The 2022 NHL Trade Deadline mere hours away, and the Calgary Flames have been very active leading up to it. Having already acquired Tyler Toffoli and Calle Jarnkrok to this point as well as Michael McNiven to add depth to the AHL squad, the team has pushed all their chips into the middle of the table, showing the rest of the league that they are prepping for a long playoff run.
Brad Treliving is well known for having his hands in on every trade, and has made a number of moves through his tenure with the Flames. He has made a trade with every single team but five: The Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Vegas Golden Knights—the last of whom have not made a trade with the Flames since joining the league.
Here’s a look into the last trades that the Flames have made with every other NHL organization here:
Anaheim Ducks
| Date | To Calgary | To Anaheim |
|---|---|---|
| November 21, 2013 | 2014 sixth-round pick (Adam Ollas Mattsson) | Tim Jackman |
Jackman was the first player to come out of Minnesota State Mankato (where Connor Mackey also played his college hockey), and was brought to Calgary to bring grit and physicality. He ended up bringing more than that, recording his first and only ten goal season with the Flames in 2010–11.
He struggled from there and was moved to Anaheim for a middling pick, who turned out to be not an NHLer. Mattsson is currently with the Malmo Redhawks in the SHL.
Arizona Coyotes
| Date | To Calgary | To Anaheim |
|---|---|---|
| June 17, 2017 | Mike Smith (25% retained) | Chad Johnson Brandon Hickey 2018 third-round pick (Niklas Nordgren) |
Probably a chapter most of us would rather forget. While Smith had some high highs including a solid playoff perfomance in 2019, his lowest lows provided more headaches and heartaches for Flames fans. Thankfully the price for him was low. Johnson has since retired, Hickey is a middling AHLer, and Nordgren is playing in the Finnish Metsis, their second highest league.
Boston Bruins
| Date | To Calgary | To Boston |
|---|---|---|
| July 28, 2021 | Dan Vladar | 2022 third-round pick |
This may have been the steal of the summer. Acquiring Dan Vladar—who has two shutouts and a 0.903 save percentage through 15 games—was a very good signing for the team. He has been more than capable in the crease despite his limited role, and looks to be a player that the Flames can move for more money when Dustin Wolf is inevitably ready for an NHL job.
Buffalo Sabres
| Date | To Calgary | To Buffalo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2, 2020 | 2020 fourth-round pick (Daniil Chechelev) | Michael Frolik |
The Flames needed to do something about Michael Frolik, who went from a second line shutdown guy to a fourth liner. With a player and agent growing increasingly dejected, the Flames flipped him to Buffalo for a draft pick which became goaltending prospect Daniil Chechelev.
Carolina Hurricanes
| Date | To Calgary | To Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| June 23, 2018 | Elias Lindholm Noah Hanifin | Micheal Ferland Dougie Hamilton Adam Fox |
Probably one of the most hotly contested trades in recent memory, this blockbuster trade saw everyone get pieces that worked for them. The Flames got their top centre and top defenceman, the Canes got two good pieces that have since moved on and then flipped Fox to the Rangers for two picks.
Chicago Blackhawks
| Date | To Calgary | To Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| July 28, 2021 | Nikita Zadorov | 2022 third-round pick |
What was initially a confusing move has turned into an enormous win for the Flames. Nikita Zadorov has become an excellent shutdown defenceman on the team’s third pairing with Erik Gudbranson. Even if the Flames can’t keep him this summer, trading away a third-round pick for this level of production is more than worth it.
Colorado Avalanche
| Date | To Calgary | To Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| October 4, 2015 | Freddie Hamilton | Nothing (Conditional pick, conditions not met) |
This was a funny one. The Flames acquired a piece to satisfy Dougie Hamilton in his brother Freddie. The forward played just 38 games with the Flames, spending more time in the press box than on the ice. The acquisition cost for him was zero, with the conditions on the pick never being met. This Hamilton brother is currently doing his MBA at Yale per his LinkedIn.
Columbus Blue Jackets
| Date | To Calgary | To Columbus |
|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2013 | 2013 fifth-round pick (Eric Roy) | Blake Comeau |
Drafted by the Islanders, Comeau was claimed off waivers by the Flames in 2011. He spent nearly two seasons with the team, but did not play a full season in either year. He was moved just before the 2013 NHL Trade Deadline for a fifth-round pick who became a career ECHLer.
