In this week’s edition of Calgary Flames News & Rumours, speculation continues to swirl around Nazem Kadri after several reports have stated he would like to be dealt to a contender. Meanwhile, it feels as though Blake Coleman’s days with the organization are numbered. The same can be said about Ryan Lomberg, despite his plea to remain a Flame.
Kadri Continuing to Be Discussed
Given that the Flames are in a retooling, or perhaps what some would refer to as a rebuilding stage, it always felt obvious that Nazem Kadri would be traded before his contract came to an end. After all, the 35-year-old remains signed through the 2028-29 season. The Flames are unlikely to be viewed as contenders by that point, leading most to believe the veteran centre would not only be moved, but would welcome a deal in hopes of joining a Stanley Cup contender.
That appears to be the case, as Kadri has reportedly informed the Flames that he would like to traded. That said, he also isn’t making any sort of fuss about the situation, which is giving general manager (GM) Craig Conroy plenty of time to make a deal that benefits the organization both now and in the long term.
While several teams have been suggested as potential targets for Kadri, one who continues to be linked is the Colorado Avalanche. After trading Samuel Girard recently, the Avs have the cap space to acquire Kadri, and are in need of help down the middle. Whether this will amount to anything remains to be seen, but it’s worth keeping an eye on as the deadline looms.
Related: Ranking the Calgary Flames Most Likely to Be Dealt by the Trade Deadline
That said, there are also many who believe a Kadri trade is much more likely to happen in the summer. Part of that reason is that the Flames will get back two retention spots which are currently being used on Jacob Markstrom and Rasmus Andersson. Being able to retain on Kadri’s deal will be key for the Flames in order to net a solid return.
Coleman Likely to Be Dealt
While Kadri being moved ahead of the trade deadline appears up in the air, Blake Coleman feels extremely likely to be moved. The 34-year-old has just one additional season remaining on his contract, making him a much less risky player than Kadri for teams around the league to acquire.
Coleman has continued to be a consistent option for the Flames in 2025-26, scoring 13 goals and 22 points through 48 games. His winning experience paired with his veteran leadership and solid two-way game gives him plenty of value, and should allow for Conroy to bring in a solid return. That said, his presence will absolutely be missed in the Flames dressing room should he indeed be dealt.
Lomberg Hopes to Remain with Flames
Another player who feels likely to be on the move is Ryan Lomberg. The 31-year-old is the only pending unrestricted free agent forward the Flames have, and with the amount of prospects they have waiting in the pipeline, re-signing the pesky fourth liner doesn’t seem to make a ton of sense. That said, he’s doing everything in his power to remain with the organization beyond this season.
““I signed here with the intention of helping this team win, and being part of the solution. So that’s definitely how I would like it to stay. But obviously some things are out of my control, and I can’t control those things. So, I just kind of take it day by day,” Lomberg said last week to Sportsnet’s Eric Francis.
Related: Taking Stock of the Flames’ Assets as the Trade Deadline Approaches
After winning a Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers in 2024, Lomberg signed a two-year, $4 million deal with the Flames. He quickly became a favourite in the dressing room as well as within the fan base. While it will be sad to see him go, the Flames would be best off to move him for a future piece. It won’t be much of a return given his offensive limitations, but something is always better than nothing.
Looking Ahead for the Flames
The Flames have just two games remaining this week and will be looking for much better performances after being thumped 6-1 by the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. The first of their two remaining games will come on Thursday night versus the Ottawa Senators, while the final will be a difficult matchup on Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes.
