NHL rumors: Calgary in Flames, Kings, Flyers set for big deals, Hall to Chicago
By Marvin Azrak
NHL rumors: Calgary’s hockey team is up in Flames
According to Frank Seravalli, the team is currently facing the possibility of losing several key faces, such as Noah Hanifin, Mikael Backlund, Tyler Toffoli, and Elias Lindholm.
"“The general speculation around the league is that Elias Lindholm is leaning towards not re-signing with the Flames, but to my knowledge, has not given them an official no. Noah Hanifin, on the other hand, has verbalized that he’s likely not to re-sign and, obviously under contract for one more year, would prefer ultimately to play elsewhere. “Here’s the name that I learned yesterday that I was pretty surprised to hear. Another one of those guys entering the final year of his deal and has been a staple in Calgary forever is Mikael Backlund. At this exact moment in time, subject to change, is also leaning towards not re-signing with the Flames.”"
GM, Craig Conroy, is facing a challenging situation should he want to get something back in return. Their cap hits are expensive. It is hard to rebuild the team entirely, even if some players are willing to leave. The Flames may have to accept lower returns and retain salary to make these hefty contracts disappear.
Noah Hanifin, a 26-year-old skilled defenseman with an affordable $4.95 million cap hit, could bring significant value in a trade. Several teams have reportedly inquired, including the Buffalo Sabres, Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Florida Panthers.
What do all those teams have in common? They’re all in the United States, where Hanifin wants to go.
Meanwhile, Tyler Toffoli,31, worth $4.25 million over 2023-24, could be a valuable addition to a contending team like the Colorado Avalanche or New York Rangers.
Mikael Backlund, 34, is considered one of the top two-way centers in the NHL. He had an exceptional season and is showing no signs of decline. Every team must have a player like Backlund to succeed in the league.
His contract is affordable, with a cap hit of only $5.35M for one more season. Even if the Flames retain a portion of the contract, every team could easily accommodate him within their salary cap.
While he may bring less value than Hanifin or Toffoli, he could still be a valuable addition to a contending team as a depth center.
These desired departures may lead to a less competitive team in the short term; it presents an opportunity to add younger players and restock the prospect cupboard. It creates salary cap space. It will be up to Conroy to turn this negative situation into a positive for the Flames.