At the risk of sounding repetitive, the Calgary Flames should be looked at as a team to watch on the trade market this offseason.
Flames GM Craig Conroy has mentioned at different points that he’d look into the possibility of acquiring younger talent between the ages of 18 and 23. The Flames are prepared to use their draft capital, and maybe even roster players, to make a deal happen should they get someone who can be kept for the long haul. Conroy also wants to target teams with bad salary cap situations, which would make acquiring a player a bit easier.
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We’ve spent some time compiling a long list of potential players who fit that description. Some vary in terms of talent and asking price. There are also a few RFAs that might be worth offer sheeting if the Flames dare.
If the Flames intend to make a move for a young player this offseason, here are some options between the 18-23 age group.
Marco Rossi
Age: 22, Position: C, Shoots: L, Team: Minnesota Wild
2023-24 stats: 21 goals, 40 points, 82 games played
Contract status/cap hit: RFA 2025, $863,333 AAV
Earlier this summer, my colleagues Michael Russo and Joe Smith suggested that the Minnesota Wild could move on from the rookie forward (I’m as surprised as you are!). He finished with the fifth-most points among rookies last season and finished one goal behind Connor Bedard for the most among first-year players.
Russo and Smith said that the Wild might be interested in a high-level prospect in exchange. The Flames are trying to amass as much young talent as possible, so I’d imagine a deal involving a Flames prospect would have to be creative. I’m also wondering if the Wild would be interested in a top-six forward such as Andrei Kuzmenko, a pending UFA who will enter camp without an extension.
Dawson Mercer
Age: 22, Position: C/RW, Shoots: R, Team: New Jersey Devils
2023-24 stats: 20 goals, 33 points, 82 games played
Contract status: RFA 2024
Even if there’s no obvious piece to dangle for Mercer, such as Jacob Markstrom, the forward still meets all the criteria for a piece the Flames should look into. He can provide offence, has a solid motor and is durable (has played every game in each of his first three NHL seasons). His offensive statistics took a step back in 2023-24 after a 27-goal year in 2022-23. But would still be a viable option in all situations if the Flames ever acquired him.
The thing is, the Devils have cap space to afford him and aren’t exactly capped out in terms of having players like Mercer. The Flames certainly wouldn’t get Mercer for cheap.
Kaapo Kakko
Age: 23, Position: RW, Shoots: L, Team: New York Rangers
2023-24 stats: 13 goals, 19 points, 61 games played
Contract status/cap hit: RFA 2025, $2.4 million AAV
Kakko was the highly touted No. 2 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. He found a home on the Rangers’ Kid Line when Gerard Gallant coached the team and had a career-best 18-goal, 40-point season in 2022-23. But consistency has hampered him throughout his career, and he took a step back this past season due in part to a leg injury. Perhaps he’d benefit from stable linemates in a new city, but there’s some risk in taking on Kakko via trade.
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If the Flames found a consistent line with suitable players for Kakko — and he stays healthy — there’s a reward to be found, too.
Trevor Zegras
Age: 23, Position: C, Shoots: L, Team: Anaheim Ducks
2023-24 stats: 6 goals, 15 points, 31 games played
Contract status/cap hit: RFA 2026, $5.75 million AAV
There is no guarantee that Zegras will change his address this summer despite the rumours that have swirled around him for months. But even after a down year with injuries, his talent and potential are too tantalizing to simply part ways with for nothing. Before we raved about Connor Bedard pulling off the Michigan in a game, Zegras was accomplishing the move in full stride.
Even in Calgary, after said down year, he would be a can’t-miss player for the Flames who’d immediately find a home on the team’s top six. I’d expect a pretty significant asking price for a player who could still play a significant role in Anaheim’s future if he meets his full potential if the Ducks move on from him.
Rutger McGroarty
Age: 20, Position: F, Shoots: Left, Team: Winnipeg Jets
2023-24 stats: 16 goals, 52 points in 36 games with the University of Michigan
Contract status: Jets’ reserve list
He’s a right winger coming off two solid seasons at the University of Michigan and he’d surely bolster the Flames’ prospect pipeline if they got him. Judging from his time in Michigan, he’s got a quick release and can score or make plays from the slot/bumper position or the goal line.
Here’s the biggest question about McGroarty. Would he be interested in staying in Calgary? It’s a question that technically could be asked of any of these players. But with him not interested in playing for the Jets, it’s a fair question to ask about McGroarty. The Flames can give him an opportunity on a roster that wants younger, more dynamic talent up and down the organization. If a deal can be struck and McGroarty is willing to make his name in Flames colours for the long haul, then I could see the team showing interest.
