The Calgary Flames have reached an impasse, stuck between whether to push for contention or rebuilding after a few up-and-down seasons. That gap widened on Friday, when team president Don Maloney said that the team shouldn’t blow up to try and build up the future in an interview with Sportsnet’s Eric Francis. Maloney added that general manager Craig Conroy has no restrictions on deals he thinks can impact the long-term, but reminded fans that Calgary must push through the short-term as well, pushing a need to stay competitive.
Calgary is shopping high-value veterans like Nazem Kadri and Rasmus Andersson just a few years after trading away a heap, including Noah Hanifin and Jacob Markstrom. They are plowing towards a new era, on the back of multiple young pros, but the kids haven’t quite proven themselves yet. Kadri and Andersson have helped supplement Calgary’s rookies while they find their spots in the lineup.
At the same time, the pair of vets could fetch serious returns in a buyer’s market. Kadri has 14 points in 22 games this season, and scored 35 goals and 67 points in 82 games last year. He remains a clear top-line scorer, who could boom on a stronger offense. The same can be said for scoring-defender Andersson, who has 12 points in 22 games this year and scored 11 goals and 31 points last year.
Landing more young firepower – like Winnipeg’s Brad Lambert or Anaheim’s Pavel Mintyukov – could be the piece that ramps up Calgary’s rebuild. But they’ll have to make sure they’re not jeporadizing their next few seasons to do it. It will be a balancing act for novice GM Conroy, and one that should underscore the future of Flames hockey.
Flames should trade;
Coleman, Backlund, Kadri, Weegar, Andersson, Farabee and Frost and retain on Hubs to get him gone. Just strip it down to nothing and go into the new rink with an exciting team built around McKenna(or the 2nd overall), Cornato, Honzek, Parekh and friends
When has Kadri shown he is a “clear top line scorer”? He has had 1 PPG season in his career and that was in COL behind 1st line C MacKinnon. Every other season he is a .6-.7 PPG player. Solid middle 6, but not top line.
@bigdaddy, There is no idea where they draft this offseason. They’re within 5 points of falling to 6th before the lottery. from 6th they could easily fall to 10th. Backlund is not getting traded after taking a discount contract to stay with the only team he has ever known, No one wants Hubs, Frost, or Farabee, most others hold some NMC i believe. Honzek is now done for the year and no one knows what he’ll be once back with his 4p in 18 games this season so far, and Parekh has shown to be in well over his head. You’re not getting much for many of these players you suggest the gey rid of. Kadri at deadline sure. Andersson and Weegar could get some return maybe. ripping it down isn’t going to bring in a lot.
They will strip it down further as the trade deadline approaches.
Kadri, Andersson and Coleman are most certainly gone. For various reasons, Weegar, Backlund and Huberdeau aren’t going anywhere.
don’t think any players on the flames roster bring back “young firepower” .. unless they include some high draft capital.. which would defeat the purpose