Dallas Stars
| Date | To Calgary | To Dallas |
|---|---|---|
| February 29, 2016 | Jyrki Jokipakka Brett Pollock 2016 2nd round pick (Dillon Dube) | Kris Russell |
The Flames acquired Russell in 2013 for a fifth-round pick that did not turn into much. After struggling through the 2015–16 season, the Flames moved him to Dallas for Jokipakka, Pollock, and the pick that became Dillon Dube. Jokipakka was subsequently traded as part of the Curtis Lazar deal to Ottawa. Pollock did not end up becoming an NHLer.
Detroit Red Wings
| Date | To Calgary | To Detroit |
|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2017 | Nothing (Conditional pick with unmet conditions) | Tom McCollum |
A first-round pick by the Red Wings in 2008, McCollum found his way into three NHL games in his tenure with the team. He then signed a two-year two way deal with the Flames in 2016–17, but was traded back to Detroit for a conditional seventh round pick in 2017. Those conditions weren’t met, but McCollum did not go on to play another NHL game in his career. He is now playing in the IceHL in Central Europe.
Edmonton Oilers
| Date | To Calgary | To Edmonton |
|---|---|---|
| July 19, 2019 | Milan Lucic (12.5% retained) 2021 third-round pick (Kirill Kirsanov) | James Neal |
One of the most infamous trades in recent memory between these two teams—or possibly in the whole league—the Flames acquired Lucic, with some salary retained, and a third-round pick for forward James Neal. It is clear the Flames won the Lucic trade without a shadow of a doubt. They were able to expose Lucic in the Seattle Expansion Draft, and have actually found a way to turn Lucic into a ten-goal scorer this season.
The third-round pick was then traded for two more picks, one of which is Jack Beck, who has been exceptional this year in the OHL. James Neal, meanwhile, was bought out by the Oilers, and has a 1.91 million dollar cap hit on the books until the end of the 2024–25 season.
Florida Panthers
| Date | To Calgary | To Florida |
|---|---|---|
| April 12, 2021 | Emil Heineman 2022 second-round pick | Sam Bennett 2022 sixth-round pick |
This was a trade that the Flames probably didn’t expect to make when Bennett was drafted as the highest ever pick in the organization in 2014. While Bennett has been quite good for the Panthers, the two pieces the Flames got back were used to add Tyler Toffoli and Calle Jarnkrok. Not bad.
Los Angeles Kings
| Date | To Calgary | To Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| July 24, 2021 | 2021 third-round pick (Cameron Whynot) 2021 sixth-round pick (Jack Beck) | 2021 third-round pick (Kirill Kirsanov) |
As mentioned above, the pick acquired in the Milan Lucic for James Neal trade became the pick that was sent to Los Angeles for Cameron Whynot and Jack Beck. While it is far too early to say who won this move, Beck has been very good in the OHL and Whynot has been decent as a top-pairing defenceman in the QMJHL. Positive signs, but too early to call.
For reference, the last player traded between the two teams was when the Flames acquired Derek Forbort for a fourth-round pick that became Jackson Blake at the 2020 NHL Trade Deadline.
Minnesota Wild
| Date | To Calgary | To Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| February 29, 2016 | Niklas Backstrom 2016 sixth-round pick (Matthew Phillips) | David Jones |
In the midst of an ongoing goaltending carousel in Calgary, the Flames acquired Nikas Backstrom, who was a healthy scratch regularly in Minnesota. He was not supposed to be the answer for the Flames, but he was going to be given a proper send-off into retirement. He played in just four games but he clearly enjoyed it.
In return, the Flames gave up right shot right winger David Jones, best known for scoring a goal by deflecting the puck off of Matt Dumba‘s head and into the net.
Jones and Backstrom have both since retired, with the latter now the goaltending coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The piece that remains is Matthew Phillips, who is the Stockton Heats’ top scorer, and is hovering around the top 10 in scoring in the AHL. He probably deserves an NHL look.
Montreal Canadiens
| Date | To Calgary | To Montreal |
|---|---|---|
| March 2, 2022 | Michael McNiven | Future Considerations |
While the most high-profile trade with the Habs was for Tyler Toffoli, the most recent was the acquisition of Michael McNiven. He comes in as one more netminder in the Heats’ system in case of an injury or call-up to Calgary as both organizations look toward the playoffs.
Nashville Predators
| Date | To Calgary | To Nashville |
|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2015 | Nothing (Conditional pick, conditions not met) | Max Reinhart |
A 2010 third-round pick, Reinhart struggled to make the jump from Junior to pro hockey, then from the AHL to the NHL. He was traded to Nashville after playing in just 23 games with the Flames, the only NHL action he would see in his career. Because he did not play in 18 games for Nashville, the conditions were not met and the Flames did not receive anything in return.