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Justin Barron
Age: 22, Position: RHD, Shoots: Right, Team: Montreal Canadiens
2023-24 stats: 7 goals, 13 points, 48 games played
Contract status/cap hit: RFA 2024
The Canadiens have a surplus of defencemen in their pipeline and could move on from one if need be. Jordan Harris and Arber Xhekaj could be candidates here as well. But we’ve chosen mobile right-shot defenceman Justin Barron who could fill a need for the Flames.
He could be an upgrade on Brayden Pachal and Joel Hanley and be used alongside Kevin Bahl or Jake Bean next season, all the while making the team younger. The biggest drawback is that he’d be another roadblock in keeping the Flames’ defensive prospects from taking a roster spot ahead of next season.
Dylan Holloway
Age: 22, Position: C/LW, Shoots: L, Team: Edmonton Oilers
2023-24 stats: 6 goals, 9 points in 38 games played
Contract status/cap hit: RFA 2024
This is where things start to get interesting. If the Flames wanted to throw a wrench in their northern neighbour’s salary cap structure — they’re almost $2.5 million over the salary cap, according to CapFriendly — they could always try to sign Holloway to an offer sheet. If the offer sheet had an AAV anywhere between $2.29 million and $4.58 million, it would only cost a second-round pick as compensation. Fellow RFA and defenceman Philip Broberg could also be subjected to this, but we leaned toward Holloway because of the Flames’ pressing need at centre.
Of course, there’s some risk in the Flames making the offer sheet (but we’re not talking about hurt feelings) with the hopes of Holloway justifying his raise with his play. And all this for a player who got nine points in 38 games last year and seven points in 25 playoff games. But it would also add to the Battle of Alberta rivalry. If Conroy wants to take advantage of a team being pressed up against the cap, there might be no better team to get a one-up on than Edmonton.
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Aliaksei Protas
Age: 23, Position: C/W, Shoots: L, Team: Washington Capitals
2023-24 stats: 6 goals, 29 points, 78 games played
Contract status/cap hit: UFA 2029, $3.375m AAV
The Washington Capitals are over $13 million above the salary cap, which means they should be a prime target for the Flames. Calgary could also offer themselves up as a haven for a bad contract or two, provided they get a significant prospect and/or draft picks. One player the Flames could target is Aliaksei Protas, a 6-foot-6, 225-pound Belarussian forward who could be used at centre or wing.
Protas has shown growth since entering the league during the 2021-22 season and he found success playing with players like Connor McMichael, Dylan Strome and Anthony Mantha — all middle-six options. He could be worth taking a flier on.
Nicholas Robertson
Age: 22, Position: LW, Shoots: L, Team: Toronto Maple Leafs
2023-24 stats: 14 goals, 27 points, 56 games played
Contract status/cap hit: RFA 2024
The Toronto Maple Leafs may not be pressured to move Robertson, but he certainly would rather continue his NHL career elsewhere. He has some pace and scoring ability, which would certainly be welcomed for the Flames. Robertson, ultimately, just wants another opportunity where he can play more consistent minutes.
In theory, there could be an opening alongside Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman but it may depend on where a few other pieces fit themselves. He’d be more of a middle-six option than anything else, but it could still bring more consistency than his Toronto tenure.
I’d argue Robertson is at least worth a look. Whether or not the Flames act on it is a different story.
Peyton Krebs
Age: 23, Position: C/LW, Shoots: L, Team: Buffalo Sabres
2023-24 stats: 4 goals, 17 points, 80 games played
Contract status/cap hit: RFA 2024
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I’d argue Krebs would be a buy-low candidate here. He’s a bottom-six forward on the Sabres with a current ceiling of 26 points. It remains to be seen how much more growth is left in his game. And if he’s a player who’s destined to be a bottom-six player, the Flames have enough internal pieces who could fill that spot. One big selling point on acquiring Krebs would be his Calgary ties, and the Flames aren’t afraid to lean into that hometown identity.
Jonatan Berggren
Age: 23, Position: RW, Shoots: L, Team: Detroit Red Wings
2023-24 stats: 2 goals, 6 points, 12 games played
Contract status/cap hit: RFA 2024
Berggren is another buy-low candidate. The Swedish forward showed some promise in his debut season in 2022-23 with 12 goals and 28 points in 67 games. But he couldn’t crack the Red Wings lineup regularly last season, with only 12 games played. Now, questions surround his future as Detroit’s core takes shape.
He has shown flashes of speed and skill in his short time in the pros, but is it enough for the Flames to consider him? He’d likely start as another bottom-six forward and would enter next season without a waiver exemption, meaning you’ll have to keep him around or risk losing him for nothing.
(Top photo of Andrew Mangiapane and Trevor Zegras: Debora Robinson / NHLI via Getty Images)
