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Flames Recall Jordan Oesterle

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The Calgary Flames have recalled defenseman Jordan Oesterle to the NHL. Oesterle has played in 12 games with the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers so far this season, netting eight assists, two penalty minutes, and a -2. He’s also appeared in four games with the Flames this season, going without a point and recording a -2.

Oesterle is in his first season with the Flames, signing a one-year, $925K contract with the club in July. The Flames become the fifth franchise that Oesterle has been a part of, previously spending time with the Edmonton Oilers, Chicago Blackhawks, Arizona Coyotes, and Detroit Red Wings. He’s totaled 353 career NHL games and scored 84 career points. He’s served as a role player for much of his career, with the 71 games he played in the 2018-19 season representing the most he’s played in one year. That season also marked Oesterle’s highest single-season scoring, with six goals and 20 points.

Oesterle signed with the Edmonton Oilers as an undrafted free agent in 2014, following the conclusion of his junior year at Western Michigan University. He received his NHL debut in the 2014-15 season, playing in six of the 25 games that he would total with the Oilers organization. After leaving Edmonton, Oesterle joined the Blackhawks, who traded him to the Arizona Coyotes alongside Marian Hossa and Vinnie Hinostroza.

Oesterle joins Nick DeSimone as an extra defenseman on the Flames roster. DeSimone has played in eight games with the Flames this season, recording four assists. He has also recorded four assists in six AHL games this year.

Evening Notes: Zadorov, Giordano, Hyman

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ESPN’s Kevin Weekes is reporting that there remains a lot of interest in Calgary Flames defenseman Nikita Zadorov. Among the teams interested are the Dallas Stars, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils, and fresh off their cap-clearing trade, the Vancouver Canucks.

Zadorov requested a trade a few weeks ago and at the time his agent Dan Milstein had hoped for a quick resolution although one has yet to be reached. Trades have proven difficult this season due to so many teams being within a million dollars of the NHL salary cap ceiling. The Flames have reportedly told Zadorov that they are willing to move him but will be patient in the process as they wait for the right deal to come along.

Zadorov has a goal and five assists in 21 games so far this season while averaging over 18 minutes a night in ice time.

In other evening notes:

  • The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that defenseman Mark Giordano will not return to tonight’s game due to an upper-body injury. It is unclear when Giordano sustained the injury as he had a shot on goal during his final shift and then remained on the ice until the Florida Panthers scored their first goal. The Maple Leafs’ defense core has been decimated by injuries which has forced Giordano to play in an elevated role after starting the season on the third pairing. The 40-year-old has a goal and four assists in 20 games this season and has an average 18:28 of ice time per game.
  • The Edmonton Oilers have announced that forward Zach Hyman won’t dress for tonight’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights due to an undisclosed illness. Hyman was a full participant in the team’s morning skate today taking his usual spot on the team’s top line but was not well enough to play this evening. Mattias Janmark was elevated into Hyman’s role alongside Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins which also opened a spot for Sam Gagner to be reinserted into the lineup. Hyman has been one of the Oilers’ most consistent players with 12 goals and 10 assists in 20 games this season.

Jacob Markstrom (Flu) Out Tonight, Dustin Nickel Signed As Emergency Backup

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  • The Flames announced (Twitter link) that goaltender Jacob Markstrom will miss tonight’s game with the flu. However, as it was too late to recall a goalie from the minors (past the 5 PM local time deadline), the team has signed Dustin Nickel to an ATO agreement to serve as the emergency backup to Daniel Vladar tonight.  Nickel spent four years at Mount Royal University, wrapping up that part of his career following the 2015-16 season.

Martin Pospisil Now Waiver-Eligible

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  • Sportsnet’s Eric Francis points out that Flames winger Martin Pospisil is now waiver-eligible once again having now played in 11 games this season. The 24-year-old has fared well in his first taste of NHL action with three goals and two assists which would make it much riskier to try to send him back down now that he has shown he can produce at the top level.  Accordingly, Francis suggests that Pospisil’s spot is likely secure for the time being, even though it will present some challenges cap-wise later on when they want to bring others up from the minors.

Flames Assign Nick DeSimone To AHL

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The Flames assigned defenseman Nick DeSimone to the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers on Sunday, per a team announcement. As Postmedia’s Wes Gilbertson points out, DeSimone finds himself on the outside looking in for a regular spot in the Flames lineup, and with the team not feeling a need to carry an extra defender during their upcoming homestand, the veteran blueliner will head back to the minors for the time being.

Returning DeSimone to the Wranglers also delays when he’ll need to clear waivers again to return to the AHL, which could be an impactful decision. The 29-year-old has been a healthy scratch in three straight contests but was impactful in over eight prior games, serving in a third-pairing role but seeing some offensive zone usage that translated to good possession numbers. An undrafted free agent signing by the Sharks after three seasons at Union College, DeSimone has played for three NHL organizations but has only appeared in the big leagues for the Flames.

