Trade trees are the best. A simple move can lead to all kinds of future earth-shattering moves through the years. This comes true with the Calgary Flames and some recent moves, including a blockbuster deal in 2018 that is still churning into future assets today. It all started in the 2024–15 season when then General Manager Brad Treliving decided to move a pending unrestricted free agent as the team was in the midst of a playoff run. How did trading a pending UFA in Curtis Glencross lead to ten assets the Flames have today? Let’s get into it.
Trade #1: March 1, 2015
The Calgary Flames trade Curtis Glencross to the Washington Capitals in exchange for a 2015 second (52nd overall) and 2015 third (83rd overall).
Trade #2: June 26, 2015
The Boston Bruins trade Dougie Hamilton to the Calgary Flames in exchange for a 2015 first (15th overall), 2015 second (45th overall), and Washington’s 2015 second (52nd overall).
Trade #3: June 27, 2015
The Calgary Flames package their 2015 third-rounder (76th overall) and Washington’s 2015 third-rounder (83rd overall) and send them to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for a 2015 second (60th overall selection). The Flames used that 60th overall selection on defenceman Oliver Kylington (Kylington left the Flames as a free agent this past summer, so this part of the trade tree is complete).
Trade #4: June 23, 2018
The Calgary Flames acquire Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Dougie Hamilton, Michael Ferland, and prospect Adam Fox.
Trade #5: January 31, 2024
Vancouver Canucks acquire Elias Lindholm from the Calgary Flames in exchange for Andrei Kuzmenko, a 2024 first, conditional 2024 fourth, and defensive prospects Hunter Brzustewicz and Joni Jurmo.
Trade #6: March 6, 2024
Vegas Golden Knights acquire Noah Hanifin (75% retained through the Philadelphia Flyers) from the Calgary Flames in exchange for a conditional 2025 first, conditional third, and Daniil Miromanov.
If the Golden Knights move that 2025 first before this year’s trade deadline, or it is a top-ten pick, it will move to 2026. The conditional 2025 third upgrades to a 2025 second if Vegas wins one round in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Trade #7: January 30, 2025
The Calgary Flames trade Andrei Kuzmenko, Jakob Pelletier, CGY’s 2025 second, and CGY’s 2028 seventh to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee.
The Glencross trade is paying dividends to this day
Not included as assets in a trade tree are the games that Calgary got out of both Lindholm and Hanifin. They got six seasons out of both players. Lindholm potted 148 goals and 209 assists for 357 points in 418 games, while Hanifin added 42 goals and 149 assists for 191 points in 420 games. Both were big parts of the Flames for many seasons.
Sure, the Flames have lost some very good players in this trade tree to get where we are now. But it’s cool to see a trade made ten years ago continue to branch out. In deciding to trade a pending UFA in Curtis Glencross before the 2014–15 NHL Trade Deadline, the Flames have a variety of assets today. Those are:
- Vegas’ unprotected 2026 first-rounder
- Morgan Frost
- Joel Farabee
- Daniil Miromanov
- Hunter Brzustewicz
- Matvei Gridin
- Kirill Zarubin
- Luke Misa
- Eric Jamieson
- Joni Jurmo
Nine of those ten assets are under the age of 25 and under team control for several seasons. The two newest additions to this trade tree, Frost and Farabee, figure to be contributing pieces for the Flames for years to come.
