Hockey is back. We made it through the dog days of summer, begging for a Connor Zary and a Dustin Wolf extension. Craig Conroy pulled the trigger and extended Mikael Backlund for two more seasons. We are inching closer and closer to the opening of Scotia Place. Please sit back and relax as we examine some PuckPedia PuckGM trades. 

Another Rasmus Andersson proposal

I know we’ve all been clamoring for a Rasmus Andersson trade, but this doesn’t seem to be the one. Goaltender Connor Ingram will be hitting waivers in hopes of finding a new home. The veteran goaltender could be an option for the Calgary Flames if Devin Cooley does not find success in the NHL or if Ivan Prosvetov fails to find his footing. Several things would need to go wrong for this to make sense.

Based on the Utah Mammoth’s timeline, it seems like there isn’t time to wait for that to happen. On the other hand, the Flames also don’t need to take on the entirety of 31-year-old defenceman Olli Maatta’s contract. Bringing on a 31-year-old left-shot defenceman for three years when you already have a logjam makes no sense. The draft capital is nice, but the trade, as a whole, makes no sense for the Flames. 

Verdict: No, thank you.

Clearing space on the blue line

Jake Bean is likely going to be one of the Flames’ odd men out. I don’t see a world where he is playing regularly over Zayne Parekh. The two may rotate, but there is a lot more upside to having Parekh consistently in your lineup. Realistically, the Flames could just put Bean on waivers. Getting something back for him would be neat.

Verdict: Yes. 

Are Weegar and Huberdeau a bonded pair?

Sometimes all you can do is laugh. Offloading the Jonathan  Huberdeau contract sounds great! It’d actually do wonders to clear the way for more young players. However, MacKenzie Weegar is not on the table. He is the heartbeat of the Calgary Flames.

Regardless of Backlund’s extension, Weegar will be the next captain. I don’t see a world where the Flames would even explore the idea of trading him. I won’t even bother going into the return because, well, Conroy wouldn’t want to hear it. 

Verdict: No, not if Weegar is involved. Maybe there’s a way to make a Huberdeau deal work.

No more goaltenders

Similar to the first trade, the Flames really aren’t in the market for another goaltender. Joonas Korpisalo does not want a backup role. He wants to play more than 20–25 games a season. That just isn’t likely to happen in a world where Dustin Wolf is your starter. 

Verdict: No, it just doesn’t make sense.

Dancing with the Devils

I see the New Jersey Devils fans’ vision, but I am not really interested. The Flames could certainly use a 25+ goal scorer, but are in no business giving up a first-round pick right now. Timo Meier is 28 years old in year three of his eight-year deal. I’m not entirely sure the Flames need to be involved in that. They should be doing everything in their power to avoid that, actually. 

Verdict: No, thank you.

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