3 more players the Calgary Flames must deal before the trade deadline
After trading Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks, the Calgary Flames are solidifying themselves as sellers as we inch closer to the 2024 trade deadline.
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.
Jacob Markstrom could wind up with a contender in need of a goalie
Quite a few contenders will be looking for a high-quality goaltender, so don’t be surprised if teams like the New Jersey Devils, Tampa Bay Lightning, or Detroit Red Wings call or if they already have called, to name a few. The aforementioned teams may not all be enjoying solid seasons in 2023-24, but they could be just one solid goaltender away from serious contention.
Markstrom will also bring tons of experience to any team if they decide to trade for him, as he has played at least one game in the league over the past 15 years, including 2023-24. He also enjoyed an elite year in 2021-22, taking Second Team All-Star honors plus a second-place finish for the Vezina, behind only Igor Shesterkin.
This season, Markstrom’s output has been more of the same, with a 0.912 save percentage, a 2.60 GAA, a pair of shutouts, and a 0.621 quality starts percentage. For comparison, that percentage is better so far than what he accumulated in 2021-22, so it also tells us Markstrom is still one of the NHL’s premier goaltenders.
If he’s traded, he could still factor as a No. 1 netminder, but there are a few places that will let him slide into a No. 2 role, such as in Tampa Bay.
Chris Tanev is yet another defenseman who could be on the move
Unlike Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev isn’t someone who will find himself playing for a team that needs a two-day defenseman. Instead, he will go to an organization looking for a blueliner whose instincts may still be among the best in the NHL.
While he spent the greater part of 14 seasons in the league, Tanev can still play top-four minutes. Therefore, worries about whether he can still withstand the overall physical nature of the game shouldn’t arise, especially come playoff time. However, this shouldn’t deter a team needing someone known for disrupting shooting lanes to call the Calgary Flames if they’re seeking to fill a spot on the third-pairing.
In 46 contests this season, Tanev has blocked 135 shots, and if he continues at this pace, he will easily eclipse the 200 mark and set a new career-high. The Flames have also benefited from Tanev’s overall presence in defensive zone starts, which have occurred 56.5 percent of the time when he’s on the ice at 5-on-5.
Their Corsi and Fenwick percentages in the same situation with Tanev out there are 49.2 and 50.7, respectively. No, this isn’t where it was last season, but given the team’s struggles in 2023-24, he’s played a sound role in transition, which could further attract trade partners.
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(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)