With the Calgary Flames going 10-3-4 since that disastrous showing against the Boston Bruins, they seem to be chugging alongnicely to a playoff spot despite the countless injuries. More surprising, or not really when you think about it, is how little the Flames have participated in the Trade Deadline madness.
Between struggling to cover missing players, see Mike Cammalleri in centre, and the limiting contract clauses it’s hard to see the Flames doing much in the next 8 days. But should they be taking advantage to change up the roster in the next 8 days. This summer, Olli Jokinen, Lee Stempniak, David Moss, Tom Kostopoulos, Tim Jackman, Cory Sarich, and Scott Hannan will be UFA and Blake Comeau, Mikael Backlund, Paul Byron, Blair Jones, and Leland Irving will be RFA. Of the group, Comeau, Stempniak, Moss, Backlund, Kostopoulos, Byron, Jackman, Jones, Sarich, Hannan, and Irving do not have clauses impeding their trade.
Could there be someone out there looking for a solid veteran right wing to round out the third line? Or there’s got to be a team out there looking for a little bit of a youth centre that could kick start their back end. The players that are able to move do not offer much, but for a team looking to meet the cap floor or a team that needs to fill in their back lines, the Flames do have players to offer.
If nothing else, the Flames should be looking forward, figure out what to do when many contracts are up this summer. Which also means many, many chances to shed those confining clauses that plague the Flames.
Don’t forget, on Trade Deadline Day (February 27th) there will be a live chat running all day on the different Fansided.com pages for you to join in on the conversation as the trades happen. Make sure you stop by and leave your thoughts.
Go Flames Go!