We’re back with another installment of armchair general manager trade proposals. We’re further into the offseason, and the itch for movement ahead of the draft and free agency has never been stronger. Would any of these be anything to sniff at?

Rasmus Andersson to Dallas… again

One common theme this summer has been Rasmus Andersson being shipped to the Dallas Stars. Andersson seems to be a great fit for their D-corps before the Dallas Stars were eliminated in the Western Conference Final. Goaltender Jake Oettinger could certainly use some help, and Andersson is an excellent veteran presence.

I’m not entirely sure why Dallas would be quick to move on from 23-year-old Thomas Harley. He did have a bit of a tough time in the playoffs, but again, he is 23 years old. Not to mention, he did score the overtime winner to send the Stars back to the Western Conference Final.

Both defencemen are on the expiring year of their contracts and share a similar average annual value. Andersson was a -38 while Harley was a +32. So, there is that. I don’t think the Calgary Flames could just send Andersson. They would likely have to send a pick or maybe one of their young forwards like Sam Honzek.

This is a low-risk, high-reward situation. He could slot right in on MacKenzie Weegar’s pair, and I don’t think you would hear too many complaints.

Verdict: Yes.

The Flames do not need to add another right-handed defenceman. They are all set. Ilya Lyubushkin is 31 years old, with two years left on his current deal. With the Flames moving on from Andersson, the goal is to integrate younger talent on the right side. They’ve got Zayne Parekh and Hunter Brzustewicz waiting in the wings while Weegar holds down the fort.

Verdict: No, thank you.

Buffalo Blues

Right off the bat, MacKenzie Weegar is not going anywhere. He has made it clear that he is dedicated to the Flames, and not to mention, he has a full no-trade clause.

Moving Blake Coleman is a good idea. He is that veteran presence you want in your room. He is a proven winner who has grinded it out in every situation he’s in. His 10-team trade list may or may not include the Buffalo Sabres.

The Flames could benefit from Owen Power. He is a well-rounded blueliner who could offer more protection in front of Dustin Wolf as well as contribute offensively. The overall consensus is that he is still finding his game but is poised for a stellar NHL career. Could time on Weegar’s pairing do him some good and move his development along? The price tag is also a little bit of a concern, but alas, with the cap rising on a long-term deal, you’re probably looking at a fair deal.

Peyton Krebs is another left-shot winger. The Flames have plenty of those, and I’m not entirely sure they need to add another. Krebs had 10 goals, 28 points over 80 games last season. He does have one year left at $1.4M and will be a restricted free agent at the end of the 2025–26 season. Could he be an upgrade to the fourth line? Possibly. Do the Flames need him? No, not really.

Jack Quinn is a player I’ve talked about before. There is room for improvement on his skating and strength. Maybe he and Sam Honzek can get some protein shakes and workouts in together and solve this problem.

Verdict: No. Call me when you want to take some forwards.

Martin Pospisil, get ready to learn Gabagool

Does it make sense to add a 34-year-old centre in exchange for a 25-year-old forward? Probably not, but the New Jersey Devils do make it a little sweeter with the Vegas Golden Knights’ 2025 third-round pick.

Erik Haula had 11 goals and 21 points in 69 games. He averaged 14:40 minutes a night. Pospisil had four goals in 81 games, averaging 13 minutes. At least here, you’re getting someone who can win face-offs—52.4%—and bring some offence to your bottom-six. It wouldn’t be the worst idea considering a 34-year-old Haula is more productive than a 25-year-old Pospisil.

Verdict: Sure, what the heck.

Related