A Handy Guide To Flames Trade Rumours

8 years ago

With the Calgary Flames having earned just four points through their first nine games, trade rumours will heat up even more than they already have.

Inevitably, many different Flames players will appear in these trade rumours. Before you go out and get excited (or terrified) about the prospect of the Flames trading away your favourite player (or your least favourite), we’ve compiled a handy guide for why the Flames might move a player, and why they might not.

So before you get too excited or sad about a rumoured trade, here’s our handy guide to how likely each Flames roster player is to actually being shipped out of town.

Player	Why He’ll Move	Why He Won’t	Verdict
Jiri Hudler	A pending unrestricted free agent, it sounds like Hudler will want more than Calgary can afford. They might be able to cash out on him and shake up the team chemistry a bit in one move.	He’s good, if a bit inconsistent, but teams might see his offensive numbers as a product of Gaudreau and Monahan, and that might drive his price down a bit.	I’d be shocked if he’s not traded by the deadline.
Kris Russell	Another pending UFA, Russell may be a player without a spot – as Calgary is deep with left-shooting defenders. He’s also likely to be priced out of Calgary in free agency. His cap hit right now is perfect for a secondary defender.	Because he’s not a big point-producer, Russell’s value might be driven down a bit on the trade market. Teams might also have injury concerns given how many pucks have hit him in the past few seasons.	Like with Hudler, I’d be surprised if Russell isn’t moved.
Mikael Backlund	Now 26 years old, Backlund’s not a “young” player anymore. He’s a solid hand as a #2 or #3 center. But the Flames might want to open up spots for AHLers, and they’ll have to move either Backlund or Stajan to do that.	His cap hit might be a bit steep for a guy not known for offensive production. There may also be injury concerns given how much time he’s missed over the past few seasons.	They’ll probably listen to offers, but it’s not like anyone on the farm is forcing their hand.
Joe Colborne	On paper, Colborne’s what a lot of teams covet: he’s big, can play all three forward positions, and is not horrible at face-offs. He’s also got a good cap hit for a bottom-six player.	Colborne’s issue is consistency. He was a physical guy who went to the guts of the ice in the playoffs, but has otherwise played too much of a perimeter game for a guy of his size. Do any teams want a player whose main attribute is “big-ness”?	I don’t think the Flames are in any hurry to move him, but I’m sure they’d entertain offers if they came in.
Lance Bouma	An ideal bottom-six energy winger, Bouma plays a high-tempo, physical game. He goes to the “dirty areas” of the ice, and pots goals occasionally.	The team just re-signed Bouma long-term, suggesting they like him. Even if they didn’t, his new cap hit is a bit steep for a depth player, and his offense is probably percentages-driven.	It’s not impossible, but I’d be really surprised if they moved him.
David Jones	A pending UFA, Jones is right-handed and a pretty decent physical depth player. He’s underrated offensively, but his primary function is wearing opponents down.	Jones isn’t a guy that’ll fetch a lot on the market as he’s not known as a scorer, and his cap hit is a bit big for a depth player. I’m also not sure the Flames would be quick to trade him, as they’re thin on the right side without him.	Teams would probably look at Jones at the trade deadline, but I’m not sure if the Flames would get enough to make a move worthwhile.
Dennis Wideman	Wideman is one of the best offensive defenders in the Western Conference. He’s valuable on the power-play, passes well and has a good shot	Wideman’s also a liability in his own end, and carries with him a monstrous $5.25 million cap hit. For a guy with deficiencies, that’s a tough hit for teams to swallow. He also holds a no-move clause.	Even if Wideman didn’t have a no-move, the Flames would probably need to eat a bad contract, or retain salary, or throw in a good pick or prospect to move Wideman. I doubt it happens.
Brandon Bollig	Bollig is a rock-solid depth player. He’s physical. He has a Stanley Cup ring and a sweet beard. He’s also got a pretty low cap hit for a veteran.	Most teams probably feel like they have a Brandon Bollig in their system already, and might not want to give up assets to get another one.	I’m not sure if the Flames would really want to move him, nor am I sure that anybody would give them anything substantial for him. It could happen, but it wouldn’t be a big move.
Deryk Engelland	Engelland is a right-shooting blueliner who plays a physical game. He showed the ability to eat up minutes last season alongside T.J. Brodie.	Engelland’s fundamentally a #6 defender, at best, and his cap hit is massive for his role. His success is (at least) partially due to his defensive partners, particularly T.J. Brodie. Doesn’t produce much offense, either.	Teams like right-handed defenders, but Engelland is really expensive for what he is. He’ll be tough to move, if they wanted to.
