The noise in Calgary continues. With less than three weeks to the March 8 NHL Trade Deadline, that noise is only going to grow louder. The Calgary Flames have a number of key trade pieces in a market that isn’t offering a lot of key names. On Saturday Headlines, Elliotte Friedman had a few notes on the Flames and only added to the growing noise surrounding the team, particularly around Noah Hanifin and Jacob Markstrom.
Noah Hanifin is headed to market
Every week I say I’m not going to talk about the Flames. It’s too much. I think it’s too much for the organization and the players to be perfectly honest. But it’s very hard to avoid it, because I think a lot of teams are waiting on Calgary (and the 2–3 future trades they could possibly make).
The team isn’t commenting. The agent isn’t commenting. But it’s pretty clear from everything we’ve learned today that Noah Hanifin is going to the market. I think there are Canadian teams interested in him, but I think long-term the U.S. teams are more confident that they’re going to be the ones that are able to sign him. But it’s very clear to me without any confirmation from team or agent that Noah Hanifin is going to market. The action has picked up around them.
Elliotte Friedman regarding Noah Hanifin and his decision to get to market
This has not been confirmed up to this point, but it did seem like a non-answer on re-signing with the Flames was an answer. And that answer was going to be a no. We know the Flames have been trying to sign Hanifin all season, and asked that he give them a decision at the All-Star break. Well, it sounds like that decision was a no, and he’s going to be headed to market. This means he is very likely to be dealt before March 8, as GM Craig Conroy has preached asset management with the 2024 UFA class.
Jacob Markstrom will decide his future when presented with an offer
Here’s what Friedman had to say regarding Markstrom:
I just think it’s a situation where he’s said: “Look, when you have an offer, bring it to me and I’ll make my decision”.
Elliotte Friedman on Jacob Markstrom
Friedman caused quite the stir last week when he reported on a potential deal between the New Jersey Devils and the Calgary Flames involving Jacob Markstrom. Since then, there’s been a ton of talk about his future with the team. It sure sounds like Markstrom is open to moving if the Flames get an offer they feel is worthwhile.
This is shaping up to be a massive trade deadline for the Calgary Flames. We’ve already seen Nikita Zadorov and Elias Lindholm moved in-season. Now, we could see two or three of Chris Tanev, Noah Hanifin, and Jacob Markstrom, maybe even more, moved in the next three weeks.
Buckle. Up.
Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire
