As the NHL trade deadline approaches on March 6th, the Calgary Flames find themselves at the center of numerous news and rumors, with several key players potentially on the move. General Manager Craig Conroy has already made a significant move by trading Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights, signaling a potential shift towards a rebuild.

Weegar's Name Surfaces in Trade Talks

Defenseman MacKenzie Weegar's name has emerged in trade discussions, with the Ottawa Senators reportedly showing interest. Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen suggests Weegar would be a "perfect fit" for the Senators, who are seeking a top-four defenseman. While Weegar possesses a full no-move clause, his Ottawa roots might make him willing to waive it for a trade to his hometown. Although his offensive numbers have declined this season, with 17 points in 54 games and a plus/minus rating of -31, Weegar remains a valuable asset due to his two-way capabilities and a reasonable $6.25 million cap hit through the 2030-31 season. On February 1st, Weegar recorded an assist in a 3-2 win over the Sharks, snapping an 11-game pointless streak.

Kadri Open to a Change of Scenery

Veteran center Nazem Kadri has reportedly informed the Flames that he is open to being traded. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported that Kadri, halfway through his seven-year deal, has not formally requested a trade but is willing to be moved to a contender. Several teams, including the Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche, and Minnesota Wild, have expressed interest in Kadri. Despite a drop in scoring this season, Kadri, who carries a $7 million cap hit through 2028-29, remains a valuable asset. With the Flames potentially entering a rebuilding phase, the 35-year-old Kadri may seek an opportunity to compete for another Stanley Cup.

Coleman Out Until After Olympic Break

Forward Blake Coleman will be sidelined until after the Olympic break due to an upper-body injury. Coach Ryan Huska announced that Coleman would miss the final four games before the break, with the team's first game after the Olympics on February 26th against San Jose. Coleman, who hasn't played since January 8th, has been participating in practices wearing a non-contact jersey. Despite the injury, there's reported trade interest in Coleman, who has 13 goals and 21 points in 44 games this season. His absence has led to players like Matt Coronato, Yegor Sharangovich, and Joel Farabee taking on larger roles on the Backlund line.

Flames' Trade Strategy

With the trade deadline looming, the Flames have limited salary retention slots available. After retaining portions of Jacob Markstrom and Rasmus Andersson's salaries in recent trades, they have only one retention spot remaining. This impacts their ability to maximize returns for players like Kadri and Coleman. Coleman has one year remaining on his contract with a $4.9 million AAV, while Kadri has three years remaining with a $7 million AAV. The Flames may be more willing to retain salary on Coleman's contract due to the shorter term.

As the trade deadline approaches, the Flames are expected to be active in exploring opportunities to re-tool their roster.