Since the condition on the 2028 second-round draft pick that the Calgary Flames acquired in the Rasmus Andersson trade will be resolved soon, let’s take a look at the Flames’ history with conditional picks and the outcomes of these picks.
Milan Lucic/James Neal Trade
The Battle of Alberta trade during the summer of 2019 that sent Milan Lucic to the Flames and James Neal to the Edmonton Oilers included one of the most unique resolutions to a conditional draft pick in NHL history. The Oilers sent a 2020 third-round pick to the Flames during the trade. But this pick would only transfer if Neal scored at least 21 goals for the Oilers during the 2019–20 regular season. Additionally, Neal’s 2019–20 goal total had to be at least 10 more than Lucic’s 2019–20 goal total.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly halted the 2019–20 regular season. At the time of the pause, Neal had 19 goals while Lucic had eight goals. Neal’s goal total was indeed at least 10 more than Lucic’s, but Neal did not score at least 21 goals for the Oilers. Technically, the conditions were not met. But Edmonton had 11 games left on its schedule, so Neal would’ve easily crossed the 21-goal threshold if the season had not been put on hold.
Even though the conditions were not officially satisfied, the NHL ruled that Edmonton still needed to send Calgary a third-round pick. However, they granted the Oilers a compromise: Edmonton could choose whether to surrender its 2020 or 2021 third-round selection. Edmonton chose to defer and sent its 2021 third-round pick (84th overall) to Calgary. The Flames later traded this pick to the Los Angeles Kings. In return, they received the 89th and 168th overall picks in 2021. Calgary used these picks to draft Cameron Whynot and Jack Beck. Neither player has played an NHL game, and the Flames no longer hold their signing rights.
Derek Forbort Trade
At the 2020 trade deadline, the Flames acquired Derek Forbort from the Kings in exchange for a conditional 2021 fourth-round pick. The pick had the potential to upgrade to a 2022 third-round pick. There were two ways that this upgrade could happen. The first way was if the Flames reached the 2020 Western Conference Final and Forbort played in at least half of their playoff games. The second way was if Forbort re-signed with the Flames for the 2020–21 season.
In the end, neither condition was met. In the 2020 playoffs, the Flames were eliminated in the first round by the Dallas Stars, falling well short of the Conference Finals. Additionally, Forbort did not re-sign with the Flames. Instead, he signed a one-year deal with the Winnipeg Jets via unrestricted free agency. As a result, the pick remained a 2021 fourth-round pick. The Kings traded it along with a 2021 third-round pick to acquire Carolina’s 2021 second-round pick. LA then selected Samuel Helenius, who is currently their fourth-line centre.
Tyler Toffoli Trade (Montreal to Calgary)
The trade that sent Tyler Toffoli to the Flames at the 2022 trade deadline involved a conditional 2022 first-round pick going to Montreal. The conditions were designed to protect the Flames in the rare event that their season completely collapsed into a draft lottery position.
The Flames had a dominant 2021–22 regular season, where they won the Pacific Division. They finished nowhere near the draft lottery, so Calgary’s 2022 first-round pick transferred to Montreal. The Canadiens used the pick to select Filip Mesar. Mesar has never played an NHL game and is currently with the AHL’s Laval Rocket.
Matthew Tkachuk Trade
The blockbuster trade during the summer of 2022 that sent Matthew Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers involved a conditional 2025 first-round pick going to Calgary. The core condition on the pick was top 10 protection. However, it was also directly tethered to a previous trade Florida made with the Philadelphia Flyers to acquire Claude Giroux.
The Panthers won the Stanley Cup in 2024 and 2025, which means that their first-round picks both years were nowhere near the top 10. Their 2024 pick transferred to Philadelphia, and their 2025 pick transferred to Calgary. The Flames used the 2025 pick to select Cullen Potter, who is considered one of their best prospects.
Sean Monahan Trade
The trade that sent Sean Monahan to the Canadiens features one of the most complex sets of draft pick conditions in NHL history. The Flames owed the Canadiens a first-round pick, but the trade was also tied to Florida’s 2024 and 2025 first-round picks.
Since Florida’s 2024 and 2025 first-round picks were nowhere near the top 10, the conditions eventually became much more straightforward. If Calgary’s 2025-first-round pick fell outside of the top 10, then it would transfer to Montreal. However, Calgary would keep its own pick if it fell inside the top 10. In this scenario, Montreal would instead receive Florida’s 2025 first-round pick, which was also owned by Calgary. Ultimately, Calgary’s 2025 first-round pick ended up at 16th overall, so it transferred to Montreal. The Canadiens later traded the pick to the New York Islanders in the Noah Dobson trade.
Elias Lindholm Trade (Calgary to Vancouver)
At the 2024 trade deadline, Elias Lindholm was sent to the Vancouver Canucks. That trade involved a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick going to Calgary. If the Canucks reached the Western Conference Final in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, this pick would upgrade to a 2024 third-round pick.
The Canucks were eliminated by the Oilers in the second round, so the pick remained a fourth-round pick. The Flames later traded the pick to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a fifth-round pick and a sixth-round pick. Calgary used these picks to draft Luke Misa and Eric Jamieson. Both players are currently developing in the NCAA and are viewed as solid prospects.
Chris Tanev Trade
Chris Tanev was also traded at the 2024 trade deadline, and it involved a conditional 2026 third-round pick. The Flames would only receive this pick if the Stars reached the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.
The Stars were eliminated by the Oilers in the Western Conference Final, so the Flames did not receive the pick.
Noah Hanifin Trade (Calgary to Vegas)
When Noah Hanifin went to the Vegas Golden Knights at the 2024 trade deadline, it involved a conditional 2025 third-round pick going to Calgary. If the Golden Knights won at least one round in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, this pick would upgrade to a 2024 second-round pick.
The Golden Knights were eliminated by the Stars in the first round, so the pick remained a third-round pick. Calgary used the pick to draft Kirill Zarubin, who is a promising goaltending prospect who recently signed an entry-level contract.
Jacob Markstrom Trade
During the summer of 2024, the Flames sent Jacob Markstrom to the New Jersey Devils and received a conditional 2025 first-round pick. If the pick fell in the top 10, then New Jersey would retain it and instead send their 2026 first-round pick to Calgary.
The pick ended up at 18th overall, so the pick transferred to Calgary. The Flames used the pick to draft Cole Reschny, who was recently named the NCHC Rookie of the Year.
Conclusion
Historically, conditional draft picks have not been kind to the Flames. The third-round pick they received from the Oilers amounted to absolutely nothing. They gave up a 16th overall pick to Montreal just for dumping Monahan’s contract. None of the conditions from the 2024 deadline trades were satisfied. Hopefully, the Golden Knights win the 2026 Stanley Cup, so a conditional draft pick finally goes the Flames’ way.
