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The Calgary Flames were among the worst teams in the NHL, heading into the offseason as an afterthought in the trade market. They made some of the biggest deals of the deadline, sending Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights and Nazem Kadri to the Colorado Avalanche. If the Flames wanted to get closer to the playoffs, they could use some of those assets to add players this offseason.
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If the Flames do add players this offseason, they have to be selective. They are nowhere near ready to compete in the loaded Western Conference and should use most of their picks in the NHL Draft instead of in trades. But there are some young players out there that could help the Flames raise their floor in 2026-27. With a new arena coming soon, they should want to win some games.
Who could the Flames pick up in trades this offseason?
Flames can benefit from Avalanche cap crunch
Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
The salary cap is going up again this offseason, which should benefit the contenders trying to keep their cores together. But the Avalanche are heading into a cap crunch after an active trade deadline. Bringing in Kadri, along with Brock Nelson’s new contract and the deal that Cale Makar needs, puts them up against the ceiling. This is where the Flames can swoop in and trade for Jack Drury.
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Drury was a part of the trade that sent Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes before the 2025 trade deadline. In his first full season with the Avalanche, he scored a career-high 10 goals. As he proves he can be a solid middle-line center in the league, his price tag is only going up. Drury is a restricted free agent who needs a new contract, which is where the Flames come in.
The Flames could either sign Drury to an offer sheet or trade for his rights before signing him to a deal. Either way, parting with some mid-round picks to land Drury would be a decent use of assets. It is unlikely to get as responsible a player in the middle rounds as Drury, so cashing some picks in could go well for Calgary.
Are the Maple Leafs looking to rebuild?
If new general manager John Chayka is set on starting a rebuild with the Maple Leafs, even the Flames should call. They won’t be in the running for Auston Matthews or Matthew Knies, but they can still benefit from the Leafs’ teardown. One of the worst Brad Treliving trades was bringing in Brandon Carlo, and the Flames could take him off their hands.
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If the Flames can pick up a mid-round pick in exchange for taking on the last year of Carlo’s contract. They do not have a ton of high-end prospects banging down the door, so he won’t be blocking anyone from making their NHL debut. The Flames could bring him in, add a fourth-round pick in the process, play out the contract, and let him walk. Buying draft picks is exactly what rebuilding teams should do, and the Flames have an opportunity this offseason.
Carlo does have a three-team no-trade list, so there is a slight chance this trade gets blocked. But that should not be much of a problem, as the Leafs should be motivated to move him. Carlo could even waive the clause if it got in the way.
Taking on a Golden Knights veteran
The Golden Knights are back in the Stanley Cup Final for the third time in nine years, and only two players have been there for all three. William Karlsson could be traded this offseason, but Brayden McNabb makes more sense for the Flames. Karlsson has something to give to a contender, while McNabb is slowing down and does not have the offensive upside. The Knights may not give them a mid-round pick, but they are ruthless, so this trade could be happening.
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The Flames would then take McNabb and try to flip him at the trade deadline. Anything they can add to their pile of assets is a good thing, and McNabb could become a huge deadline piece if the right team came calling. After trading for Andersson, the Knights should be focused on re-signing him, which will take a lot of their remaining cap space.