The Calgary Flames look like one of the prime teams to be sellers for the 2024 trade deadline, and they already made waves by trading Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks. But with a less-than-stellar record and a team loaded with talented players, the Flames may look to free up some space within the organization and start over.
This puts them in an outstanding position to trade away their big-name players for high-profile prospects and draft picks. And if implemented properly, they could set up a quick turnaround. While there are many players who could find themselves landing elsewhere before or when the March 8th deadline arrives, the three listed below have heard their names pop up in trade talks as early as the 2023 offseason.
Noah Hanifin is once again finding himself in the rumor mill
Since Noah Hanifin arrived in the NHL, he’s never been part of a team that has made it past the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Hanifin has always been a solid player for the Flames, and his sound productivity dates back to his early days with the Carolina Hurricanes.
However, now that he’s in his ninth season, it’s long past time for Hanifin to join a contending team, especially if the Flames look to undergo a rebuilding project. His best would be to land with a team looking for a two-way player willing to pitch in offensively while taking lanes away when his team doesn’t have the puck.
Hanifin has also been a steady presence for the Flames at 5-on-5, with the team scoring 43 goals with him on the ice. This shows just how effective the 27-year-old has been, and if you want further evidence, his 25 points are putting him on pace to secure his second-highest career total. Expect a team needing more offensive play from their defensemen to come calling for Hanifin’s availability.