On Sunday, during the Calgary Flames’ overtime loss in Carolina, on the game’s broadcast Sportsnet’s Eric Francis reported that one player Calgary could be interested in is San Jose Sharks forward Luke Kunin.

Kunin, a 15th overall pick by the Minnesota Wild in 2016, is a right-shot forward who can play both centre and wing. At 27, he is set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Kunin is considered a depth forward who plays a two-way game. He is a strong penalty killer and can contribute offensively from time to time. In 420 career NHL games, he has recorded 73 goals and 69 assists for a total of 142 points. Overall, his production has been consistent, averaging around 18 points per season.

By no means does this solve any of the problems the Flames are currently experiencing. As a 27-year-old pending UFA, Kunin does not fit into the team’s long-term plans. He wouldn’t be an answer to the Flames’ offensive struggles and would blend in as just another checking forward—a role the team already has in abundance.

What Kunin would provide is an upgrade over Kevin Rooney. He offers more offensive upside than Rooney and is arguably better defensively, particularly on the penalty kill where he has face-off percentage above 50%. Plus, he’s the right-shot centre the Flames have been searching for all season—minus the high skill, youth, and controllability they ideally want.

The general consensus is that the Flames are not looking to make a splash at the trade deadline, either by buying big or selling off major assets. A minor upgrade among the forward group and the off-loading of expendable assets, such as potentially Dan Vladar, is all that’s really expected before Friday. A move like this is exactly in line with that approach.

Overall, while it wouldn’t be a significant move or one to get overly excited about, Kunin would be an improvement to the current roster. If the cost is a third- or fourth-round pick, it’s not a deal that wouldn’t cost the Flames any significant pieces of the future. At the end of the day, it’s a low-risk, low-reward trade that doesn’t really move the needle.

What do you think? Would this be enough to change anything for the Flames? Are there better fourth-line upgrades available, or should they stick with what they have?

Get ready, hockey fans! The Daily Faceoff Deadline is happening on March 7th from 11 AM to 4 PM Eastern, and you won’t want to miss it. We’ll be LIVE, breaking down every trade and big move as it happens, with instant reactions and expert analysis from the Daily Faceoff crew. Plus, we’ve got special guests lined up throughout the show, offering exclusive insights from some of the biggest names in the game. From blockbuster trades to surprise moves, we’re covering it all. Tune in to the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel and follow Daily Faceoff socials on March 7th to catch all the action!