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Flames fans react to the MacKenzie Weegar trade
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Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Adrian Kiss
Mar 5, 2026, 08:00 ESTUpdated: Mar 5, 2026, 00:41 EST
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It is remarkable how quickly things have changed. Just over a month ago, the primary focus was on trading Rasmus Andersson and little else. Once that deal was completed and it was announced that Zack Whitecloud was coming back in return, the immediate reaction was that the Calgary Flames should flip him for additional assets as soon as possible.
Fast forward a few weeks and the conversation shifted from trading Whitecloud to keeping him as the team’s top defenceman and moving MacKenzie Weegar instead.
Weegar appeared poised to be a solid long-term piece for this organization. Shortly after he was acquired from the Florida Panthers, he made it clear he wanted to be in Calgary for the long haul. He became a leader on and off the ice and seemed like a logical candidate to succeed Mikael Backlund as captain. Not to mention, he could even be credited, in part, with helping the Flames secure a new arena deal.
Unfortunately, this season has not gone according to plan. Entering the year, he was considered a potential candidate for Canada’s Olympic team and was expected to help usher in a new generation of Flames defencemen at the NHL level.
Instead, he recorded just three goals and 18 assists in 60 games. At times, he looked a step behind and out of sync, not playing close to the standard he had previously set. There was a brief stretch of optimism when Yan Kuznetsov was called up and the pair showed strong chemistry over a couple of weeks. That momentum did not last. Kuznetsov continued to play well, while Weegar’s game once again slipped. It became clear that something needed to change.
With a blockbuster trade that seemingly came out of nowhere, strong reactions from the fan base — both positive and negative — were inevitable. After all, Weegar’s only real shortcoming was that he was not playing his best hockey. Beyond that, he was a well-liked and respected member of both the organization and the city.
The early reaction, however, appears largely positive. Here are a few examples.
Most of the reactions fall in line with these sentiments. It truly feels like a sizable return. Moving a struggling defenceman who was a league-worst minus-35 and receiving three second-round picks, a roster player and a prospect in return is great value.
The Flames now hold eight picks in the first three rounds of the upcoming draft — an impressive stockpile. General manager Craig Conroy has drafted well over the past two years and now has significant flexibility heading into the summer. The New York Rangers’ second-round selection is projected to be an early pick as well. Conroy could even package some of these assets to move up in the draft if the opportunity presents itself. The options are plentiful.
Olli Maatta is a solid pickup as well. He hasn’t had the best season with Utah but he did have a good Olympic showing with Finland on their way to a bronze medal. In a sense you could say the Flames finally got Maatta. You may remember the Flames decided to draft Mark Jankowski back in the 2012 entry draft. The very next pick was Maatta and the two were quickly connected and compared early in their careers. Maatta saw early success and many wish the Flames had selected him instead.
Of course, with any major move, there will be differing opinions. Not everyone is thrilled. However, beyond the argument that Weegar was a strong leader who wanted to remain in Calgary, it is difficult to find fault with the value the Flames received in this deal.
A year ago, MacKenzie Weegar was arguably a better player than Colton Parayko. Maybe, deep down, that is still the case — but he certainly has not played like it this season. The obvious concern is regression and the possibility that he may never return to the level he reached a few years ago. Continuing down that path would have been a gamble. If the Flames were going to trade him, the time was now. Either he rediscovered his form and remained in Calgary for the duration of his contract, or his play continued to decline and his value dropped even further.
Of course, it would have been ideal to secure a first-round pick as part of the return. It is difficult to argue he was definitively worth one based on his recent performance, but Calgary came close. The New York Rangers’ second-round selection projects to be near the top of the round — essentially late first-round value. There is also the possibility of packaging picks to move up. With eight selections in the first three rounds of the upcoming draft, Flames fans should feel optimistic about the flexibility this provides.
Not every prospect acquired is expected to step directly into the NHL and make an immediate impact. Clearly, the Flames see something in Jonathan Castagna. He may be a late bloomer, but taking a chance on upside is part of the process. Tij Iginla was never realistically part of this equation, and Weegar alone was not going to land a player such as Caleb Desnoyers. Ultimately, it will be up to Craig Conroy and his staff to identify and develop their own young core.
At the end of the day, there should be nothing but appreciation for Weegar’s time in Calgary. He embraced the city and the organization from the moment he arrived and carried himself like a leader throughout his tenure. Unfortunately, it did not work out the way either side had hoped. Now, he joins a team that appears to be approaching its competitive peak, and he will have the opportunity to rediscover his game in a new environment.

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