We are less than a week away from the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, and the Calgary Flames are expected to be busy. The team seems to be embracing the phase of selling as the writing on the wall.
The Flames have been quite present in the rumour mill this season. The team got a major piece of business done by trading Rasmus Andersson, but he was only one of many names. Players such as Nazem Kadri and Blake Coleman have dominated trade rumors as of late, as the likelihood that both players are traded by March 6th is substantial.
However, several other players on the Flames could be dark-horse candidates to get traded. If the team fully embraces becoming sellers, there are some players who can see themselves being on the move.
Ryan Lomberg
Lomberg has been a fan favourite ever since he signed with the Flames back in 2024. The energy he brings on the ice, as well as his locker room leadership, is undeniable. However, the 31-year-old is set to become a UFA this summer, and could be on the move if a contender decides that they’d like to add some depth and leadership to their team.
A Lomberg trade is possible, but for me, it seems unlikely. Don’t see why the Flames would move him unless they get an offer they can’t refuse. In fact, an extension is more in the realm of possibility.
Joel Hanley
Joel Hanley has made a name for himself in Calgary. The Flames initially claimed him off waivers, and he became a steady defensive option for the team on the left side. However, this season, Hanley hasn’t had the best outing, but he still can provide minutes in a sheltered role.
If the Flames get an offer for Hanley, they should pursue it. He’s cheap and can contribute to good defensive depth for a contender’s bottom pair.
Brayden Pachal
Brayden Pachal could be another intriguing option that contending teams look at to bolster their right side. While he’s only 26, he hasn’t played a ton this season for the Flames and is a right-shot. The Flames have too many players on the right side, and Pachal could be a player they look to move if given the right offer. I don’t see why it would be a bad idea to move him. He could be a good option to be a contender’s seventh defenceman or add depth to a team’s bottom-pair.
Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee
Decided to group these two players as they were both acquired together. While it may seem confusing to some as to why Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee would be potential trade candidates, the truth is that the Flames should be open for business.
Both Frost and Farabee have identical states throughout the games they’ve played so far. While still relatively young, this Flames team is filled with middle-six forwards right now. Farabee, being a winger, for example, is competing with many other players, including young ones, for a full-time roster spot. If the Flames want to incorporate more kids into their lineup, making space by moving a couple of wingers would certainly help with that.
If you were to ask me, Farabee would be more likely to get traded than Frost, since Frost fills an organizational need down the middle. Moving Farabee would come with the idea of making room for the kids, which isn’t a bad idea at all. As mentioned before, the Flames should be taking calls on pretty much every player except Zayne Parekh and Dustin Wolf right now.
Zach Whitecloud
Zach Whitecloud, for me, is an obvious player who should be on the block. While technically there’s no rush to move him, given that he’s not a pending UFA, there’s no doubt that there’s demand for a player like him around the league. Not to mention, he also plays on the right side, which only contributes to the logjam.
His addition in the Andersson trade was mostly to make the money work, but there’s no denying that Whitecloud is a great defenceman. He would slot perfectly into any contender’s defence pairings, and he has some value too. The Flames should also be taking calls on him to let teams know that this is a player they’re willing to move. After all, Whitecloud is 29. He doesn’t fit the timeline whatsoever.
