The Calgary Flames could be a busy team once the Olympic trade freeze has come to an end. The 2026 trade deadline is scheduled for March 6, and the Flames, who sit 29th in NHL standings, have a number of players on their roster who other teams would love to get their hands on.
The Flames got their selling started early, as they traded Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights in January. While Andersson was the name everybody had their eye on, he may not be the only member of the Flames to get shipped out ahead of the deadline.
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Two others in Nazem Kadri and Blake Coleman continue to be discussed in trade speculation, and there has even been some whispers surrounding the likes of Zach Whitecloud, Ryan Lomberg, Joel Hanley, and Brayden Pachal. Should the Flames look to move any, and, in particular, the first two names mentioned, these three teams all make sense as potential fits.
Carolina Hurricanes
Despite the fact that they have been Stanley Cup contenders for years and years, the Carolina Hurricanes have also done a great job when it comes to cap management. That is why they find themselves going into the trade deadline with nearly $9 million in cap space.
The Hurricanes continue to be a deep team, though it’s no secret that scoring goals has been a problem for them in the postseason. Could that have them taking a swing at Kadri or Coleman? It remains to be seen, but there aren’t many better forwards available on the market.
Detroit Red Wings
After failing to add any reinforcements at last year’s trade deadline, general manager (GM) Steve Yzerman was called out by Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin. While that’s a conversation for a different day, you can bet that Yzerman will be doing things differently this time around.
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The Red Wings have had an impressive season, sitting third in the Atlantic Divsision with a 33-19-3 record. Even better, they have north of $12 million in cap space, which could allow for Yzerman to bring in several players. Lucky for them, the Flames have several that can be had for the right price.
Utah Mammoth
After years of promising young talent but little results, the Utah Mammoth (formerly the Arizona Coyotes) are turning the corner. Dylan Guenther has continued to improve, Nick Schmaltz is having a career year, and Clayton Keller continues to be one of the game’s most underrated talents. This team should only continue to get better in the years to come, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t bring in some help this season.
An area the Mammoth could use some help is on the back end. They do have roughly $6 million in cap space, though it’s unlikely to see them take a massive swing for a defenceman midseason. What they could instead look to do is shore up their back end by adding some depth defenders. Flames fans have several of those who could be of interest.
Intriguing Deadline Incoming
Though the Flames are continuing to be the most talked about team given all their trade chips, they are far from the only team to keep an eye on as the deadline approaches. The vast majority of contenders have yet to make any deals, and are expected to do so in hopes of gaining an edge. As a result, it feels quite likely we will see several trades once the Olympic freeze has commenced.
