Rumor: Flames linked to over a dozen trade deadline targets

Flames insider Kent Wilson does a deep dive on the Flames’ trade deadline options.

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Published 5 years ago
Rumor: Flames linked to over a dozen trade deadline targets
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No doubt about it, the Calgary Flames have been one of the most pleasant surprises of the 2018-19 NHL season. After missing the playoffs last season under head coach Glen Gulutzan, general manager Brad Treliving gutted the team’s coaching staff, brought in Bill Peters from the Carolina Hurricanes and pulled off a blockbuster deal to acquired Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin from the aforementioned Hurricanes.

The midseason results are good. Very good. Lindholm has busted out for 21 goals and 55 points in 48 games and Hanifin is well on his way to establishing a new career high in points. Meanwhile the Flames find themselves a the very top of the NHL’s Western Conference standings thanks in large part to the team’s offseason changes.

Still, you can’t help but think that the Flames could use an extra boost for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Kent Wilson of The Athletic breaks down all of the Flames’ trade deadline options, specifically on the wing, and ranks some potential acquisitions for the sudden powerhouse.

Check it out:



The targets in question:

– Mark Stone
– Vladimir Tarasenko
– Kevin Hayes
– Justin Williams
– Micheal Ferland
– Gustav Nyquist
– Jakob Silfverberg
– Wayne Simmonds

That’s a long list with some considerable variation, but the optimistic Flames fan has to be enticed by the addition of at least one of those players. 

On defence, the list is considerably shorter and fraught with potential bad deals:

– Jake Muzzin
– Niklas Kronwall
– Niklas Hjalmarsson
– David Schlemko

In net, perhaps the team’s most glaring need, Wilson offers up some intriguing options:

– Curtis McElhinney
– Ryan Miller
– Jimmy Howard
– Robin Lehner
– Thomas Greiss

What the Flames elect to do on deadline day remains to be seen, but for the first time in a few seasons you get the sense that they’re finally serious about taking a stab at a lengthy Stanley Cup Playoff run and a shrewd addition or two could seriously swing things in their favor.

Source: Kent Wilson