New Jersey Devils
| Date | To Calgary | To New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| December 30, 2017 | Dalton Prout | Eddie Lack |
Lack was acquired by the Flames in June 2017 along with Ryan Murphy (who was immediately bought out), and a seventh-round pick in exchange for Keegan Kanzig and a sixth-round pick. Lack played in four games for the Flames, five for the Heat, and not even one year later, Lack was sent to New Jersey for defenceman Dalton Prout. He played in 20 games for the Flames and 38 for Stockton. Really just mediocre all around.
The only positive that came out of this—and it’s a big one—was that the seventh round pick turned into Dustin Wolf, who is currently the top goalie in the AHL.
New York Islanders
| Date | To Calgary | To Islanders |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2017 | Travis Hamonic 2019 fourth-round pick (Lucas Feuk) | 2018 first-round pick (Noah Dobson) 2018 second-round pick (Ruslan Iskhakov) 2019 second-round pick (Samuel Bolduc) |
This is a trade that is not talked about nearly enough in the Flames’ world. Hamonic was a very good second pairing defenceman for the Flames for a number of years, but the price that they paid to acquire him was enormous. As good as Noah Dobson is, it is a minor miracle for Flames fans that the other two picks did not turn into more to this point. It’s equally disappointing that Lucas Feuk did not turn into more either, currently plying his trade in the Swedish HockeyEttan.
New York Rangers
| Date | To Calgary | To Rangers |
|---|---|---|
| October 6, 2020 | 2020 first-round pick (Hendrix Lapierre) 2020 third-round pick (Jeremie Poirier) | 2020 first-round pick (Braden Schneider) |
What looked at the time like a draft day steal is now starting to look somehow even better. GM Treliving turned one first-round pick into Connor Zary, Jake Boltmann, and Jeremie Poirier, the latter being included in this deal. Sure LaPierre and Schneider have both played NHL games to this point, but Poirier looks like an elite defenceman and if Zary can develop into a pro-capable centre, this could turn into a real coup for the Flames.
The last player traded between the two clubs was when the Flames acquired Roman Horak and two second-round picks (Tyler Wotherspoon and Marcus Granlund) in exchange for Tim Erixon and a fifth (which became Shane McColgan).
Ottawa Senators
| Date | To Calgary | To Ottawa |
|---|---|---|
| February 26, 2018 | Nick Shore | 2019 seventh-round pick (Tyler Angle) |
A journeyman NHLer, Shore bounced between five NHL teams in six season, spending just nine games with the Flames. He put up three points before not being tendered a qualifying offer by the Flames and becoming a UFA. Most recently, he played in the KHL before leaving due to the ongoing Crisis in Ukraine.
Philadelphia Flyers
| Date | To Calgary | To Philadelphia |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2008 | Kyle Greentree | Tim Ramholt |
We’re going way way back for this one. Ramholt was a second-round pick by the Flames in 2003, and played exactly one shift of 45 seconds in the NHL before being sent back down to the AHL. He was subsequently traded to Philadelphia at the end of the 2007–08 season, and this was the only NHL action he ever saw.
Greentree faired marginally better, finding his way into two NHL games with the Flames, but he was traded to Chicago for minor leaguer Aaron Johnson. He played 22 games for the Flames before being traded for Steve Staios from Edmonton. He put up 13 points in 57 games for the Flames before leaving as a free agent. A mini trade a red paperclip story but instead of a house, you end up with Steve Staios.
Pittsburgh Penguins
| Date | To Calgary | To Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|
| March 5, 2014 | 2014 third-round pick (Matheson Iacopelli) | Lee Stempniak |
Best known for having played for 10 teams in his NHL career, Stempniak was acquired by the Flames in the Daymond Langkow trade in 2010. However as the Flames began to rebuild after the Jarome Iginla era, Stempniak was moved to Pittsburgh for a third-round selection.
The Flames then used this pick to acquire Brandon Bollig from the Chicago Blackhawks.
San Jose Sharks
| Date | To Calgary | To San Jose |
|---|---|---|
| February 24, 2020 | Future considerations | Brandon Davidson |
Mostly an AHLer, Davison appeared in seven NHL games for the Flames. Right at the end of the 2020 NHL Trade Deadline, Davidson was moved to the Sharks for future considerations. He did not record a single point with the Sharks nor the next season at all with the Buffalo Sabres and Rochester Americans. This season he has six points with the Americans in the AHL.
Seattle Kraken
| Date | To Calgary | To Seattle |
|---|---|---|
| March 16, 2022 | Calle Jarnkrok (50% retained) | 2022 second-round pick 2023 third-round pick 2024 seventh-round pick |
The most recent trade for the Flames, Jarnkrok gives the Flames yet another Swede, even more depth, and another familial connection—Jarnkrok being a cousin of Elias Lindholm. The Flames are keen to build a really good group in Calgary, and adding Jarnkork to the mix seems to be part of that strategy.
