In what was a bit of a surprise move, the Calgary Flames traded MacKenzie Weegar to the Utah Mammoth last night in exchange for defenceman Olli Maatta, prospect Jonathan Castagna, and three second-round picks in the upcoming 2026 NHL Draft. Of course, with any trade, some teams do better and those that do worse. Here’s how we grade the trade.
Calgary Flames: B+
Let’s start with the negative: it sucks to see Weegar go from a vibes perspective. Despite having a down year, Weegar was the one good piece that came from the Matthew Tkachuk trade, and was a good energy guy in the group. He was a great fit in Calgary, excellent in interviews, and overall a good piece in the locker room.
This was the right move for the tank, and the first time the Flames have traded a player with term who didn’t ask for a trade in eons. It was a smart move by Craig Conroy, and a sign that this team is in rebuild mode.
The return on this deal was very good for Calgary. Maatta is one of the best defensive defencemen in the league right now, and signed for a very reasonable $3.5M for two seasons after this one gives the team some consistency on the blueline. The left-handed defenceman can play either side, but playing him on the left gives the Flames the option to play him with either of their young offensive defencemen: Zayne Parekh or Hunter Brzustewicz. This provides more flexibility up and down the lineup.
The intangibles on Maatta are also really good. He’s a two-time Stanley Cup winner and a player who is coming off a bronze medal performance for Finland at the Olympics this year. He’s a guy who knows how to win and how to push through when the chips are down. These things matter when mentoring young players.
Getting to know Jonathan Castagna
Jonathan Castagna seems like a fine centreman who is having a great third season in the NCAA. Over a point-per-game right now is fantastic for a third-round pick. He could be a handy depth piece down the line if he develops. He’s got the size and strength to be an NHLer in time, and is a good gamble for the team to take.
Where this trade could move from a B+ to an A
A big part of this trade is the three second-round picks that once belonged to Utah, Ottawa Senators, and New York Rangers. The potential value of these three picks together holds the same relative value as the 19th overall pick, and with how drafting under Conroy has gone, the team could see massive upside from these three lottery balls.
For now, the Flames walk away with a B+, but if any or all of these three picks, they could come out of this trade like bandits.
Utah Mammoth: A-
Getting a player like MacKenzie Weegar is a massive addition for the Utah Mammoth. The team is likely going to be in the playoffs this year, and with how tough the Central Division looks to be this year, adding a defenceman who can shut down the likes of Kirill Kaprizov, Nathan MacKinnon, or Connor McDavid is a big help.
Weegar is a leader in the room, and while the Coyotes aren’t as young as they used to be, having another veteran presence in the locker room is always helpful.
It’s worth remembering that this has been a very poor year for Weegar. He has just 21 points on the season, a far cry from the 47 he had last year. His production numbers are also down, with fewer shot attempts, scoring chances, and high danger chances this season. He is producing less than half as many high danger chances per 60 minutes of ice time this season as last. That’s a worrying trend.
Now, these numbers are conditioned by the Flames being garbage all season, but Weegar shooting less and creating less than last year is a number to watch. If he’s given more opportunity to create in Utah, those numbers could absolutely rebound, but if this is the beginning of a trend for the 32-year-old blueliner, the next five years of his contract could age like milk.
Who won the MacKenzie Weegar trade?
This trade is very much a win-win. Utah got better today, replacing Maatta with Weegar. They did so without giving up a single first-round pick or top prospect. That’s tidy business by the Mammoth.
For the Flames, they got worse on the blueline today, but adding three more second-round picks in this year’s draft is a massive opportunity. If Conroy drafts like he did last year, the team could come out looking much better this summer.
The short-term winner is Utah for ending up with Weegar, but if the picks turn into stars, the Flames walk away looking like superstars.
Interested in joining our writing or social media team? Apply here.
