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We know the Calgary Flames will be active leading up to, and at, the trade deadline.
What we don't know is to what extent GM Brad Treliving will add to a team that already looks like a Stanley Cup contender.
In Pierre LeBrun's trade deadline breakdown at The Athletic, which I recommend reading in full, he listed the Flames as one of nine "buyers" and shed some light on how they could approach the deadline.
Excerpt below:
Calgary Flames: No question GM Brad Treliving has done his homework and phoned around on a long list of potentially available players. The Flames, I’m told, are still in the mode of sizing up the market. I think depending on the cost, the Flames could add a top-nine forward and also a third-pair defenceman. I’ve always liked the idea of Micheal Ferland returning to Calgary but I think once the Flames found out a few weeks ago from Carolina a first-round pick was part of the ask, that was a pass until further notice. The Flames don’t have their second-round pick for June so while I wouldn’t say their first-round pick is off the table, the Flames certainly aren’t going out of their way to flaunt it. Now if it could get them Stone, well, that’s a different story. On a more medium scale, two rentals I think Calgary should look at: Gustav Nyquist in Detroit or Marcus Johansson in New Jersey. Both pending UFAs would add more versatility and scoring depth to the Flames’ lineup.
There's a lot to get to, so I'm going to break things down point by point:
• The opener is nothing new nor surprising. James Neal still hasn't found his touch, Michael Frolik, for whatever reason, is not a Bill Peters favorite, and Sam Bennett is pretty inconsistent offensively. It makes sense for them to seek a little more pop, even if only as injury protection.
• For months its been rumored the Flames want to add a 3rd pairing defenseman. I don't think it's a glaring need, especially once Juuso Valimaki returns, but if they want a veteran who is a little more stable,
there are plenty of options out there. The key is targeting under-the-radar guys (Freddy Claesson, Ben Lovejoy) as opposed to the bigger-named bruisers teams always overpay for (Erik Gudbranson, Adam McQuaid).
• I do really like Ferland and the Flames know he can have success in their system/alongside the players they have. In saying that, I doubt Peters wants to break up the top line and I don't see Ferland being used in a shutdown role with Matthew Tkachuk and Mikael Backlund. That means he'd probably slot in on the 3rd line. As much as I like Ferland, he is more of a complementary scorer than a facilitator. I can't fault Treliving if he doesn't want to trade a 1st for a guy who likely would be used in a 3rd line role where he'd have to create for himself.
• Over the last two years, the Flames have made one pick inside the first three rounds of the draft. They're already without a 2nd and 6th this season. It makes sense that if they are going to part with their 1st, they want a big piece. The Flames would certainly have to add to a 1st to get Stone – you'd be throwing Valimaki, Rasmus Andersson, or Oliver Kylington on top at the least – but that's the kind of guy worth paying for. If you put Stone, who should probably be a Selke finalist, opposite side of Matthew Tkachuk on the 2nd line, you might be looking at the best top-6 in the league.
• If the Flames don't wish to go big-game hunting, I think LeBrun's suggestions in the mid-range are very nice alternatives. Gustav Nyquist has already surpassed the 40-point plateau for the sixth year in a row and he ranks 3rd among Detroit forwards with a 52.65 CF%. He is very good and a legit top-6 guy.
• Marcus Johansson's counting totals are down a little, however, he is still producing at a 40+ point pace and he is piling up 5v5 shots and chances at the highest clip of his career. Through ~15 tracked games, Johansson ranks 2nd only to Taylor Hall on the Devils in 5v5 shot contribution percentage. I think he has played better than the standard numbers suggest and the team that bets on him next will probably be rewarded.
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