After four full pro seasons spent mainly with the Sharks’ AHL affiliate and a brief stop with the AHL’s Rochester Americans while on loan from the Vegas Golden Knights in late 2021, DeSimone signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Flames that summer. He again spent the entire season in the minors with the AHL’s Stockton Heat.

Still, he opted to re-sign with the Flames after reaching unrestricted free agency, signing a two-year contract with a salary guarantee of $350K in both seasons. It’s proved to be a wise choice, as DeSimone tied his AHL career-high with 46 points in 65 games with the Wranglers last season and earned a handful of call-ups, which resulted in him making his NHL debut.

DeSimone passed through waivers unclaimed at the beginning of this season but was called up to the Flames less than a month in. He’s been on the roster since his initial recall on November 3, aside from a one-day paper transaction that saw him briefly head back to the Wranglers two days later.

The right-shot defender recorded his first NHL point in his season debut against the Kraken on November 4 and managed to record four assists across eight games, although he averaged just 12:50 per game when in the lineup. However, he was far from a defensive liability, posting a 56.5% Corsi share at even strength. That’s much improved from his 47.9% mark in four games last season.

As he has been on the Flames’ roster for less than 30 days and played less than 10 games since clearing waivers at the beginning of the campaign, he does not need to clear them again to return to the AHL at this time. He’ll suit up for the Wranglers again in the coming days, with whom he has four assists and a +4 rating in six games.

What Your Team Is Thankful For: Calgary Flames

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As Thanksgiving and the holiday season approaches, PHR will be taking a look at what teams are thankful for in 2023-24. There also might be a few things your team would like down the road. We’ll examine what’s gone well in the early going and what could improve as the season rolls on for the Calgary Flames.

Who are the Flames Thankful For?

Mikael Backlund

After being the de facto captain for the last few years, Backlund was officially awarded the letter prior to this season, and he’s taken it on in stride. Calgary is by no means off to the start that they would have hoped for but Backlund has remained poised and in control of his team. That includes when he had to handle the curt trade request that Nikita Zadorov issued following the conclusion of an 0-1 shootout loss. Sportsnet’s Eric Francis spoke to the captain about that incident, sharing that Backlund spoke one-on-one with Zadorov before the defenseman spoke to the whole team, in an effort to make sure that no unnecessary tensions were created. New general manager Craig Conroy was impressed by the situation, telling Francis, “He’s taking charge and that’s what the captain has to do. You’d like to not have to do that, but there are things that come up that need to be addressed, and he hasn’t been shy to do that.” That kind of leadership is exactly what a struggling contender like the Flames needs – and it’s a pleasant boost after the team went two seasons without a captain.

What are the Flames Thankful For?

Their youngsters

In a year of challenges, the Flames can at least be impressed with the performances their prospects have brought to the top stage. Connor Zary looks tremendous in his first NHL season, currently carrying eight points through his first nine NHL games. He’s managed this performance after starting the year with 10 points in six AHL games, clearly proving that he deserved a spot with the top club. Zary is averaging the fourth-most minutes of any Flames forward and isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. Much of the same can be said about Martin Pospisil, who scored his first NHL goal in his first NHL game and has since gone on to net six points in nine games on the year. Pospisil is the second-youngest player on the starting lineup, at 24, and earned an NHL recall after scoring six points in six AHL games.

Former first-round pick Matthew Coronato has also held onto a strong season, despite losing his NHL role after 10 games. He’s managed 11 points in 10 AHL games, good for third in scoring on the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers.

What Would the Flames be Even More Thankful For?

Top-End Scoring

There are a lot of little things that could improve the Flames early season. But with Jacob Markstrom taking a serviceable step forward – albeit an improvement from a .892 save percentage to a .904 – it seems only right to say the Flames are more in need of an X-factor skater than anything. Jonathan Huberdeau has continued to struggle with Calgary, after scoring 115 points in his last year with the Florida Panthers, and with no Matthew Tkachuk or Johnny Gaudreau, the Flames are left wondering who their big difference-maker can be. The team is currently led in scoring by Elias Lindholm, who has 13 points in 19 games. He’s paced by Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri, who both have 12 points in as many outings. That’s certainly serviceable scoring but it’s not enough to takeover games, and has the Flames sat with the sixth-fewest goals in the league.

But it’s not all bad. Despite the low scoring, the Flames still roster three players that have scored 80-or-more points in a season before, and they have averaged 3.4 goals-per-game over their last five games, after averaging 2.6 through their first 14 games. That’s a healthy boost and has earned the Flames three wins, one loss, and one shootout loss in the five game stretch. Noah Hanifin has spearheaded the effort, scoring four points in his last five games. If they can maintain this offense, Calgary could find a way to make up for their lack of a true top-end scorer.

