Calgary Flames' interest in Brandon Carlo doesn't make a lot of sense
As was discussed plenty yesterday, the Calgary Flames are believed to have interest in Boston Bruins defenceman Brandon Carlo.
The Flames are reported to have reached out to the Bruins regarding the 6-foot-5 defenceman just days ahead of the trade deadline.
Sounds like the #Flames    have reached out on #nhlbruins    defenseman Brandon Carlo. Teams have yet to dive into details, but CGY is interested.
Not too many players on BOS' roster not available for the right price.@DailyFaceoff
— Anthony Di Marco (@ADiMarco25) March 3, 2025
The Bruins have had a disappointing season to date and could wind up being sellers at the trade deadline. If they elect to do that, Carlo is a player that will receive plenty of interest. He’s massive, relatively young, can log solid minutes, and is on a reasonable contract. Many teams would love to have him. The Flames, however, don’t seem to make a ton of sense as a landing spot.
Carlo doesn’t check any boxes
Throughout the 2024-25 season, GM Craig Conroy has repeatedly said he wants to acquire players that fit the Flames’ rebuilding timeline. In other words, young players who are only beginning to scratch the surface of their true potential.
Those comments are why a player like Dylan Cozens has been mentioned as a target on so many occasions. Granted, he’s a right-handed centre, which they need, but he also just turned 24 years old, suggesting his best days are yet to come.
Carlo, meanwhile, is 28 years old. Age-wise, he’s right in the prime of his career, but would be on the back nine by the time the Flames reach their competitive window. He’s the same age as Rasmus Andersson, a player many fans are leery to re-sign because of… you guessed it… his age.
Granted, Andersson would likely be re-signed to an eight-year deal. Carlo, meanwhile, has a $4.1-million cap hit, which expires following the 2026-27 season. The contract is reasonable, but is up before the Flames would potentially be considered true Stanley Cup contenders.
Carlo is also a right-handed shot. If the Flames are to re-sign Andersson, they would have him, MacKenzie Weegar, and Brayden Pachal under contract as right-hand shots moving forward. Meanwhile, two of their top prospects on the back end, Zayne Parekh and Hunter Brzustewicz, are both right-handed shots who will be vying for spots next season.
The Flames’ blue line could certainly use some improvements, but there’s a strong argument to be made that adding to the left side would be more beneficial. Kevin Bahl has proven to be a valuable piece, but after him, there are a lot of question marks.
Joel Hanley has been solid, but he’s a pending UFA who will turn 33 in the offseason. Jake Bean is signed through 2025-26 but has underwhelmed, and 24-year-old Ilya Solovyov looks like he may be little more than a depth defenceman moving forward.
While there are players that need to be added between now and the Flames’ hopeful contending period, moving assets out the door for a player like Carlo (who doesn’t check many boxes) doesn’t make a ton of sense, especially for a GM like Conroy, who has otherwise made very wise decisions during his tenure.