Matt Stajan	A smart, veteran center, Stajan is a good #4 center on any team – aside from his cap hit. The Flames might want to move a center (either Stajan or Backlund) to open a spot for a AHLer up.	Stajan’s expensive for what he is, and the Flames probably (still) would like him to be a mentor for young centers.	I doubt they shop Stajan around, and I doubt they get any offers that will force a move.
Mason Raymond	Raymond is a strong, fast skater. He’s put up good offensive numbers in the past.	Unfortunately, at this point of his career Raymond’s a fringe player with a big cap hit who even got put on waivers earlier this month.	If nobody wanted him on waivers, the only way the Flames could move him would be for another bad contract.
Ladislav Smid	Smid is a solid #6 defender. He’s a stay-at-home guy who’s decent within his own end.	Smid’s awfully expensive for a guy without much offensive upside.	They’re less likely to be able to move Smid than they are to move Engelland.
Jonas Hiller	Hiller’s a decent veteran goalie who isn’t flashy, but gives his team a chance to win.	For what he is and his age, Hiller’s arguably a bit overpriced. He’s also a pending UFA in a flooded goalie market.	It’s quite unlikely that they (a) want to move Hiller or (b) are able to move Hiller.
Karri Ramo	Ramo’s a flashier, more inconsistent goalie than Hiller. He’s a bit younger and can steal games.	For what he is, Ramo’s arguably a bit overpriced. He’s also a pending UFA in a flooded goalie market, and a less established quantity than Hiller.	Considering that nobody grabbed him off waivers, they’d probably need to swap bad goalie contracts to move Ramo.
Michael Frolik	Frolik’s a very versatile player. Arguably even better than Backlund at the 200-foot game, he was highly sought-after in the UFA market.	The Flames won the Frolik sweepstakes, so I really doubt they want to move him now. Also, some teams may be scared off by the lengthy contract.	I really can’t see them moving him, though they’ll probably get calls.
Joni Ortio	Ortio’s a young goalie that could develop into an NHL starter. He’s young, cheap and Finnish.	Ortio’s cheap enough that most teams would probably take a flyer on him, but not established enough that they’d offer enough.	There’s a chance, but if he crapped the bed enough in net to get them to move him, his trade value would be gone.
Micheal Ferland	He’s like a less expensive Bouma, albeit less of an established goal-scorer.	These are all reasons they want to keep him.	I really can’t see them moving Ferland, but they’ll get calls.
Josh Jooris	Jooris is a physical, right-handed center who can also play wing. For a depth guy, he’s inexpensive.	It’s unclear if he has much offensive upside, but I also doubt the Flames want to move one of their few right-handed face-off guys.	It’s not that likely, but they’ll get calls.
Sam Bennett	Bennett plays a physical, edgy game and is frequently buzzing around the net. He’s going to get better for awhile, because he’s 19.	The Flames really, really like him. He’s their highest-ever pick. He’s been one of their better players. At 19.	It’s highly unlikely that he’ll be moved.
Dougie Hamilton	Hamilton’s big, right-handed and a good skater. He’s also 22, which means he’ll keep developing.	His contract is really long. Considering how much they value right shots, I really doubt Calgary entertains offers for him.	They’ll get calls, but it’s next-to-impossible that he gets moved.
Mark Giordano	Giordano is generally considered one of the best defensemen in the NHL today, recent performance notwithstanding.	His contract is pretty long, and it’s extremely unlikely that the Flames will trade their team captain (so recently after trading their last one).	If they trade Giordano, it’s literally waving the white flag on this iteration of the team. This won’t happen.
T.J. Brodie	Brodie is a very smooth skating defender. He’s able to cover up for his teammates pinching a lot because he’s so good at skating.	Brodie’s contract is long-term, which may scare away suitors. So might the Flames not wanting to trade him away.	T.J. Brodie will not be traded.
Sean Monahan	Monahan is the top-line center that the Flames had been dreaming about from the moment they traded away Joe Nieuwendyk.	Monahan could probably be a bit more physical, and occasionally his defensive play can drift. But the Flames love this kid.	Sean Monahan will not be traded.
Johnny Gaudreau	Gaudreau is arguably the most offensively-talented player the Flames have on their roster. He’s only going to get better.	The worst thing you can say about Gaudreau is he’s small. He’s regarded as a foundational talent by the organization.	Johnny Gaudreau will not be traded.

A Handy Guide To Flames Trade Rumours

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