Whether it works out will be interesting. Does he make an impact in a depth role this season? Does he re-sign with the Flames in the summer? Do those draft picks come back to bite the Flames? Only time will tell.
St. Louis Blues
| Date | To Calgary | To St. Louis |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2016 | Brian Elliott | 2016 second-round pick (Jordan Kyrou) |
Yikes this hurts! The Flames thought Brian Elliott would be the solution to their goaltending carousel in 2016, but he didn’t quite live up to expectations. The pick that they gave away turned into Jordan Kyrou, who is quickly turning into a star for the Blues.
Tampa Bay Lightning
| Date | To Calgary | To Tampa Bay |
|---|---|---|
| November 12, 2015 | Kevin Poulin | Future considerations |
The Lightning acquired Poulin off waivers from the New York Islanders, then flipped him just a year later to the Flames for future considerations. Poulin played exclusively in the AHL for Stockton before leaving at the end of the season for the KHL. The only notable thing with Poulin is he helped Canada win the Spengler Cup in 2017, posting a 0.971 save percentage through three games.
Toronto Maple Leafs
| Date | To Calgary | To Toronto |
|---|---|---|
| April 11, 2021 | 2022 third-round pick | David Rittich (50% retained) |
The heart and soul of the Flames’ franchise, the Flames parted ways with Big Save Dave last season after acquiring him as an unsigned player in the Czech Republic. He beat out numerous Flames’ prospects for the job in the Flames’ crease, and this proverbial found money landed the Flames a third-round pick. That pick was then traded to Chicago in the acquisition of Nikita Zadorov.
Vancouver Canucks
| Date | To Calgary | To Vancouver |
|---|---|---|
| February 22, 2016 | Hunter Shinkaruk | Markus Granlund |
Another nothing trade. The Flames acquired Calgary-born Shinkaruk who struggled in Vancouver and gave away Granlund, who was struggling in Calgary. Shinkaruk put up just four points in 15 career NHL games, and now plays in the KHL.
Granlund struggled to make an impact in Calgary, bounding between the AHL and NHL for two seasons. He had one great season in Vancouver, where he put up 32 points in 69 games in 2016–17, but currently also plays in the KHL.
Vegas Golden Knights
There have been no trades between the Flames and Golden Knights to this point.
Washington Capitals
| Date | To Calgary | To Washington |
|---|---|---|
| October 6, 2020 | 2020 first-round pick (Connor Zary) 2020 third-round pick (Jake Boltmann) | 2020 first-round pick (Hendrix Lapierre) |
Another one of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft steals, the Flames acquired the picks they would use to select Connor Zary and Jake Boltmann for the pick used to take Hendrix LaPierre. Zary is going to take a bit longer to get up to speed at the AHL level, given the Flames’ desire to see him as a centreman and his really rough injury record this year, but should develop nicely in time.
Boltmann is just finishing his rookie year at Notre Dame (should be his sophomore but he technically still qualifies as a rookie), and projects as a shutdown defenceman. Give him time to see what he can be.
The last player to be traded between the two franchises was when the Flames traded Curtis Glencross to the Capitals for a 2015 second- and third-round pick. The second was traded to Boston as part of the Dougie Hamilton deal, and the third went to Arizona when the Flames moved up in the draft to select Oliver Kylington.
Winnipeg Jets
| Date | To Calgary | To Winnipeg |
|---|---|---|
| January 30, 2012 | Akim Aliu | John Negrin |
One name is unforgettable, the other is very forgettable. The latter, Negrin, played three games with the Flames before spending the majority of his tenure in the AHL. He was traded for Akim Aliu in 2012, and went on to never play another game in the NHL.
Born in the Ukraine, Aliu played just seven NHL games, all of which with the Flames, and recorded three points in that span. He was not offered a contract renewal and left the Flames as a free agent at the end of the 2012–13 season. He has since gone public with allegations of racial abuse by former Flames’ Head Coach Bill Peters and has made major impacts in increasing diversity in the sport of hockey.
Conclusions
It’s always fun to look back in the history books to see how the Flames’ trades have worked out. Some were clear slam dunks for the Flames, like adding Lucic and Vladar, while others could have clearly gone better for the team (looking at every other trade for a goalie). The Flames clearly like trading with some teams more than others, but it’s interesting to see what became of some of the trades the Flames made over the years, and which teams don’t trade with the Flames whatsoever in recent times.
