a reality.
As such, our first Flames Mailbag of the season is mostly focused on “big picture” items with one third of the 2025-26 campaign already in the books.
Brody’s question here reflects one of the big discussion points in Calgary right now.
If the Flames really are going to lean in, moving key veterans fits the bill. To bolster that case, the likes of Nazem Kadri and Rasmus Andersson would be among the top assets on the market if available.
We’ll get into specifics shortly, but the benefit would be two-fold. These players would net impressive returns, likely made up of future assets to fit the long-term vision. And, in trading away driving forces like Kadri and Andersson, the team would undoubtedly take a step back right now, furthering the chances of a lower finish and higher pick.
My understanding is Calgary is willing to listen on veteran players right now. But I can also tell you the Flames won’t be trading players simply for the sake of it. Offers will need to move the needle in a big way, especially for players under contract beyond this year, like Kadri and Blake Coleman.
And that’s the way it should be.
These players are too valuable to be moved for anything less than what the team believes their value is. And to hit those targets, the Flames will likely have to wait, even as those players continue to lead the way on the ice.
And, honestly, I think serious offers will materialize in time. But until they do, general manager Craig Conroy has to, and will, remain patient. Luckily, it’s not new to him, as he was in this position two seasons ago with multiple key veterans.
Aman is cutting right to the heart of it, hey? I’m no good at giving odds, so I’ll use words instead.
Let’s start with Andersson, and I would place the odds of him being traded at very strong. Of all the veterans, Andersson is the only one on an expiring contract. Everything we hear from insiders suggests the player and team aren’t close on an extension, and Conroy absolutely will not let Andersson go past the deadline without a deal in place.
Andersson is having an incredible season and deserves a big-money deal with term. However, that type of contract likely doesn’t align with a Flames team actively looking to get younger. And with the type of value Andersson could return in a trade, even as a rental, it seems probable things will eventually go down that road.
Coleman, I’d peg at decent. With one year remaining and a $4.9 million cap hit, Coleman is exactly the type of two-way winger contending teams covet at the deadline. As mentioned, he’s the type of player who will need a strong offer to be pried away. But knowing the level he’s playing at and his recent Stanley Cup pedigree, those types of offers feel realistic.
And then there’s Kadri, which is the hardest situation to handicap. Centres like Kadri, with contracts like his, are rarely moved in season. Even at 35, Kadri is playing some of the best hockey of his career and is as competitive and fiery as ever. But with a $7 million cap hit and three years remaining on his deal, the framework of a Kadri trade would be the most difficult to achieve. Thus, I’d suggest his odds are uncertain but definitely not out of the question.
And then there’s what’s actually happening on the ice. The Flames fell 4-3 to Detroit on Thursday night, which puts them at 7-3-1 in their last 11. Even still, it’s Calgary’s best stretch of the season and it’s being influenced by several factors.
More than anything, it feels like a natural correction. This roster was never as bad as a 2-9-2 start would suggest. They’re also not going to clip along at a 0.750 points percentage the rest of the way, either. In reality, Calgary’s current record probably reflects what they’ve been through 32 games.
That said, you can’t discount how certain individuals have normalized their game. That starts with defenceman MacKenzie Weegar, who has looked far more like himself since being paired with rookie Yan Kuznetsov last month.
And after frustrating and uneven starts, forwards Connor Zary and Yegor Sharangovich have found more permanent homes in the top nine and are producing at a much higher level. There’s still room to grow, but at least both are pointed in a positive direction.
Finally, as Maureen suggests, the goaltending situation has settled down. After being used sparingly through October, Devin Cooley’s quality work has given the coaching staff confidence to play him more frequently. The result has been a reduction in Dustin Wolf’s workload and a noticeable uptick in his performance.
