6 veterans Calgary Flames could move before next year's trade deadline

The Calgary Flames are progressing well in their rebuilding stage, though they still have a ways to go before it’s complete.

This organization has opted for short-term pain under GM Craig Conroy in hopes of becoming a true Stanley Cup contender in the future. Though management has seemed hesitant to use the “rebuild” word, the moves they have made paint the picture clearly.

Take this past season, for example, where the Flames traded out three of their top players in Rasmus Andersson, MacKenzie Weegar, and Nazem Kadri. By doing so, they added six more draft picks, prospects Abram Wiebe, Jonathan Castagna, and Maxmilian Curran. Also coming in the deals were veterans Zach Whitecloud, Olli Maatta, and Victor Olofsson.

Suddenly, the Flames find themselves with eight picks in the first three rounds of this year’s draft and have several more at their disposal in the years to come. They may not be done adding to their stockpile, either.

Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff recently reported that the Flames are willing to trade anybody on their roster aside from Dustin Wolf, Matt Coronato, Matvei Gridin, and Zayne Parekh.

While the Flames certainly won’t be trading every other player, it does suggest that management is still pushing for even more pieces that will help improve their future.

Here’s a look at six players on the current Flames roster they could look to trade to help with that goal, whether it be this offseason or during the 2026-27 campaign.

Blake Coleman

• Age: 34
• Position: LW
• Contract: $4.9 million (UFA after 2026-27)
• 2025-26 stats: 69 GP, 20 G, 15 A, 35 PTS

One veteran many fans were surprised to see remain a Flame past this year’s trade deadline was Blake Coleman. The two-time Stanley Cup champion had interest from several teams, but the offers ultimately weren’t enough to make a deal come to fruition.

That said, Coleman’s days in Calgary are limited. An extension doesn’t make a ton of sense given where the Flames are as a franchise, and plenty of teams with playoff aspirations would love to add him. It seems like only a matter of time before he’s headed elsewhere.

Morgan Frost

• Age: 27
• Position: C
• Contract: $4.375 (UFA after 2027-28)
• 2025-26 stats: 82 GP, 22 G, 21 A, 43 PTS

There were times throughout the 2025-26 season when Morgan Frost looked like a star talent. His skill level is through the roof, giving him the ability to get fans out of their seats. That said, his lack of consistency remains a glaring issue.

At 27 years old, the inconsistent version of Frost Flames fans witnessed in 2025-26 may just be what he is as a player. Should Conroy see it the same way, it’s possible he explores moving Frost, as there would be no shortage of interest.

Ryan Strome

• Age: 32
• Position: C
• Contract: $5 million (UFA after 2026-27)
• 2025-26 stats: 52 GP, 8 G, 13 A, 21 PTS

The Flames acquired Ryan Strome at this year’s trade deadline from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a seventh-round draft pick. The 32-year-old was struggling to get into the Ducks lineup, but Conroy clearly saw something that indicated he still had some game left.

That move seems to have been the right decision, as Strome had 12 points in just 19 games with the Flames. If he can continue similar production to begin the 2026-27 campaign, there should be some playoff-bound teams that express interest.

Zach Whitecloud

• Age: 29
• Position: RHD
• Contract: $2.75 million (UFA after 2027-28)
• 2025-26 stats: 78 GP, 2 G, 15 A, 17 PTS

Talk of the Flames flipping Whitecloud began immediately after he was acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights in January. Instead, he quickly fit in with the group, becoming a leader right from the get-go while also playing some exceptional hockey.

The Flames are in no rush to move Whitecloud, given how impressive his early tenure with the organization has been. That said, his low cap hit gives him plenty of value and may prompt a team to offer a deal Conroy can’t turn down.

Olli Maatta

• Age: 31
• Position: LHD
• Contract: $3.5 million (UFA after 2027-28)
• 2025-26 stats: 43 GP, 2 G, 13 A, 15 PTS

Speaking of players who were incredible after being picked up, Olli Maatta shocked many with how good he looked after arriving in Calgary. The 31-year-old had just one assist in 22 games with the Utah Mammoth before being traded to the Flames. In the following 21 outings, he registered 14 points.

Maatta has surpassed the 20-point marker just twice in his 804-game career, suggesting that there will be some regression next season. That said, he proved that he’s still capable of being a top-six defenceman, which should give him some value.

Joel Hanley

• Age: 34
• Position: LHD
• Contract: $1.75 million (UFA after 2026-27)
• 2025-26 stats: 68 GP, 0 G, 7 A, 7 PTS

As far as waiver additions go, the Flames found a great one in Joel Hanley. The 34-year-old was brought in late in the 2023-24 season and earned a two-year extension last summer.

Hanley is by no means an elite blueliner, but he is serviceable in a bottom-pairing role. At the very least, he would give playoff-bound teams some nice depth, which makes him a likely candidate to get moved at some point during the 2026-27 season. That said, Flames fans should temper their expectations when it comes to a return.

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