The 2025–26 NHL season has been a trying season for many franchises already. NHLers returning to the Olympics also brings a condensed regular season. The tight schedule has been tumultuous to many teams, the Calgary Flames and Utah Mammoth included.
The significant chunk of time consumed in February by the Olympic break means NHL front offices have less decision-making time at the deadline. The league breaks February 5th, and play resumes a mere week before the March 6th deadline.
Both the Utah Mammoth and Calgary Flames find themselves relatively close in the standings despite their unique situations as franchises.
Calgary’s situation
The Flames had the worst start to a regular season in their franchise’s history. If that wasn’t bad enough, the front office media tour and trade speculation have been enough drama for a full season.
However, the Flames have been great at home this season, going 12–7–2, amassing 26 points. Simultaneously, they’ve been one of the worst road teams. Their record is 6–13–2 on the road, amassing a measly 14 points. The effort has been just good enough to keep playoff hopes alive, although chances are dwindling.
After a string of three straight losses to start the new year, the Flames find themselves in a position where Craig Conroy’s phone rings more frequently with each loss. The Flames have fallen to an 18–20–4 record since the new year with 40 points. After Wednesday night’s loss to the Montreal Canadiens, the Flames are now 30th in the league. They are five points out of a wild-card spot with six teams ahead of them.
Don Maloney might describe the Flames having to sell off players like Nazem Kadri, Blake Coleman and Rasmus Andersson as “fantasy hockey”, but it’s becoming a reality.
Utah’s situation
Utah’s sophomore season started with a bang, leading the ripping Central Division on October 26th after a seven-game winning streak. Since then, the Mammoth have gone through hot and cold spells. They are back down to .500 and just outside of a playoff spot. However, the Mammoth have dealt with some injury woes. Injuries have sidelined goalie Karel Vejmelka and have breakout talent Logan Cooley on IR until after the Olympic break.
With a 3–1 win against the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night, Utah lifted its record to .500 on the season at 20–20–3. Despite the Mammoth leading the Flames by a mere three points, they sit two points back of a wild-card position, trailing only three teams.
Utah’s fresh ownership group will certainly be hungry for the playoffs. With such a young roster and cap space, one would assume the Mammoth will be looking to add talent at the trade deadline.
Trade Proposal
Calgary Receives: (F) Tij Iginila
Utah Receives: (D) Rasmus Andersson, (F) Cullen Potter
Utah sends Tij Iginla back home for Rasmus Andersson and Cullen Potter.
The Mammoth have been in the rumour mill about acquiring a top-four defenceman this season, a right-handed shot at that. Furthermore, Utah isn’t that bad defensively. They’re third overall in the league at opponent shot attempts per game and have a reasonable penalty kill at 80.8%. Their biggest issue has been goaltending and breaking down on the rush.
I’m not trying to diss Andersson, but his defensive metrics in his own end are league average. However, his transitional game on both ends of the ice is where he can stand out. Andersson could support a Utah team that has struggled defending the rush at points this season. He could also add some possession and playmaking ability to the Mammoth’s offensive transition game. Furthermore, you’d assume Andersson would be paired with Mikhaeil Sergichev playing top-pairing minutes while assuming a role on the penalty kill.
Iginla for the Flames, a no-brainer. The former 6th overall pick in 2024 has obvious ties to Calgary and has been on a tear this season. Coming off a World Junior performance that featured four goals and eight points alongside his bronze medal, Iginla has had another successful junior season. The Kelowna Rockets standout has scored 13 goals and 27 points through 17 games en route to a host team birth in the 2026 Memorial Cup.
There is no question that the Flames would want Iginla, but they would have to overpay. Iginla was the first draft pick in Utah’s history (in Utah) and is by far their top prospect at the moment. There’s sentiment on both sides. The Flames would have to cough up some additional assets alongside Andersson, despite his obvious fit. The Flames have been rumoured to ask for at least a first-round pick in 2026 + a top prospect. However, Conroy has been known to sit on his hands, or have them sat on, when the phone starts to ring.
Andersson’s value is not rising. Conroy already missed his window in the summer. He missed another in the fall when the Flames were at the bottom of the league. Now, they’re on the cusp of dropping the final straw on the camel’s back by holding onto him past mid-January. Combine that with Utah’s admiration for Iginla, and the Flames will undoubtedly have to part with a top forward prospect if they have any chance of keeping their own, and Vegas’ 2026 1st round pick.
Cole Reschney seems to be atop the Flames forward pool, but Cullen Potter is emerging as the dark horse of the 2025 first round. I would assume Utah would need one of the two to consider parting ways with Iginla for Andersson, with no futures involved. Even with an extension in place for Andersson, I’m not sure Bill Armstrong takes the bait. The Flames might have to sweeten the pot further with a condition mid-round selection.
It’s far-fetched, but the Flames’ odds of getting a solid return on Andersson are dwindling. Acquiring some Hall of Fame-hometown talent could soften the blow if the Flames are willing to pay for it.
