The Calgary Flames took a real swing at Mason McTavish, but the deal never got over the line.
According to Eric Francis, the Flames made a “significant push” to land the centre before he was ultimately moved to the Blues for a package built around two first-round picks. Francis said Calgary “took a significant run at trying to get Mason McTavish from Anaheim, but weren’t able to put together an offer better then picks no. 15 and 29 St.
Louis offered up last week. The search for a 21-23-year-old centre continues.”
That pursuit fits the way Calgary has been operating. McTavish has been a natural target for the Flames for a while now, given the need for a young top-six centre. And after the team already sent three draft picks to the Devils for Simon Nemec last week, it’s clear Craig Conroy is still hunting for more young talent.
The price tag, though, was always going to be steep. A 15th overall pick and a 29th overall pick is a heavy haul for a player who struggled last season, and Calgary likely would have had to add one of its top prospects plus the 30th overall pick to even get close. For a team that still has time to sort things out, that kind of cost was hard to justify.
Even so, the message from the Flames is pretty clear: Conroy is being aggressive, and after missing on McTavish, Calgary may turn to another option later this summer.
In Other News...
Another Flames Depth Gamble Just Quietly Slipped Away
Johnny Beechers latest stop came together quickly once free agency opened, and it was a reminder of how fluid depth forward spots can be around the NHL. A former first-round pick, Beecher has bounced between the NHL and AHL and spent most of last season split between Boston and Calgary after the Bruins waived him and the Flames claimed him in November.
The fit in Calgary never fully settled, with injuries and a suspension trimming his time with the club, but the Flames still got a look at a big-bodied center they hoped could add some organization down the middle. Instead, Beecher moved on to Florida on a one-year, two-way deal, another small but notable turnover item for a Calgary roster that keeps trying to find inexpensive bottom-six answers without sacrificing flexibility. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Land Jacob Middleton In Costly Blue Line Shakeup
Calgary is making a significant blue-line move, landing Jacob Middleton from Minnesota as it looks to add size and stability on defense. Middleton has spent the last five seasons with the Wild and arrives with a reputation as a physical, dependable two-way defender, the kind of player who can change the look of a back end that has been searching for more toughness and structure.
The cost is steep, which tells you how much the Flames valued the fit. Middleton is entering the second year of a four-year deal with a $4.35 million cap hit, and Calgary is parting with notable assets to get the deal done, including a second-round pick. For a club trying to reshape its defense, the question now is whether the upgrade on the ice will justify the price paid to make it happen. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Just Made A Veteran Trade That Says Plenty About The Plan
The Flames took another step toward reshaping the roster by moving out two veterans with championship experience in a deal with Minnesota, a move that suggests Calgary is still threading the needle between todays lineup and tomorrows flexibility. The trade also came with contract maneuvering, as the Flames agreed to retain half of one players cap hit, a reminder that these kinds of transactions are as much about managing the books as they are about altering the depth chart.
In return, Calgary brought back defenseman Jake Middleton and a package of picks that helps stock the future pipeline, giving the club more options as it continues to recalibrate. For a team still sorting out its next phase, the deal fits the broader picture: add assets, keep some salary space in check, and keep the door open for more movement if the right opportunity comes along. [Read more 🡒]