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Some Calgary Flames notes as begin what should be a rather busy and exciting week:
1) All signs suggest the Flames want to revamp their defense core in a big way this off-season. They’re rumored to be shopping, or at least listening, to offers for Noah Hanifin and half their blueline is set to hit free agency.
They have the blank slate to add a big name. The question: will they be able to?
Pierre LeBrun recently reported the Calgary Flames are expected to make a push for Alex Pietrangelo in free agency.. The problem is Vegas and, potentially, Toronto sound like front runners if he decides to leave St. Louis.
It’s no secret GM Brad Treliving has checked in on Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who he had in Arizona, but OEL is apparently only willing to go to Boston or Vancouver in a trade.
So, as far as we know, the Flames are interested in the two biggest names on the defense market; but that interest doesn’t appear likely to be reciprocated from either party.
For a while it has been almost assumed T.J. Brodie would not be re-signed. Depending how things go over the next few days, I wonder if the Flames might circle back and try to work something out.
Brodie wouldn’t come cheap, of course, but losing Brodie – as well as several others – without bringing in a quality top-4 defender would be a disaster.
I think Treliving knows that.
2) I would be pretty surprised if Jacob Markstrom ended up in Calgary. I know they’ll look at all goaltending options – as they should – but he’s likely going to command $6 million or more per season on a deal with some term; be it in Vancouver or elsewhere.
I’m not sure the Flames can, or should, make that kind of commitment considering a) they have other needs, like half of a defense core and; b) Dustin Wolf could be ready to start in a couple of years.
It’s not as sexy but I think pairing somebody like Anton Khudobin, Cam Talbot or, heck, Henrik Lundqvist with David Rittich might make the most sense given where they’re at. I think trading premium assets for Matt Murray might well be the worst potential path they could take.
3) A few potential 1st round targets for the Flames tomorrow night: (C) Connor Zary, (W) Tristen Robins, (D) Kaiden Guhle, and (D) Braden Schneider. I don’t think the ceiling is sky high on any of them but they’re not without skill, obviously, and they possess some traits Calgary seems to prioritize in prospects. You know, smarts, competitiveness/high motors, and some push back (despite, in some cases, a lack of size). This is not necessarily my ideal batch of candidates, but rather a few I could see the Flames eyeing.
Recent posts:
Five potential free agent targets for the Flames
Are the Flames ready to move on from Noah Hanifin?
Flames expected to let Erik Gustafsson walk
Flames linked to OEL, Rasmus Ristolainen
Three potential players of interest from TSN’s trade bait board
Gaudreau and Monahan deserve the heat they're taking
Changes are coming in Calgary
On the Flames’ rumored interest in Josh Anderson
No amnesty clause means Milan Lucic is sticking around
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
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