Heading into the second half of
November, the Calgary Flames remain at the bottom of the overall
standings.
As the losses mount, speculation is growing about when
they’ll start selling and which players will be traded.
Flames GM Craig Conroy is
likely getting calls from clubs to determine which players are
available and the cost to acquire them. For now, there’s no sign that
he’s ready to sell. Unless he gets a mind-blowing trade offer, he’ll
likely wait until the New Year in the hope of driving up the asking
prices.
Rasmus Andersson frequently surfaced in
the rumor mill during the off-season. The 29-year-old right-shot
defenseman is eligible for UFA status next July,
and there’s no indication he and Flames management are any closer to
a contract extension.
Jay Rosehill of the podcast Leafs
Morning Take said Thursday that
a league source claimed the Toronto Maple Leafs were trying to
acquire Andersson. He believes the only way the Leafs would agree to
that deal is if the blueliner agreed to sign a contract extension.
Rosehill also doubted that they had sufficient trade assets to pull
it off.
The Flames’ asking
price would likely include right winger Easton Cowan, who is the top player
in a shallow Leafs prospect pool.
On Saturday,
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman claimed that the Maple Leafs don’t want
to move futures. They would prefer a “roster for roster” deal,
meaning the Leafs are examining which players on their roster
(excluding their core talent) have value in the trade market.
Friedman dismissed
the possibility of the Maple Leafs acquiring Andersson. He said they
tried to get him last year but failed, adding that he doesn’t believe
it’s a match for Toronto.
Nazem Kadri is
another Flame who has appeared regularly in recent media trade
chatter. He is signed through 2028-29 with an average annual value of
$7 million and a 13-team no-trade list.
Peter Baugh of The
Athletic and James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now included the
35-year-old center among their list of trade targets for the Devils.
They must shore up their depth at center with Jack Hughes sidelined
for eight weeks with an injured hand.
Meanwhile, TSN’s
Pierre LeBrun said he wouldn’t be surprised if Blake Coleman started
drawing interest in the trade market. The 33-year-old left winger is
signed through next season with an average annual value of $4.9 million with a 10-team
approved trade list.
LeBrun said the
Flames aren’t shopping Coleman. Nevertheless, some teams informed
Conroy that they’d be interested in the versatile winger if he
becomes available by the March 6 trade deadline.
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