Despite their inconsistent goal-scoring, the Calgary Flames are reportedly looking to add on defense. The Flames, who have been quiet so far during a busy trade season, have shown interest in acquiring Montreal Canadiens defenseman Joel Edmundson, per TSN’s Pierre LeBrun on tonight’s edition of Insider Trading.
Edmundson, who the Canadiens acquired in a late-offseason trade in 2020, has seen his defensive play dip sharply after a solid first season in Montreal in 2020-21. The 29-year-old has dealt with significant injuries over the past two campaigns, limited to just 24 out of 82 games last season and 39 out of 60 games this year. With the Flames on the fringes of a Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, general manager Brad Treliving is looking to Edmundson to help propel the team ahead of teams in the race, such as the Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota Wild, and Seattle Kraken.
The Flames have had a publically disappointing season so far, with inconsistency plaguing a refreshed, star-studded roster. With the deadline rushing into view in just a few hours, the team sits five points behind the eighth-place Jets with no games in hand. Poor goal-scoring output and a sharp decline in production from Jonathan Huberdeau have robbed Calgary of a bonafide offensive superstar, something they had two of last season in Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk. Elias Lindholm has done his part, recording 51 points in 59 games despite losing his previous year’s linemates. A team save percentage far south of the .900 mark hasn’t helped, with Jacob Markstrom in the midst of his worst season since entering the NHL full-time in 2015.
Whether or not the Flames actually make a move to buy at the deadline likely hinges on the result of tonight’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. A loss tonight would leave them seven points out of a playoff spot, a tough deficit to make up in an average but tight Western Conference. Earlier reports suggested the Canadiens could receive a first-round pick in exchange for Edmundson, as he has one year after this left on his deal-making $3.5MM per season. With the defense market dried up and Calgary not in a position to part with such a significant asset, likely to be a top-16 pick, it could be an unwise gamble on the part of Treliving.