Flames Trade Deadline 2015: Five Things The Flames Need

We’re just shy of 24 hours prior to the NHL’s trade deadline. There will be a lot of chatter on the ol’ interwebs about who is moving where and why.

Here are five things that make complete sense for the Calgary Flames to be pursuing tomorrow.

Calgary is 28th in Corsi and Corsi Close, meaning they are the third-worst team in the NHL in moving play the right way. This season’s been fun, but they need to continue building a team for long-term success. That means acquiring players that can hold onto the puck and move play consistently up the ice.

The Flames went out last off-season and accumulated right-handed defensemen. After that spending spree, here’s the right-handed defender inventory:

None of these guys are high-end, top-four defenders. The Flames need good right-handed defensemen so that they have roster balance.

Similar to the previous entry, the Flames have three right-handed centers in the entire organization, and only one in Calgary: Josh Jooris. The other two are AHLers Drew Shore and Bill Arnold. Right-handed centers give a coach flexibility in deploying his players, particularly in terms of winning key face-offs. Jooris has been very valuable this season, but the team needs more righties who can take draws (and ideally win them).

At this time of year, every team has prospects they suddenly realize don’t fit into their organizational plans. Heck, we mentioned a few earlier today that don’t seem to be in Calgary’s. And Brad Treliving made a savvy “my unwanted toy for yours” trade when he flipped Corban Knight for Drew Shore. Similar deals could be coming.

Finally, it’s a rebuild. Rebuilds need assets. Assets are gotten through the draft, typically. Particularly given that this year’s draft is said to be deep, the Flames would be wise to grab as many picks as they realistically can before the deadline.