TORONTO, ON — After the Calgary Flames traded Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights 10 days ago, the word across the NHL was talk surrounding some of Calgary’s other players had quieted.
That was then. This is now.
The smoke is starting to thicken and trade talks involving several other Flames players have picked up in the last few days. Those conversations will continue leading up to the Olympic roster freeze on Feb. 4 at 3pm ET and carry out through the March 6 trade deadline.
Nazem Kadri, Blake Coleman, Ryan Lomberg, Mackenzie Weegar and newly-acquired Zach Whitecloud are among those believed to be generating interest.
In the case of Kadri, multiple sources have confirmed that while he has not formally requested a trade, he and his camp have informed the Flames he is open to being moved.
Kadri, 35, has three more seasons remaining on his contract after this year and comes with a $7 million salary cap hit. Some teams have asked the Flames if they have an appetite to eat some of his AAV, something I believe Calgary will consider depending on the offer.
The Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild are among the teams that have kicked the tires on Kadri before and are likely some of the teams interested in him now.
Several teams, including the Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning, have been eyeing Coleman, and industry sources are wagering – unofficially, of course – that he is the next Flame on the move.