The Calgary Flames are in a unique position as they enter the off-season, with a roster that is both deep and ripe for change. With a willingness to trade almost anyone, the Flames are in a position to reshape their lineup and potentially make some bold moves. This is particularly intriguing given the team's recent history of stockpiling assets and their current status as sellers in the market.
One player who stands out as a potential trade candidate is forward Blake Coleman. At 34 years old, Coleman has a Stanley Cup pedigree and a style of play that would be attractive to contenders looking to bolster their depth. With one year remaining on his contract and an AAV of $4.9 million, Coleman has the ability to veto more than two-thirds of the teams across the league. However, given his age and the current state of the free agent class, the Flames may not get much in return for him.
Another player who could be on the move is Yegor Sharangovich. The 28-year-old former New Jersey Devils draft pick has yet to replicate his 59-point inaugural campaign in Calgary. With just 29 points in 78 games this season, Sharangovich is on the fourth line to finish the campaign. The problem with Sharangovich is his contract, which carries an AAV of $5.75 million until 2030 and includes a 10-team no trade list. The cap is set to skyrocket, and the free agent class is as shallow as it gets, so there may be a team looking to bite on Sharangovich's potential to rebound – but the Flames likely won’t get much back for him.
Morgan Frost, acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers midway through the 2024-25 season, has been a mainstay at center for Calgary in their middle six. Frost, 27, recorded a career-high 22 goals this season along with 43 points. He is a valuable player for the Flames, but with the entire league on a perpetual hunt for help at center, he could be a valuable trade chip for GM Craig Conroy. Frost also has an attractive contract with little commitment involved, signed until 2027 at a $4.375 million AAV; he has an eight-team no-trade list that kicks in next season.
One team that could make sense for Frost is his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs, who are in desperate need of help down the middle beyond Auston Matthews and John Tavares. With Brad Treliving no longer in the GM chair, perhaps the Leafs and Flames will be open to making trades again. Another player who could be on the move is Connor Zary, who held out on his contract until late September last season, ultimately signing a three-year, $11.3-million deal. There had been noise about unhappiness in the relationship, from both the player and the team, specifically centered around the player playing on the wing versus at center.
Joel Farabee, acquired along with Frost 16 months ago, has been used up and down the lineup. Though versatility is arguably Farabee’s biggest asset, it is also one that makes it hard for teams and coaches to factor him into the lineup. The 26-year-old has two years remaining on his contract at a $5-million AAV – along with zero trade protection. Farabee could be an attractive asset for another team looking for middle-six help, but much like Sharangovich, will likely not garner that much in the way of a return for the Flames.
The Flames have stockpiled assets during their rebuild to this point, and they remain in seller mode entering the summer. The question now is how much further will Conroy and his staff trim his roster down before invariably looking to build it back up – and it may be dependent on what other teams are looking to pay up for. In my opinion, the Flames are in a unique position to make some bold moves and reshape their lineup. However, the success of these moves will depend on the Flames' ability to identify the right players and make the right deals. It will be interesting to see how Conroy and his staff approach this off-season and what moves they make to reshape the Flames' roster.
