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Top Flames stories of 2024: The Flames wanted a second-round pick for Chris Tanev (and other February trade chatter)
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Photo credit: © Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Ryan Pike
Dec 23, 2024, 16:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 23, 2024, 15:23 EST
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Welcome to our countdown of the top Calgary Flames news stories of 2024, where we will be counting down our most-read stories of the year in the days leading up to 2025.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock – and if so, we’re glad you’ve been freed from that – you’re aware that the Flames went through a lot of change during 2024. While the Great Roster Retool arguably began in November 2023 when Nikita Zadorov was bid farewell, it really hit “This is happening!” mode when Elias Lindholm was sent to Vancouver during the All-Star Break.
In the aftermath of that trade, our Ryley Delaney checked in with the rumour mill, touching base on some news items from Sportsnet’s 32 Thoughts podcast with Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek, and The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun. And in retrospect, some of the things that were shared from those insider check-ins are pretty revealing given what unfolded in the months that followed.
Among the tidbits from 32 Thoughts:
As for the young prospect in the Lindholm trade, Friedman and Marek see Hunter Brzustewicz as a potential X-factor in the trade. This season, the defenceman has eight goals and 69 points in 48 games for the Kitchener Rangers. Not only does he lead all defencemen in points in the Ontario Hockey League, but he’s also tied for third in points for the entire league.
Among the items mentioned by LeBrun:
In this article, he noted that he doesn’t see the Flames beginning a full rebuild – rather an on the fly re-tool. LeBrun notes that since Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri have recently signed long deals, their hands are pretty much tied.
The other interesting note that wasn’t covered in the 32 Thoughts Podcast (Lindholm having five or so suitors, Flames wanting to re-sign Hanifin) is that the Flames are looking for a second-round pick and another asset – likely an NHL ready prospect – for Chris Tanev.
Also in Delaney’s piece: a snippet from an article from ESPN that seems pretty spot-on in predicting what happened with the dearly departed Arizona Coyotes:
On Friday, ESPN released an interview with NHLPA’s executive director Marty Walsh. In that article, Walsh said the franchise hasn’t worked with the players’ union since Walsh took over. Moreover, Walsh believes that a relocated Coyotes in Utah could be a success similar to Vegas and Seattle.
This check-in is very much representative of how the first three months of covering the Flames felt: never-ending trade rumours, and the sense that another domino could tumble over at any given moment. Eventually many dominoes tumbled: Chris Tanev was traded to Dallas on Feb. 28 and Noah Hanifin was sent to Vegas on Mar. 6. (The retool continued in the summer, too, with Jacob Markstrom and Andrew Mangiapane both being traded in June.)
You can read the full story by clicking here, and be sure to tune in each day until Dec. 31 for the rest of our countdown!

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