The Calgary Flames enter the 2026-27 season without a high-profile UFA to trade for the first time in years. While there are no big names on the trade block this season, there are still plenty of names who could end the season on new teams when it’s all said and done.
So who are those players, and how do they rank in terms of how likely a trade is before the 2027 trade deadline? Let’s break it down.
Very likely
While it’s not a guarantee these players will be traded, it’s more likely than not they’ll be playing for new teams before the end of the season.
Morgan Frost
While the Flames are desperate for NHL talent down the middle, Morgan Frost’s contract request likely won’t make much sense for a rebuilding Flames team. While his age fits the current group more than past UFAs, he’s not exactly young and will be 28 by the time his new contract starts.
Considering he’ll likely be seeking a five- to six-year contract with an AAV over $5 million, it just doesn’t make sense for the Flames to retain him. By the time they’re competitive again, he’ll already be in his 30s. For that reason, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him moved this season, likely closer to the deadline.
Joel Hanley
Joel Hanley nearly signed with a new team a year ago, until the Flames circled back and retained him. However, a lot has changed since then. Zayne Parekh, Yan Kuznetsov and Hunter Brzustewicz have earned NHL jobs, and Simon Nemec and Jacob Middleton were acquired. Hanley’s role on the roster has basically been replaced, and there’s no room for the veteran anymore.
While the market for him won’t be robust given his age, a contending team will no doubt be willing to give up a middle-round pick for his services. As a pending UFA who won’t be retained, there’s no reason not to trade him.
Maxim Tsyplakov
A throw-in to the Simon Nemec deal, the soon to be 28 year old Tsyplakov will almost certainly be flipped if there is a market out there. The Flames are overflowing with middle-six wingers and have no use for Tsyplakov now or in the future. If there are any takers, which isn’t a guarantee given his production history, he’ll be shipped out of town.
Brayden Pachal
Pachal is in a very similar situation to Hanley. A former waiver claim who played a key role as a stopgap while Conroy rebuilt the blueline, he simply doesn’t have a role to play anymore. While there’s an outside chance the Flames retain him given he’s still quite young, there isn’t a need for him anymore with the new names in town. Expect the Flames to look to ship him to a contender for a mid-round pick closer to the deadline.
50/50 chance
The odds of these players getting moved are basically a toss-up, with reasons for and against trading them.
Connor Zary
I debated putting Connor Zary in the very likely tier, but given his age and potential, I think the team will be extra cautious when it comes to trading him. While it’s clear the player wants a change of scenery, the Flames aren’t going to move him just to move him. He’s still a former first-round pick who’s shown flashes of top-six potential.
He’s also signed for two more years, so the Flames aren’t in any rush to trade him. It’s been reported that there just hasn’t been any interest around the league right now, which is why he wasn’t moved this summer. If Conroy gets an offer he likes, Zary will be traded; however, until that happens, he won’t be going anywhere.
Ryan Strome
I have a sneaking suspicion Strome may be retained, which is why I placed him in 50/50. The more I look at the Flames situation down the middle, the more I wonder if Conroy might look to re-sign Strome. Mikael Backlund is turning 38 this year, Frost will likely be traded, and after those two, there isn’t a single other veteran centre on the roster other than Strome.
The Flames will still need some veteran bodies around as they work in young centres like Cole Reschny and Theo Stockselius over the next couple of years. Who better than Strome, who has already embraced a leadership role in Calgary and could be re-signed at an extremely cheap, short-term deal? I have no doubt the Flames would flip him if a good offer comes through; however, I could see a future where the offers aren’t strong enough, and they decide to keep him around for a couple more years.
Martin Pospisil
Once considered a piece of the Flames’ future, injuries and a lack of production have clouded Pospisil’s future in Calgary. After signing a three-year extension last summer, Pospisil had a disastrous 2025-26 season with just three points in 22 games. With an influx of young talent pushing for jobs, Pospisil may find himself on the outside looking in sooner rather than later.
It may be in the best interest of both sides to find a change of scenery at this point. If a team is willing to take on his contract, the Flames should move him.
Unlikely, but possible
These players likely won’t be traded this season, but if the right offer or opportunity comes around, they could be moved.
Zach Whitecloud
Following the Rasmus Andersson trade, Zach Whitecloud seemed like an obvious candidate to flip for futures. However, the veteran Cup winner has reportedly impressed Flames management and coaching with how he’s embraced a leadership role. Add in that MacKenzie Weegar is no longer around, and Whitecloud is now one of the team’s most important blueliners.
While the interest around the league has reportedly been extremely high, the Flames seem to really value Whitecloud and what he brings to a young blueline. While he’s certainly not untouchable, it sounds like it would take an absolute haul for the Flames to consider moving Whitecloud this season. He’s a strong candidate to be moved in 2027-28 when he becomes a pending UFA, but a trade this season seems unlikely.
Devin Cooley
Devin Cooley came out of nowhere last season, performing as one of the best goaltenders in the entire league when called upon. Given his performance last year and his extremely cheap contract, I could see some contenders in need of help between the pipes calling the Flames this season.
With that said, I think it would take quite a bit for the Flames to move Cooley right now. He’s become a perfect safety net behind franchise goaltender Dustin Wolf, and the Flames have zero options after him. They’ll be very hesitant to move him, but if a big offer comes in, I’m sure Conroy will consider it.
Zero chance
Jonathan Huberdeau
A 33-year-old coming off a 25-point season and major hip surgery with the worst contract in the NHL? Huberdeau is the most untradeable player in the entire NHL right now.
Mikael Backlund
Once considered an obvious trade candidate to chase a Stanley Cup, Mikael Backlund has fully committed to remaining in Calgary during the rebuild. With two years left on his deal and a full NMC, there’s no chance Backlund is leaving.
