The Calgary Flames are playing better hockey recently. It’s good for fans and the team, but I am still not sold. And I don’t think I’m the only one who shares that sentiment. Realistically, the Flames might make the playoffs; they might miss entirely. However, they probably won’t be one of the worst ten teams in the league, and they also won’t be in the top ten. Because of this, it’s time for a new direction. That direction should be trading the rest of their pending unrestricted free agents before the March 8, 2024 NHL Trade Deadline.
In his introductory press conference, Flames GM Craig Conroy stressed the importance of asset management. For a small Canadian market team like Calgary, asset management is crucial to success. It’s hard to recruit players in free agency without overpaying. There are always brighter lights or warmer places elsewhere. So, the only way to have success is to build through the draft and promote asset management.
A look back to the 2014–15 season
The Calgary Flames of 2023–24 have had a similar season to 2014–15:
Playoffs weren’t a guarantee for the Flames in 2014–15, and it’s certainly not a guarantee in 2023–24, as we sit here today. The youthful injections of Zary and Pospisil, among others, have certainly turned the Flames’ tides in November. Continuing to follow a re-tool or rebuild route will give this franchise hope and direction. Enough of the mushy middle.
Brad Treliving made a few great decisions during the 2014–15 run. Those great decisions came in the form of two trades, which saw a pending UFA and a young player sent out of town in exchange for draft picks:
- Curtis Glencross was sent to the Washington Capitals for 2015 second- and third-round picks. Glencross spent seven years with the Flames and proved to be a solid winger. Unfortunately for Washington, Glencross only played eighteen regular season games and ten playoff games before never playing in the NHL again.
- Sven Baertschi was sent to the Vancouver Canucks for a 2015 second-rounder. Baertschi didn’t fit with the Flames after they drafted him 13th overall in 2011, and things were rocky. Baertschi requested a trade, so the Flames honoured that and dealt him to the Canucks. The Canucks took a shot on a guy that had a load of talent and he had a few good seasons before falling off.
It’s important to know who those Flames picks turned into
We know the Canucks and Capitals both got players, and the Flames got magic beans in the form of draft capital. But, it’s important to note what those draft picks turned into.
Let’s start with the Baertschi deal. That 2015 second-rounder ended up being 53rd overall, and was used to select Rasmus Andersson. Pretty good, hey? Thanks, Vancouver.
Now moving on to the Glencross deal. The 2015 second-round pick was packaged along with Calgary’s own 2015 first- and second-round picks and flipped to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Dougie Hamilton. Hamilton played three seasons with the Flames before he was flipped alongside Michael Ferland and then prospect Adam Fox to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin.
Funny enough, both Lindholm and Hanifin are two of the three UFAs left that might be moved ahead of this year’s NHL Trade Deadline. Because they gave up assets for Lindholm/Hanifin, it’s important to trade them and continue acquiring assets from this trade tree. Letting them walk for nothing would be awful for the franchise. Extending them would be rough, too. The trade route is optimal.
That 2015 third-round pick from Washington was flipped with Calgary’s own 2015 third-round to move up into the second round and select Oliver Kylington. Also a pretty nice return for Calgary, and we of course wish him continued success. It was awesome to see Kylington on the ice earlier this week. This trade—like the trade that originally brought in Hamilton—shows having more picks in your pocket allows you to trade up or trade for guys you like.
The Flames should copy their strategy in 2014–15
By agreeing to trade Glencross and Baertschi at the deadline, the Flames garnered assets that have been flipped and turned into Rasmus Andersson, Noah Hanifin, Elias Lindholm, and Oliver Kylington. That’s a pretty awesome haul. Similar to Nikita Zadorov this year, Baertschi was likely on his way out regardless of standings position after requesting a trade. But for Glencross, the Flames could have easily kept him as they chased a playoff spot. Instead, they trade him for futures and open up a roster spot for a younger player. They end up making the playoffs, and even win a round.
Maybe the Flames will win their next thirty games in a row and sit atop the league. Maybe they go 15–15–0. Either way, the Flames should trade their pending UFAs regardless of standings position. It’s important to promote asset management and give this organization a chance at success in the long run.
Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire
