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Grading the Calgary Flames First Trade Of The Summer

By Nathan Smith

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 13: Yegor Sharangovich #17 of the New Jersey Devils skates with the puck against the Washington Capitals during the first period of the game at Capital One Arena on April 13, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 13: Yegor Sharangovich #17 of the New Jersey Devils skates with the puck against the Washington Capitals during the first period of the game at Capital One Arena on April 13, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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The Calgary Flames came into the 2023 summer looking to make some big changes to this team, and whether or not that means a rebuild, the team have signalled their intent to get younger and quicker, and they began that on the eve of the 2023 NHL Draft by making a move to land Yegor Sharangovich and a third-round pick from the New Jersey Devils for the 31-year old Tyler Toffoli. The reaction all over Twitter was largely negative, as many fans expected to land at least a first-round pick for Toffoli, but ultimately, it appears this was the best deal the Flames could get, so how does it grade for the Calgary Flames?

On paper, trading a 73-point scorer for a 25-year old that’s yet to hit his best form is a strange decision for Calgary, but when we look back on Toffoli’s career, he has scored over 45 points just four times in his career, as his average falls into the high 30’s-low 40’s. On top of that, Toffoli made it clear that he wasn’t going to re-sign in Calgary, and while he still has a year left on his contract, meaning he’s much more than a rental for interested teams, this was always going to impact his value.

As for Sharangovich, he’s much more than the numbers he’s produced thus far in his three-year NHL career (106 points in 205 games), as he has received inconsistent playing time and partners over that stretch, and with an elite shot, he has the potential to be a breakout star in Calgary. It’s understandable just why Flames fans could be frustrated with the return, but the team promised to get younger and quicker, and Yarangovich is full of speed and an elite shot, and after scoring a career best 24 goals in 2021-22, he’s got the talent to do it again and be a consistent contributor for this Flames team.

Verdict: The immediate reaction is understandable with many Calgary fans calling it an underwhelming return, but on deeper inspection, it’s a solid move for both teams, and if the Flames can get him going in a top-six role alongside a playmaker like Jonathan Huberdeau, they may be able to recreate Toffoli’s production in a younger form. C+

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