Calgary Flames Trade Talks: Influencing Stanley Cup Contenders

Calgary Flames Trade Talks: Influencing Stanley Cup Contenders

NHL contenders would have been smart to add the Calgary Flames to their friends and family cell phone plan for this season.

Many calls have been made to the Flames already this year and many more will be made before the March 8 trade deadline.

The Flames probably aren’t going to qualify for the NHL playoffs this season, but may have a say about who wins the Stanley Cup.

The Flames have already traded center Elias Lindholm and defenseman Nikita Zadorov to Vancouver, and are expected to move defensemen Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev. They would like to move veteran goalie Jacob Markstrom, and rumors are circulating that Rasmus Andersson could also be moved.

Lindholm, Markstrom, Hanifin and Tanev were probably the most coveted trade targets coming into the new year. Lindholm, Hanifin and Tanev will all be unrestricted free agents next summer.

The Canucks gave Calgary their 2024 first round pick, plus forward Andrei Kuzmenko (39 goals in 2022-23), and two other prospects (Hunter Brzustewicz and Joni Jurmo) for Lindholm (13 goals, 38 points in 57 games).

Vancouver gave up a third-round pick (2026) and a fifth-rounder (2024) for the 6-foot-6, 250-pound Zadorov.

The Canucks, leading the NHL in points, are pushing their chips all in for the postseason. They are also making a run at acquiring Tanev, a noteworthy shutdown defenseman and shot blocker.

Thus far there’s been no deal because the Canucks do not want to part with another first-round pick. The Toronto Maple Leafs are also interested in Tanev.

The surging Florida Panthers (9-1-0 in their last 10) are also talking to the Flames about Hanifin. Florida GM Bill Zito is an aggressive trader.

The Boston Bruins are also considered a favorite for Hanifin, a Boston native and a former Boston College player.

The New Jersey Devils came close to landing Markstrom last week, but the deal fell through. The Devils could circle back.

The Flames will want a first round pick, plus multiple assets, in the deals for Hanifin and Markstrom.

Teams have interest in Andersson, plus he has two years remaining on his contract ($4.75 million per season). That makes Andersson more difficult to move.

But regardless of what happens with Andersson, the Flames could end up with four extra first-round picks, plus other picks and prospects after the deadline is passed.