It’s not even American Thanksgiving, and already the rumour mill is swirling across the league. While for some teams this has been a great start, for the Calgary Flames, it has been anything but. There is a lot of talk about this team trading aging veterans to try to acquire younger players and draft picks. Now, three Calgary Flames have appeared on The Athletic’s trade board, with one topping the list. Here’s who’s on the list:

21. Nazem Kadri

On the one hand, it’s no surprise to see Nazem Kadri getting interest from across the league, but on the other, the Flames have been very clear that they don’t want to trade their top centreman. Sitting at 21st makes a lot of sense as a result.

If the Flames are looking to rebuild, offloading Kadri makes a good deal of sense. He’s older, has won a cup, and is still producing at a good rate. There will come a point where that point production will slow down, and his trade value will diminish, and then the Flames will be stuck with him.

However, the Flames appear keen to have him in the lineup. He’s “good in the room” and is a proven winner. The type of player your young guys learn from. This team has talked about culture ad nauseam, and keeping Kadri is a culture move.

4. Blake Coleman

The Texas Tiger has been a strong addition to the lineup since the Flames acquired him, and has formed a very effective partnership with Mikael Backlund on the team’s shutdown line. However, both he and Backlund are getting older, and with Coleman’s production and a Stanley Cup ring on his finger, there have been teams calling to ask for his services.

The Flames could get a strong return for him, and moving Coleman would be easier than parting with Kadri. The team has an abundance of wingers, and while losing Coleman will hurt, if they can get a first-round pick for him, that would be a fantastic return for this team’s future.

1. Rasmus Andersson

Who else would top the trade board but Andersson? The rumours around Andersson being traded have swirled non-stop for more than a year now, and it’s honestly shocking that they haven’t done anything to this point.

The Swedish former second-round pick should be on the way out between now and the trade deadline, and the Flames should be clear to move him sooner rather than later to maximize his value. Now with two goals in two games and a clear return of his swagger, it’s time to move on from Andersson.

Other players who appear on The Athletic’s trade board

The rest of the trade board is mostly older veterans who will be moved to contenders as deadline rentals. Steven Stamkos is a perfect example of this, and he sits second.

Interestingly, Brandon Carlo of the Toronto Maple Leafs is on the list as well, despite being acquired at last year’s trade deadline. The Leafs have struggled heavily to start the season.

From an acquisition standpoint, the one name of note is Brennan Othmann of the New York Rangers. The 22-year-old winger has five points in ten games in the AHL, but this is a far cry from what he was projected to become when he was drafted. Could the Flames look at him as a reclamation project and get him for cheap? It may not be a bad idea.

The Flames are likely to be sellers, not buyers, this trade deadline, and in a perfect world, should look younger by the time the NHL Trade Deadline rolls around. Let’s see where it goes.

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