The Calgary Flames continue to be at the center of trade speculation as they remain dead last in the NHL. It’s a given that at some point, the team will begin making trades, as the future needs to be their top priority.
It begins by making moves that signal a plan. The Flames have a trio of veterans who have been involved in trade rumors in Rasmus Andersson, Nazem Kadri and Blake Coleman. Andersson is going to be traded at some point, and Kadri’s future remains in question. Coleman, on the other hand, has apparently been garnering some trade interest around the league, with one of those teams being the New Jersey Devils. Would it make sense for Coleman and the Devils to have a reunion?
Interest in Coleman is increasing
Information regarding Coleman comes via insider David Pagnotta. On the November 12th episode of The Daily Faceoff Rundown, he expresses that the Devils have Coleman on their radar and that the team could look to make moves as the season continues.
The Devils are currently second in the Metro Division, holding a 13-6-1 record in 20 games. They’re Stanley Cup contenders this season, and GM Tom Fitzgerald is not hesitant to run the phones. With that being said, Coleman would be a great addition to a team with Stanley Cup aspirations, such as the Devils.
Coleman would be a nice addition to the Devils’ bottom-six
Here is the current Devils forward core via Daily Faceoff:
Gritsyuk – Hischier – Bratt
Meier – Mercer – Brown
Palat – Lammikko – Dadonov
Cotter – Glendening – Noesen
(Hughes out with injury)
As you can see, this is already a solid forward core for the Devils. When healthy, this team can do serious damage, which is why they’re seen as cup contenders. However, if you add Coleman to this team, their bottom-six gets even better.
Coleman is a player the Devils are obviously familiar with, as he was drafted by them and spent almost five seasons with the club. In 237 games with the Devils, Coleman recorded 94 points.
Looking at this playing style, Coleman is the type of player who thrives in the playoffs. Unfortunately, he only saw the postseason once with the Flames, and that was all the way back in 2022. Despite Coleman being a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning, I’m sure he’s hungry for more, as any NHL player would be.
What assets would the Flames want in a trade?
Coleman is currently tied with Matt Coronato for the team lead in goals for the Flames with seven. While he only had eight points in 22 games, the entire team has underperformed so it’s understandable.
As far as what the Flames would want in a Coleman trade, obviously, they’re going to want to maximize their potential returns. If Coleman improves his all-around play and continues to be a prominent goalscorer for the Flames, the team could get something substantial for him.
Asset-wise, the Devils have a 1st and 2nd in 2026 as well as in 2027. In my opinion, a 1st for Coleman might be a bit of a stretch, but you never know how the market will be every season. A 2nd round pick, on the other hand, is a reasonable ask from the Flames’ perspective.
A potential Coleman trade between the Devils and Flames could look something like this. I want to note that as of right now, the Devils are currently over the salary cap, so this is assuming the Devils find a way to move some money out before acquiring Coleman. He’s making $4.9 million until 2027.
To Devils: Blake Coleman (25-50% salary retained)
To Flames: 2026 2nd, another asset (mid-round pick), another asset (another pick, or mid-level prospect)
The Flames would have to retain salary. Depending on how much they retain, their return could get better. I know I initially said that a 1st for Coleman could be a stretch, but if the trade market is anything like last year’s, then I wouldn’t be shocked to see Coleman go for a first, but only time will tell.
Flames need to be open for business
With the Flames being where they are, it’s time that they let other teams know that they’re willing to be open for business. In my opinion, the Devils would be a great destination for Coleman, assuming they take care of their cap situation. They’ve been trade partners before with Markstrom, as that trade has overall been a win-win for both teams.
While I could see the Flames holding on to Coleman this season, they need to at least be open to listening to offers. It’s time that the front office wakes up and faces the truth. The Flames have too many middle-six forwards, and they need to make room by trading players out to bring in some more youth.
