Going into next season, the Calgary Flames will have low expectations. The team has finally rebuilt and is starting to develop its young talent. Older guys like MacKenzie Weegar, Nazem Kadri, and Blake Coleman have been moved on from, providing a better opportunity for the young guns. With that being said, there are some more older UFAs coming up in the 2027 and 2028 offseason. Dealing Coleman to the Minnesota Wild was just the beginning. Let’s take a look at some upcoming UFAs who could be traded in the near future.
2027 UFAs
Morgan Frost
The main upcoming 2027 UFA is forward Morgan Frost. Frost has been a solid piece for the Flames, but this will likely be his last season as a Flame. Last season was one of his best in the NHL. Through a full 82-game season, Frost recorded 22 goals and 43 points. That was his career high in goals and second-highest in points.
Frost is most likely one of the most tradable pieces on the Flames. He is a solid middle-six centre for any team and brings some skill to the bottom half of the lineup. He is only making $4.375M next season, which is a very tradable number. With retention, the Flames can deal him at under $3M. This will make him a prime deadline addition for any contending team.
The main issue with Frost right now is that he stands in the way of younger players. For example, Connor Zary was in trade rumours recently. The main cause behind this is that he does not get enough playing time. Yes, Ryan Huska could play him more, but the main issue is that the Flames have too many middle-six guys. Frost should be one of the first to go.
Ryan Strome
A strange trade that took place at the 2026 trade deadline was when the Flames acquired Ryan Strome from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a seventh-round pick. It was strange because the Flames were selling, but for some reason, they bought Strome. If they got him along with other assets, it would have been understandable, but this just took away another young player’s spot.
Strome is on a larger contract than Frost. He is making $5M next season and will become a UFA in 2027. If Craig Conroy were to trade Strome, they likely would not get much. Unless he pops off next season. Through 19 games with the Flames in 2025–26, Strome actually had a solid performance. He scored five goals and 12 points, seeming to regain some confidence. If he continues at that pace next season, he could also be a valuable deadline asset.
Maxim Tsplakov
Maxim Tsplakov is a new addition to the Flames. He was a secondary piece of the Simon Nemec trade that brought him over from New Jersey. Where Tsplakov will slide into the lineup is still unknown. The Russian forward is coming off a rough season where he split time with the Islanders and Devils. Through 49 games total, Tsplakov only posted two goals and four points. At most, he could maybe compete for a fourth-line role.
The annual salary on Tsplakov’s contract is $2.250M. This is not a bad price, but I do not think that it would be a tradable contract. Tsplakov will likely compete for a fourth-line role and could play there the entire season if all goes well. The Flames have moved on from Ryan Lomberg and Justin Kirkland, so some fourth-line roles are open.
Joel Hanley and Brayden Pachal
Defencemen Joel Hanley and Brayden Pachal will both be UFAs in the 2027 offseason. They both play the same role with the Flames, which is a depth penalty killer. I honestly think that the Flames should try to move on from one of them this summer. Other defencemen are emerging who can take over for them (Nemec, Parekh, and Kuznetsov). Whether it is Hanley or Pachal that is moved on from, either one should be movable. They are both making under $2M next season and can be a depth service to any team.
2028 UFAs
Joel Farabee
The first of the 2028 UFAs is forward Joel Farabee. He joined the Flames at the same time as Morgan Frost and provides a similar role in the lineup. He is a middle-six forward who can provide some secondary offence. Honestly, during his stint with the Flames, he has been a bit disappointing. Farabee actually had some solid seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers and showed some top-six potential. Unfortunately, his 2023–24 season seems to be a career year that he has failed to duplicate.
Once he joined the Flames, Farabee posted a whopping six points in 31 games. This can be an exception, as he was dealing with the first trade of his career. However, last season he was himself again. Last year, Farabee posted 20 goals and 38 points in a full 82-game season, which is average for him. This is likely the most the Flames can get out of him.
It is tough to tell whether or not this contract would be movable. He makes an annual salary of $5M for the next two seasons. Unless he has a breakout season, the Flames will likely not get much value from him.
Mikael Backlund
After the 2027–28 season, Flames captain Mikael Backlund will become a UFA. This could be the end of Backlund’s tenure as a Flame because I would be shocked to see Conroy keep him after this contract. Backlund is already at 37 years of age, which could indicate his retirement after this contract expires. Whether Backlund finishes his career as a lifelong Flame will probably be up to him. He has spent parts of 18 seasons with the Flames and is one of the most loyal players in franchise history.
I think Backlund should take the opportunity to join a contending team if the chance comes. He deserves at least one last chance at a Stanley Cup. There is no chance he gets that opportunity with the Flames over the next two years. It would already take a miracle for them to somehow squeeze into the playoffs. Backlund’s loyalty to the Flames is admirable, but I think he needs to take the chance at winning if it comes.
Backlund has a no-movement clause, which means his playing destination is in his control. Do you think Backlund deserves a shot at the Cup? Or should he retire as a lifelong Flame?
Adam Klapka
Unfortunately, there is not much to say here. Klapka is an RFA at the end of the 2026–27 season, so he may not even be a Flame by the end of 2028. He is a fourth liner at most, and these guys can easily be replaced. Klapka’s size and hard shot do make him a valid fourth-liner, but depending on what kind of contract he wants could signal a farewell. If he wants a cheap short-term deal, I could see the Flames keeping him around.
Zach Whitecloud
Out of all of these upcoming UFAs, I think that Zach Whitecloud is the most likely to be traded. He was the main player in the return of the Rasmus Andersson trade and has gotten interest from around the league. Whitecloud is a solid depth defenceman who is on a great contract. He has only played in 31 games as a Flame, where he has registered 10 assists.
I think Whitecloud can bring some solid trade value to the table. He has two years left on his deal, making $2.750M. This is easily a tradable contract that Conroy can probably move for a couple of draft picks. Considering that Whitecloud has already received trade interest, I would not be against moving him this offseason.
Devin Cooley
The last upcoming UFA is goaltender Devin Cooley. He had an up-and-down first year with the organization in 2024–25. Here, he played with the Calgary Wranglers, posting a .905 SV% alongside a 2.94 GAA. Cooley came into the 2025–26 season with a solid chance at becoming the backup goalie. His main competition was Ivan Prosvetov.
Cooley really broke out with the Flames this past season. He provided the Flames with excellent starts when Dustin Wolf was not in net and was very consistent. He captured the hearts of many fans with his fun personality. He is easily one of the best interviews to tune in to post-game. In 31 games with the Flames, Cooley posted a 10–10–6 record with a .909 SV%.
I do believe that Cooley could eventually become a trade piece. He only makes $1.350M over the next two seasons. Backup goalies can carry great trade value at the trade deadline, especially when solid teams are desperate for good goaltending. It also makes sense to move him, as the Flames have other younger options in the system with Arseni Sergeev, Owen Say, and Tobias Trejbal.
Do you think the Flames should keep any of these upcoming UFAs? Or trade and get assets for as many as possible?
