The major story for last season regarding the Calgary Flames was the substantial sell-off of players they facilitated. Big names were leaving the team left and right, as the Flames began their retool plan. Fast forward to this season, where the Flames have virtually flipped their entire roster in favour of younger players getting a chance with the team.
Whenever a certain player leaves a market through trade or free agency, fans are eager to track their performance on their new teams. In this piece, let’s look at some former Flames that haven’t exactly had the best offensive seasons, and why Calgary dodged a bullet or two by deciding to part ways with these players.
Elias Lindholm (C) and Nikita Zadorov (LD), Boston Bruins
I decided to group these players together, as both Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov elected to sign with the Boston Bruins on July 1st. However they also share another thing in common, and that’s how both players have had mediocre seasons so far.
Lindholm’s decline has honestly been shocking. Ever since his breakout season in 2021-2022 where he scored 42 goals and 82 points, his production has only worsened over time. The Flames reportedly were willing to keep Lindholm around, but he rejected the team’s contract offers and would get traded instead.
This season, Lindholm is on pace for some pretty underwhelming totals. He’s only on pace for 43 points, as he currently has nine goals and 28 points in 54 games. With his cap hit of $7.7 million and being signed for seven years, his contract is already aging horribly.
Nikita Zadorov hasn’t been much better. His stint in Calgary was considered successful until his final few months. He would then get traded to the Vancouver Canucks, where he would be a bright spot for them during their playoff run. This resulted in Zadorov’s market value increasing heavily, and the Boston Bruins would elect to give him $5 million for six years.
Like Lindholm, his contract is also likely to age terribly. The 29-year-old is on pace for only 17 points, and he has accumulated a staggering 115 penalty minutes, which is a career-high. Therefore, the Flames dodged two major bullets by not signing these players long-term and instead trading them.
Andrew Mangiapane (LW), Washington Capitals
A smart trade that the Flames made was dealing Andrew Mangiapane to the Washington Capitals before the 2024 NHL Draft. The trade saw Calgary receiving a 2025 second-round pick, and the Capitals would take on Mangiapane’s entire cap hit of $5.8 million.
This trade was already seen as a win for the Flames, as the return of a second took fans by surprise. Mangiapane underperformed during his final seasons in Calgary, and his trade value was next to nothing due to his cap hit and mediocre offence, but the Capitals decided to take a gamble on him.
Looking at the trade now, the Flames did quite well. Mangiapane has yet again been underperforming with the Capitals, in what was seen as being a fresh start and a new opportunity for the 28-year-old. He has just 10 goals and 17 points in 51 games, despite the Capitals having a great season.
The Flames traded Mangiapane to make room on the wing, and it has been a move that has worked out just fine. Mangiapane’s production doesn’t justify his contract or the value that he was traded for, so it’s safe to say that the Flames are happy with this deal.
Noah Hanifin (LD), Vegas Golden Knights
Noah Hanifin was another name the Flames decided to ship off, despite numerous attempts at extending him. Hanifin’s tenure in Calgary was filled with ups and downs, but the majority of the fanbase saw him as an offensive defenseman capable of rounding out a top-four defence group.
The return the Flames got in their deal with the Vegas Golden Knights was disappointing, but Hanifin hasn’t exactly been lighting the world on fire with his offence either. The 28-year-old has 21 points in 53 games and is on pace for 32 points. He’s also a -2 on the year and hasn’t recorded a point in his last 16 games.
Considering his cap hit of $7.35 million, it was smart for the Flames to get some assets back for him as he likely wouldn’t have re-signed in Calgary anyway. If he did, it would’ve been at a higher number for sure.
The Flames currently possess Vegas’ 2026 unprotected first-round pick, and it could turn into something. Despite the Flames having a lackluster return, if they manage to draft a promising player with that pick, then the trade won’t look so bad for them.
The Flames made the right choice moving on
Decisions like these are never easy for teams to make, but the Flames trading away these players makes their future look a lot brighter.
They have now restocked their cupboard with intriguing draft picks and prospects, something the team desperately needed to add to. Craig Conroy has done a great job integrating more youth into a retooling roster, and the future is only brighter if more of these young players pan out into potential core pieces for the long run.