What Should Be On the Flames Holiday List?

A Lavish Trade Partner

The Flames are reportedly shopping around a slew of players, including top defender Hanifin, shutdown defenseman Chris Tanev, and even top-scorer Lindholm at points. They’ve also received a trade request from Zadorov. Each of these players could warrant a hefty trade return, in a vaccuum. But the cheapest cap hit of the trio is Zadorov’s $3.75MM and Tanev’s $4.5MM, which is still a hefty amount for many teams to take on.

Still, there is no shortage of teams that could benefit from a deal with Calgary. Vancouver’s right-defense is still a weakness, and upgrading it could be a big boost to their thriving offense. The Toronto Maple Leafs recently placed John Klingberg on long-term injured reserve and are reportedly interested in Zadorov. And with Calgary boasting Dustin Wolf as their third-string goalie, making backup Daniel Vladar theoretically expendable, they may even garner trade interest from a team like the Edmonton Oilers, who are in need of any kind of help after their 6-12-1 start to the year.

It seems to be a buyer’s market and the Flames have no shortage of pieces that they could move. If they can’t get a spark on the ice, a flashy trade return could help a team with thriving stars hedge their future bets.

Connor Zary Out Day-To-Day

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Calgary Flames forward Connor Zary is out day-to-day with a lower-body injury, according to a team announcement. He did not dress for the Flames’ loss to the Nashville Predators, though the day-to-day nature of the absence does leave a chance for him to return in time for the Flames’ contest tomorrow in Dallas.

The loss of Zary, 22, is a significant one for the Flames, as he’s quickly emerged as one of the team’s more gifted offensive players. In just nine games so far this season Zary has eight points, displaying a knack for finding his way onto the scoresheet. A 2020 first-round pick, Zary’s initial transition from WHL stardom to pro hockey was rocky, but after his 25-point AHL rookie season Zary scored 21 goals and 58 points there. He scored 10 points in just six AHL games so far this season, a performance that earned him his call-up to Calgary.

Calgary Flames Reportedly “Open For Business” Regarding Potential Trades

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To public knowledge, Calgary Flames defenseman Nikita Zadorov is the only member of the team to request a trade. With the Flames 26th in the NHL with a 5-8-2 record, though, the club could very well end up trading quite a few more veterans this season than just Zadorov.

According to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, the Flames are “open for business” regarding potential trades. LeBrun writes that Calgary is “ready to shift gears” into more of a rebuild or re-tool direction, and that word has spread during the GM meetings in Toronto that “the Flames are willing to listen on most of their pending unrestricted free agents.” (subscription link)

The Flames have quite a few pending UFA’s of note, players who would likely be among the best players available during the 2024 trade deadline season. They’re players who are strong enough and valuable enough to potentially shift the balance of power in any division they are dealt to, meaning they could command the type of high prices in terms of asset cost that the Flames would likely be hoping would fuel a quick turnaround for the club.

Likely to be the top player on any list of players available from Calgary is pending UFA center Elias Lindholm.

The 28-year-old Swedish pivot has played like a true first-line center at times with the Flames, including a stellar 2021-22 campaign that saw him score 42 goals, 82 points, and finish second place in Selke Trophy voting.

Lindholm’s production has declined since Johnny Gaudreau’s departure, just as the Flames have declined as a team.

But if placed in a situation where he has strong chemistry with his wingers, just as he did centering Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk, it’s possible Lindholm could quickly find himself back in the conversation as one of the best two-way centers in hockey.

Centers with that kind of ability, pivots who could credibly call themselves first-line centers recently in their careers, are very rarely made available. When the St. Louis Blues traded Ryan O’Reilly last season, O’Reilly’s production was on a far steeper, more lasting decline and O’Reilly was further removed from his last point-per-game season. Yet O’Reilly, alongside bottom-sixer Noel Acciari, still netted the Maple Leafs’ first, second, and third-round picks alongside prospect Mikhail Abramov.

Although it’s obviously no guarantee, Lindholm’s overall profile merits at the very least a comparable trade package to what the Blues received for O’Reilly, though it’s fair to argue that Calgary deserves a little bit more.

Beyond just Lindholm, the Flames have even more pending UFA’s who are likely to attract attention on the trade market, especially on defense where just Rasmus Andersson and MacKenzie Weegar are under long-term team control.

If a contending team is seeking a left-shot defenseman with two-way ability, there may not be a better player available than Noah Hanifin. The 26-year-old has averaged over 21 minutes per night in Calgary, and two years ago set a career-high with 48 points. He’s established himself as a legitimate top-pairing defenseman, if maybe not a true number-one blueliner.

Those players are extremely valuable and rarely made available, which would mean Hanifin draws a bidding war between defense-needy teams. As a result, it’s hard to see a scenario where Hanifin is traded and a first-round pick, at the very least, does not head to Calgary as part of the return. (Unless the Flames do not target draft picks, which appears unlikely but is of course a possibility)

If a contending team is looking for a right-shot blueliner with an exceptional track record of shutdown defensive play, veteran Chris Tanev is a pending UFA and fits the bill there. The 33-year-old has led the Flames in short-handed ice time per game in each season since he arrived, and is widely respected as one of the game’s premier defensive defensemen.

His offense appears to have dried up compared to the career-best season he posted in 2021-22, but that’s not a major issue. He’s of interest to teams due to his stellar defensive track record, and it’s that track record that could net the Flames a solid return package should he be dealt before the 2024 trade deadline.

Although the Flames’ struggles this season paint a picture of a club with little going right, a pivot to more of a re-tool type of team direction could change things quickly. The Flames happen to have a collection of valuable players on expiring contracts, something that for a team looking to contend in the immediate term would represent a major issue.

But for a team looking to infuse its veteran core with quality young talent, those pending UFAs represent a significant opportunity to leverage on the trade market. According to LeBrun’s report, that appears to be the route the Flames prefer to go down, meaning it could be an extremely interesting few months for Flames fans, despite the on-ice issues.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Calgary Flames Reassign Dustin Wolf

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The Calgary Flames have announed that goaltender Dustin Wolf has been reassigned to the team’s AHL affiliate, the Calgary Wranglers.

This move is an indication that starting netminder Jacob Markström is now ready to return from the day-to-day injury that has kept him out of the lineup for a week.

Although Markström and Dan Vladař have struggled so far this season, the Flames’ $6MM AAV commitment to Markström has him entrenched as the team’s starter. Same for Vladař and the Flames backup goalie role, although the $2.2MM AAV goalie’s grip on that role is notably shakier.

Although Wolf has been the AHL’s best player since making his full-time debut in 2021-22, the aforementioned situation in the Flames’ net means Wolf getting sent down is no huge surprise. The AHL MVP is still just 22 years old, and does not require waivers to be sent to the minors.

So for Calgary, it makes more sense for the team to keep Wolf as the AHL starter rather than have him either stapled to the bench as a third goalie, or as a backup to  Markström potentially at the cost of Vladař  being claimed on waivers.

Wolf returns to the minors having at least made his NHL debut, though, in a 4-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators. Wolf’s .924 save percentage so far this season in the AHL is more reflective of his talent than his performance in one NHL start, of course, and assuming Wolf can continue his stellar play in the AHL, another recall may not be far off should the Flames’ two goalies continue to struggle.

Flames’ Nikita Zadorov Requests Trade

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8:38 p.m.: Three teams have documented interest in Zadorov’s services, per TSN’s Darren Dreger: the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks and New Jersey Devils. All three teams would need to ship out a contract with a similar cap hit to Zadorov’s $3.75MM to make a deal work.

7:35 a.m.: ESPN’s Kevin Weekes is reporting that Calgary Flames defenseman Nikita Zadorov has requested a trade to another team. TSN Insider Pierre LeBrun also tweeted about the situation, adding that Zadorov’s agent Dan Milstein is hoping for a quick resolution. The news of the request came out after the Flames 5-4 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs last night, a game in which Zadorov had a goal and a huge hit in the third period.

Calgary has had a disastrous start to the season at 4-7-2 and is feeling like a team that will see a lot of changes in the next 12 months. Zadorov is a pending unrestricted free agent, as are his teammates Noah Hanifin, Elias Lindholm, Chris Tanev, and Oliver Kylington.

For his part, Zadorov has had a good start to the season with a goal and four assists in 12 games. The 6-foot-6 rearguard has been able to help the Flames drive play while averaging two hits a game. The 28-year-old is averaging over 18 minutes of ice time a game this year which is right in line with his career average. Any team that acquires the native of Moscow, Russia would be getting a big hulking defenseman who can provide physicality, block shots, kill penalties and chip in a bit offensively.

On the topic of acquiring teams, NHL Insider Chris Johnston is reporting that Zadorov would welcome a trade to Toronto. The Maple Leafs could certainly use the skillset that Zadorov would bring, however, he is in the final year of a two-year $7.5MM contract that carries a cap hit of $3.75MM. This would require the Flames to retain half of Zadorov’s cap hit and for Toronto to find a way to maneuver other money off their books. In fact, given that over half of the NHL is within a million dollars of the salary cap ceiling, the Flames will likely have to take some salary back to facilitate a move.

The Flames will be engaging with as many teams as possible in the coming days, so it’s hard to speculate where Zadorov could end up. Calgary could be in for a lot of trade talks in the coming weeks with Zadorov being the first domino to fall for the Flames.

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