The trade deadline really seemed to sneak up on everyone. While the Olympic break distracted many for a couple of weeks, you would think NHL general managers would have used that time to line up deals for when the trade freeze ended. Other than a couple of trades, it has been oddly quiet on the market, leaving many to wonder just how busy things will get as the deadline approaches.

Things sure ramped up Wednesday afternoon when, out of the blue, MacKenzie Weegar was traded to Utah in a blockbuster deal that saw Calgary acquire three second-round picks, along with Olli Maatta and a prospect. But this should only be the beginning.

Without a doubt, the Flames should still be one of the most active teams ahead of the deadline. They are not in a playoff race, they have several assets — both pending UFAs and players with term remaining — who could be moved, and they have plenty of salary-cap space to work with. If the roster looks anything like it has over the past couple of weeks once the deadline passes, something has gone wrong.

So what would a successful trade deadline look like for the Flames?

Starting with what they have to offer, there are probably still six realistic options: Nazem Kadri, Blake Coleman, Ryan Lomberg, Joel Hanley, Zach Whitecloud and Brayden Pachal. For this deadline to be labelled a success, at least two or three of those players would likely need to be moved.

Kadri and Coleman have been the most discussed. A Coleman deal almost feels like the next domino to fall, while a Kadri trade still seems possible but not guaranteed. There is definite interest in him, but it sounds as though any deal would hinge on salary retention — something the Flames do not appear intent on doing. If a Kadri deal falls through because the Flames are unwilling to retain salary, that would be a significant mistake.

A Lomberg trade feels like a 50-50 chance. Any team gearing up for a playoff run would value a heart-and-soul player like him in their lineup for big games. The issue is Lomberg has been clear he would like to remain in Calgary, and it is never easy to part with a quality locker-room presence.

The Flames should still try to move another defenceman, even after the Weegar trade. There would be interest in Whitecloud’s services around the league, but that feels less likely now that Weegar is gone. Any potential deal involving Whitecloud would also need to exceed market value to be enticing for Calgary. That leaves Hanley or Pachal as more realistic options. Hanley makes the most sense, as he is older and offers less long-term value to the organization.

With the current backlog on the blue line, not moving another defenceman would be a mistake. The Flames need to find a way to get Pachal consistent playing time if he remains with the team. Hunter Brzustewicz should be in the NHL, and Zayne Parekh needs an opportunity to play a larger role alongside a more established NHL defenceman — no offence to Hanley.

The name of the game is draft picks and prospects. The Flames already have a deep prospect pool and a healthy collection of picks — including three additional second-round selections from Utah — but there is no harm in continuing to add.

There has been chatter on social media suggesting the Flames should pursue a player such as Robert Thomas. Yes, he is a proven NHL centre about to enter his prime and, in many ways, fits the type of player the Flames have been seeking in recent years. However, given how this season has unfolded and what the next couple of years may look like, he is not the type of player the team should target right now.

The Flames could still realistically acquire one or even two first-round picks at the deadline, along with additional selections or quality young prospects. Continue building that equity. Once a clear core is established and the end of this retool is in sight, that is when you make aggressive moves for top-end talent to elevate the team to the next level.

The Flames may need to take on a bad contract or two to make a deal work, but that should not be a concern. With $42 million in cap space, according to PuckPedia, the Flames need to weaponize that flexibility to maximize their returns. Acquiring Maatta is a good example of that approach.

Without being overly ambitious, the Flames have a real opportunity to shape their future. They’ve already moved Weegar, it’s time to do some more. Three or four additional moves is more plausible. A productive rest of the deadline could look something like this:

Out: Kadri (with salary retained)
In: First-round pick

Out: Coleman
In: First-round pick, prospect

Out: Lomberg
In: Third- or fourth-round pick

Out: Hanley
In: Third- or fourth-round pick

Kadri and Coleman are the bare minimum of what needs to be done by Friday. Anything less will lead to significant dissatisfaction in Calgary. It would feel like a missed opportunity in a season that is already all but over, with a group of players who may not be contributors when the team is competitive again. Trading Lomberg and/or Hanley would be excellent moves that would really tip the scale to this being a successful deadline.

Hopefully, we are in for one of the more chaotic trade deadlines in recent years. It is starting to look that way. No one would be upset if the results exceed expectations. Flames fans want to see change. There is now an opportunity to move Weegar, Coleman and Kadri, all within a couple of days. That would bring hope and excitement for the future.

Bring on the chaos.