The Calgary Flames may not be done reshaping their roster just yet.
With the 2026-27 season off to a rough start - Calgary is 0-3-0 and has been outscored 16-3 - the club is already facing the possibility of another layer of selling if things keep going sideways. After parting with several veterans who were on the roster to open last season, this is being treated as the first real year of the rebuild.
For now, Flames management is not rushing into anything. But according to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, several players on the current roster are drawing trade interest around the league.
Morgan Frost is one of the names in the mix, and that makes sense given his contract situation. He’s in the final year of his deal, carries a $4.375-million cap hit, and already has a goal through three games this season.
Defenceman Zach Whitecloud is also generating interest, Pagnotta reported. Calgary brought him in last season from the Vegas Golden Knights, and he has already carved out an important role in the room. Before the regular season began, he was announced as part of the organization’s leadership group.
The Flames are not eager to move Whitecloud, but his profile makes him an appealing target. He’s 29, shoots right, and is signed at just $2.75 million this season and next, which gives him plenty of value if Calgary ever decides to listen.
Connor Zary is another player worth watching. Pagnotta included him among the names attracting interest, and after he cleared waivers earlier this week, the possibility of a move is at least on the table. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman also reported on the latest 32 Thoughts podcast that the New York Rangers are believed to be interested.
None of that guarantees a trade. But it does underline where Calgary stands: the Flames have options, and if the losses keep piling up, management may have a hard time justifying a belief that this group can turn things around quickly.
In Other News...
Flames Prospect Watch Took A Frustrating Turn In London
Londons latest outing turned into a frustrating one for Calgary Flames prospect watchers, as the Knights came up short in a 4-3 shootout loss to Erie. Aleksei Medvedev did his part with several key saves, and London got useful contributions from players such as Eloan Le Gallic and Marcus Nordmark, but the night never quite settled into the kind of clean, controlled performance that would have made for an easier watch.
The bigger issue was the way the game slipped away late, with the Knights unable to finish after building a lead and then seeing Erie tie it up in the closing minutes of regulation. Special teams and first-period scoring remained problem areas, and Ryan Brown was unavailable again because of an upper-body injury, leaving his status still uncertain as the Knights move on from a result that felt like a missed opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Penalty Kill Faces Its First Real Test Against Anaheim
The early returns on Calgarys penalty kill have been hard to miss. After allowing a goal in the opening game of the season, the Flames have settled in quickly, stringing together a long run of successful stops and putting themselves among the leagues better short-handed teams. Martin Pospisil has been a notable part of that effort, taking on meaningful minutes while stressing the groups aggressive, prepared approach when the puck drops and the pressure starts.
Now comes a more revealing checkpoint against Anaheim, the kind of game that can tell you whether the numbers are just a hot start or a real strength. Ryan Huska has shown faith in the units structure and execution, even with Sam Honzek unavailable for the matchup, and the Flames will get another chance to see how their short-handed identity holds up when it matters a little more. [Read more 🡒]
Flames May Be Near A Brutal Decision On Connor Zary
Connor Zarys future in Calgary has moved from a roster question to a cap-management puzzle, and the Flames are already weighing some uncomfortable options. Elliotte Friedman reported the club placed Zary on waivers, a move tied to his $3.775 million cap hit, after the Flames also tried to move him in the summer and again before waivers without finding a taker.
Now the pressure is on to find a trade before the situation gets uglier. Zarys contract can be bought out at one-third value, which would leave Calgary with a $600,000 cap charge for two more seasons, and contract termination remains on the table if nothing materializes. For a team already trying to sort out its lineup and its books, it is the kind of decision that can linger well beyond one players spot on the roster. [Read more 🡒]