Coleman Takes Shot at Zadorov & Lindholm & Self-Inflicted Wounds Prove Costly
Plus, trading Jacob Markstrom and three trade destinations for Noah Hanifin & more.
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Today’s edition is dives into the costly self-inflicted wounds while looking at some more trade options for Noah Hanifin. Also, Blake Coleman took a parting shot at Elias Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov, and more.
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Calgary Flames Not Immune to Impact of Outside Noise
Unrelenting Trade Rumours Taking a Toll on the Collective
February 19, 2024 by Gary Pearson (Premium THW Substack Content)
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a worse performance than the Flames 5-0 home loss to Detroit on Saturday afternoon. Aside from Thursday’s downtrodden 6-3 defeat to the San Jose Sharks, that is.
Two home stinkers in a row have smashed an emphatic final nail into Calgary’s playoff-chances coffin. If we’re being honest, that ship abruptly left the dock after the forlorn display against San Jose, the league’s second-worst team. Then again, the Sharks 5-3-2 record in the last 10 is far superior to the Flames’ 4-6 mark. So, maybe it’s time to stop denigrating the Sharks and respect how well they acquitted themselves against Ryan Huska’s team.
Flames: Three Trade Destinations for Noah Hanifin
February 18, 2024 by Rupert McDonald
The decision has finally been made. After contemplating for months, defenceman Noah Hanifin has chosen to test the market rather than sign an extension with the Calgary Flames. With the decision, it means that Hanifin’s days with the Flames are numbered, as he will be dealt ahead of the March 8th trade deadline.
While many teams would be interested in acquiring an everyday top-four defenceman like Hanifin, it all comes down to what the 27-year-old wants. He may not have a no-trade clause in his contract, but teams around the league will be hesitant to give a big package if he isn’t willing to first agree to an extension.
Oilers Reportedly Making Strong Push for Chris Tanev
February 18, 2024 by Jesse Courville-Lynch
The Edmonton Oilers have been having one of the most interesting 2023-24 campaigns. They decided to fire their coaching staff after a 3-9-1 start and swapped Jack Campbell for Calvin Pickard after Campbell’s atrocious start. Now, after a 16-game winning streak, the Oilers have their sights set on making a splash at the trade deadline and adding assets in hopes of making a deep playoff run. While the Oilers have yet to make any big moves leading up to the deadline, they will likely be looking to get more active on the trade front in hopes of getting the jump on some other teams who will also be looking to make improvements to their roster.
The Oilers have supposedly been getting active on the trade front in recent days, and it’s being reported that they have been making a strong push for Calgary Flames’ defender Chris Tanev. Tanev is going to be the most sought-after trade piece at the 2024 Trade Deadline as teams look to improve their defensive depth for a postseason run, and the Flames seem to be ready to begin selling.
Self-Inflicted Wounds Continue to Cost Flames Wins
February 18, 2024 by Abigail Hubbard
The game between the Calgary Flames and the San Jose Sharks on Feb. 15 was confusing, to say the least. While the Flames aren’t exactly at the top of their game, they are currently 20 points ahead of the Sharks, who are the second-worst team in the league. Still, the Flames lost 6-3 on Thursday night.
The game was plagued by errors that the Flames have been struggling to fix all season. Despite their recent success after trading Elias Lindholm, the team looked as they did at the beginning of the 2023-24 season. Turnovers and poor puck control were the bane of the Flames’ existence, leading to many of the Sharks’ six goals. There was also a general lack of awareness that made them look sluggish as they played.Â
Does a 2-for-1 Blue Line Trade Between the Oilers and Flames Work?
February 17, 2024 by Jim Parsons
If reports the Edmonton Oilers are looking at Chris Tanev are accurate, it begs the question of how exactly GM Ken Holland might pull off such a deal. In fact, if the Calgary Flames and Oilers are looking to make any sort of trade where a defenseman is involved, it likely only works under certain conditions.
To bring in one of Tanev, Noah Hanifin, or Rasmus Andersson, the Oilers would have to move out money. That means either trading a forward like Warren Foegele to Calgary or sending back a defenseman in the deal. Specifically, Cody Ceci or Brett Kulak help make the money work. But, is that enough? Even then, Calgary might need to retain a few bucks.
Flames Should Reconsider Markstrom Trade Given Wolf’s Play
February 17, 2024 by Rupert McDonald
Perhaps the Calgary Flames shouldn’t be so quick to trade Jacob Markstrom. The 34-year-old’s name was involved heavily in discussions with the New Jersey Devils late last week, and continues to have speculation swirl around him.
There is certainly some validity to moving Markstrom, as the Flames current roster is not one capable of competing for a Stanley Cup. The 2021-22 Vezina Trophy runner up is having another phenomenal season, and would net a great return. That said, if general manager Craig Conroy does indeed choose to move him, there could be some serious struggles in the immediate future for his team.
Flames Coleman Takes Scathing Shot at Lindholm and Zadorov
February 16, 2024 by Rupert McDonald
The Calgary Flames have been playing much better hockey as of late, and a big part of that may have been dealing away two individuals that no longer wanted to be around. The first player dealt by the Flames was Nikita Zadorov, who was sent to the Vancouver Canucks in early December.
Zadorov’s exit wasn’t a pretty one, as his agent announced during a Flames game versus the Toronto Maple Leafs that his client wanted to be dealt. It turned out to be quite the distraction, and was one that Zadorov gave his agent the go-ahead on.