Flame for Thought
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Should the Calgary Flames look to pursue a former No. 1 overall pick?

By Nathan Smith

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 18: Alexis Lafrenière #13 of the New York Rangers during warm up prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 18, 2023 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 18: Alexis Lafrenière #13 of the New York Rangers during warm up prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 18, 2023 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Getty Images) /
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Given the amount of moves the Calgary Flames have to make and have made thus far in the 2023 off-season, there’s been way too many rumours to count, but over the past few weeks, some have popped up more than others, so today, we are going to take a deeper dive into one specific one.

While many are focusing on the understandable links to hometown kid William Nylander, his extension may end up being way too expensive for Calgary to afford, so instead, we will look to the connection between the Flames and former No. 1 overall pick, Alexis Lafreniere. There hasn’t been any official talks, at least not any that have been reported, but with the teams need for young upside and the potential need in the Big Apple for a defenceman like Noah Hanifin, a deal continues to make more and more sense.

Unfortunately, under the bright lights of New York City, Lafreniere has failed to deliver on the expectations of being a No. 1 overall pick, as he has managed just 47 goals and 44 assists in 216 NHL games, so what could be the best solution to unlocking his talent? At this point, the Rangers have seemingly been unwilling to play him long minutes with their top stars (at least in 2022-23), but in Calgary, he could potentially have the chance to play alongside Jonathan Huberdeau, Elias Lindholm, Nazem Kadri and some top tier players that are under contract for a long time.

There have been reports floating around the New York aren’t looking to move him while his value is at its lowest, but if they change their mind and could land a top-four defenceman in the process, it’s a move they may be forced to make. In a deal, the Flames would likely be looking to get another pick back to continue the French-Canadian alliance on this team, headed by Huberdeau and Jakob Pelletier, and with GM Craig Conroy preaching patience, this could be the perfect move to make with time.

Ultimately, many fans would like to see Calgary land futures in a move for Hanifin, Mikael Backlund and potentially Lindholm, but if the team are looking to get younger while still maintaining the potential for a playoff run, there could be no move better for them to make.

So what do you think Flames fans? Should Calgary be looking to land the former No. 1 pick? Who would you like them to target in a Noah Hanifin deal instead? In which direction do you want the team to move? As always, let us know your thoughts in the comments below. 

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