It is official. With MacKenzie Weegar and Nazem Kadri both being traded at this year’s deadline, the Calgary Flames are in rebuild mode. Selling these key players got them plenty of draft stock in return. This provides the Flames with a chance to have an exceptional 2026 NHL Draft and turn the franchise in the right direction. Now, the only key piece that remains from the Brad Treliving fiasco is forward Jonathan Huberdeau. He will still be sticking around for a while. However, there are plenty of other options the Flames have to bolster more draft picks at the 2027 trade deadline. Let’s take a look at what the Flames could sell at next year’s deadline.
Forward, Ryan Strome
The first player that I could see being sold at the 2027 deadline is forward Ryan Strome. The veteran centreman is currently in the second-to-last year of a five-year contract. He signed this deal with the Anaheim Ducks in the summer of 2022 and was recently traded to the Flames. As he enters the final year of his contract, there is no doubt that he will be a movable piece for the Flames. Strome had some consistent years in Anaheim before he really fell off this season. Through thirty-three games with the Ducks, he only managed to score nine points.
A fresh start may have been exactly what Strome needed. He already has four points in four games with the Flames and is getting second-line ice time. Going into next season, I would not be shocked if Strome is the Flames’ number one centreman. He will turn thirty-three in the offseason, but I still think he has some good years left. If Strome can put up some half-decent numbers next season, he could be a movable piece at the deadline. I could see the Flames getting a second or third-round pick for Strome if they sell him to a contender and retain some money. Maybe more? Tyler Myers fetched two draft picks at this year’s deadline. If Myers can get that, so can Strome.
Defenceman, Zach Whitecloud
The next piece that I could see being moved is defenceman Zach Whitecloud. The Flames got Whitecloud from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Rasmus Andersson. To this point, this has been a phenomenal trade for the Flames. Whitecloud has really emerged as a leader in Calgary, while Andersson has struggled a bit in Vegas. The twenty-nine-year-old usually plays top minutes with the Flames, getting a huge increase in ice time compared to his time in Vegas. If his consistent play keeps up, he will be another solid piece at the 2027 deadline.
The best part about Whitecloud is that he is on a great contract with no restrictions. After this season, he will have two years left, making $2.75M a season. This is an unbelievably valuable contract in today’s NHL that could easily be moved. Like Strome, I could see Whitecloud fetch a couple of picks at the deadline. Depth defencemen are valuable at that time of year, and plenty of teams were rumoured to have interest in Whitecloud at this year’s deadline. Honestly, I really like Whitecloud, and it would suck to see him go. In the big picture, I just think it would be the right move to make.
Forward, Morgan Frost
Another movable forward at next year’s deadline could be Morgan Frost. He is a decent middle-six forward who shows some flashes of great skill. Frost has played up and down in the Flames’ lineup, being a very flexible addition. He was acquired last season alongside Joel Farabee in exchange for Jakub Pelletier and Andrei Kuzmenko. So far, the trade has been a bit disappointing for Calgary and for Philadelphia, but at least the Flames still have both players on their roster.
Like Whitecloud, Frost has an awesome contract. After this season, he will only have one year remaining with a salary of $4.375M. This will easily be a movable contract at the deadline and will probably fetch plenty of interest. The only problem is that next season, Frost will have an eight-team no-trade list in place. This will make the situation a little more complicated, but I am sure he could still be moved. I also like Frost for the most part, but I think the Flames could move on from him next season. They would likely be able to get a couple of picks for him.
Defenceman, Brayden Pachal
The last piece that I think could be movable at next year’s deadline is defenceman Brayden Pachal. It was either Pachal or Hanley, but honestly, I could see both of them gone by March of 2027. Pachal was claimed off waivers by the Flames in 2024 and has been with the team ever since. He usually serves as a solid third-line defenceman who can bring some physicality to the lineup. Unfortunately, with the emergence of Yan Kuznetsov and Hunter Brzustewicz in the Flames’ defensive system, I do not see any room for Pachal in the future.
Pachal is on an affordable contract. After this season, he will only have one year remaining with an annual salary of just over $1M. This will be extremely movable, but I do not see the Flames really getting much value from Pachal. Maybe a late round pick at most. After the 2027 deadline, the Flames could have an entirely new identity with a few veteran pieces around. The future is definitely bright.
One of the top players not included on this list is Blake Coleman. I chose to leave him off because I think he will be traded this offseason. I cannot see him being a Flame past this season, especially considering he will only have one year left on his deal. Do you think all of these pieces will be moved by the 2027 deadline?
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