2023 Calgary Flames trade targets: More top nine forwards
1 year ago
At the beginning of January, I wrote a Calgary Flames trade targets article featuring some top nine forward options. Since that article has been released, there have been some changes to that list, and changes in the trade market as a whole. With that in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to update the list of potential trade targets for the Flames.
In my first article, we discussed Timo Meier, Andrei Kuzmenko, Ivan Barbashev, and Tanner Pearson.
Two of those players are no longer available. Kuzmenko just signed a two-year extension with the Vancouver Canucks. And Tanner Pearson has been shut down for the rest of the season due to a hand injury.
Because of that, and the fact that more names have been reported as available, it’s time that we add some more players to the Flames trade board.
Here is the criteria I came up with in my first trade targets article.
- Needs to be an expiring contract UFA or RFA
- An above average skater
- Preferably a right shot
- Needs to have size and ability to defend to get the Darryl Sutter approval
- Needs to have playoff experience (ideally a Stanley Cup champion)
Flames assets available in a trade:
- Every draft pick outside the first round
- Every prospect not named Matthew Coronato, Dustin Wolf, Jakob Pelletier, and Connor Zary
- Oliver Kylington (cap purposes if they trade for a player with term)
- Brett Ritchie (cap purposes)
Max Comtois (LW) – Left Shot – 24 Years Old – 6’2″, 210 pounds
Cap hit: $2,037,500; Contract expires in 2023 (RFA)
Comtois has the potential to be a good buy low candidate this trade deadline. The fourth year winger is having a down season as he is on pace for only 11 goals and 9 assists. But when Comtois is on top of his game he can be a physical force that plays with some skill. He is someone who uses his size to his advantage winning battles along the boards. He is good at protecting pucks and cycling in the offensive zone, which is important when playing in a Darryl Sutter system.
Comtois is an RFA at the end of this season. He would likely be someone the Flames would want to keep beyond this year. You could probably sign him to a one year prove it contract at the end of the season at a relatively low cap hit. This deal could make sense this season and beyond, which is something Flames GM Brad Treliving would prefer than a pure rental.
Tyler Bertuzzi (LW) – Left Shot – 27 Years Old – 6’1″, 197 Pounds
Cap hit: $4,750,000; Contract expires in 2023 (UFA)
Bertuzzi is one of the more interesting names on the block at this trade deadline. Bertuzzi has a unique skill set in that he one of the few remaining players in the NHL who has size, skill, and the ability to agitate opponents, which would be especially valuable during the playoffs. He has been a solid offensive player prior to this season. He has been on pace to break the 20-goal mark in his last four seasons. Bertuzzi played in 68 games in the 2021-22 season. He scored 30 goals and 32 assists, good for a 36 goal, 39 assist pace over 82 games.
This season has been a different story. He has only played in 15 games and has 1 goal and 5 assists. He has missed games because he has been dealing with multiple injuries. It sounds like Detroit will make an attempt to sign him to a long-term extension before the trade deadline. But this could be a good opportunity for a playoff team to acquire this player if the Wings can’t come to an agreement with Bertuzzi before the March 3 trade deadline.
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Here are a couple trade options who have term remaining on their contracts. The Flames would have to find a way to move money out at the trade deadline or in the offseason to make these deals work.
Jordan Greenway (LW) – Left Shot – 25 Years Old – 6’6″, 231 pounds
Cap hit: $3,000,000; Contract expires 2025 (UFA)
Greenway is an interesting name that not a lot of people are talking about right now. It seems like it has become inevitable that he is going to be traded by the Minnesota Wild. He has had a rough year in the State of Hockey. He is producing at career low levels, putting up 2 goals and 4 assists in 29 games (on pace for 6 goals and 11 assists over 82 games).
Outside of injuries, Greenway has also been scratched this season for sleeping through a team meeting in January.
Greenway is an interesting name for the Flames because of his age, size, and defensive skill set. He has been a solid defensive winger in the NHL over the last couple of seasons playing on a line with Joel Eriksson Ek and Marcus Folingo. He is someone I can see thriving in a tight checking, physical, Darryl Sutter system. Greenway could bring more size, speed, toughness, and defensive ability to the Flames for a potential deep playoff run.
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Anthony Duclair (LW) – Left Shot – 27 Years Old – 5’11″, 197 Pounds
Cap Hit: $3,000,000; Contract expires in 2024 (UFA)
There has been a lot of discussion in Flamesland about the idea of bringing in Anthony Duclair. And there is merit to it. Duclair is a player that could bring some much needed speed and skill to the Flames top 6 forward group. He is one of the better skaters in the NHL and has been on pace to score between 19-34 goals in his last three seasons. He also had success playing on a line with Jonathan Huberdeau in Florida.
Florida is also dealing with salary cap issues. They will need to make a trade or two to become cap compliant once all their players come back from LTIR.
The big concern with Duclair is that he is still recovering from a significant injury to this Achilles tendon which he injured while training last off-season. Will Duclair come back as the same player he was prior to the injury? Will he still be an elite skater? Those are two major questions that need to be asked when looking to acquire this player.
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Honorable mentions
Vladimir Tarasenko: Tarasenko has been a player Flames fans have talked about for a couple seasons. One thing to keep in mind with Tarasenko is that he has a full no trade clause. Will he waive to come to Calgary or Canada for that matter? That remains to be seen.
Andreas Athanasiou: The Flames could certainly use the speed Athanasiou brings to the game. He is one of the best skaters in the NHL. Unfortunately, he lacks defensive awareness and hockey IQ. Because of that, I do not think he’d be a fit on a Darryl Sutter coached team.
Oskar Sundqvist: The right shot center/right winger is a UFA at the end of this season. He checks a lot of Sutter boxes. Big. Versatile. Stanley Cup champion. Has a good defensive track record. Sundqvist could be a good option if the Flames want to add depth to their forward group without breaking the bank.
Who do you think the Flames should acquire in a trade at this years deadline? Let us know in the comments section!
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