The Calgary Flames made a bold move this week, trading defenseman Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights in a deal that signals a clear direction: it’s time to sell, and sell hard, before the March 6 trade deadline.
Andersson, arguably the top name on the trade market, brought back a solid package - defenseman Zach Whitecloud, defensive prospect Abram Wiebe, a top-10 protected 2027 first-round pick, and a conditional 2028 second-rounder that upgrades to a first if Vegas wins the Cup this spring. That’s a respectable return for a player not expected to re-sign, but for Calgary, this should only be the beginning.
Why? Because the NHL landscape right now favors sellers.
In the East, only the Rangers sit more than six points clear of a playoff spot. In the West, the gap is slightly wider, but still tight - just three teams are more than six points out.
The Flames, unfortunately, are one of them. They trail the eighth-seeded Anaheim Ducks by six points, and while that’s not insurmountable, the reality is clear: this team is on the outside looking in, and the clock is ticking.
Last year’s playoff push was a thrill - the kind of late-season surge that keeps fans glued to their screens - but that spark hasn’t carried over. A sluggish start and a brutal closing schedule have the Flames in a tough spot.
And while they’re in the middle of a softer stretch leading into the deadline, that might just muddy the waters enough to tempt them into standing pat. That would be a mistake.
This is the moment to lean into the rebuild.
Take Whitecloud, for example. Just a day after the trade, reports surfaced that teams are already kicking the tires on the 29-year-old blueliner.
He’s a stay-at-home defenseman on a team-friendly contract with term - the kind of player playoff-bound teams covet. If Calgary can flip him for more futures, they should jump at the chance.
Not only would that help stock the cupboard, but it would also clear a path for one of the Flames’ promising young right-shot defensemen - names like Hunter Brzustewicz, Zayne Parekh, or Daniil Miromanov.
Then there’s the forward group, where two key veterans keep popping up in trade chatter: Blake Coleman and Nazem Kadri.
Coleman, in particular, looks like a prime trade chip. He’s got a manageable $4.9 million cap hit, another year left on his deal, and the kind of two-way game that shines in the postseason. With 50% salary retention, the Flames could net a significant return for the winger - even with his 10-team no-trade list in play.
Kadri’s case is trickier. He’s a proven playoff performer, a Stanley Cup-winning second-line center, but his $7 million cap hit through 2029 is a big number.
That kind of money limits the number of contenders who can realistically make a move mid-season. A deal could still happen, but it might be more of an offseason storyline.
On the blue line, veteran Joel Hanley is another name to watch. The 34-year-old is a reliable third-pairing option, and with a $1.75 million cap hit and another year of term, he could be a sneaky value add for a contender looking to shore up its depth.
And while the Flames don’t have many pending unrestricted free agents left after the Andersson deal, there are still a couple worth monitoring. Ryan Lomberg - earning $2 million - is one to watch.
He brings energy, playoff experience, and a Stanley Cup ring from his time with the 2024 champion Florida Panthers. Teams love that kind of grit when the games get heavy.
Now, some fans might worry that moving this many veterans could leave the locker room too thin, too young. But that’s not necessarily the case.
The Flames still have cornerstone pieces like MacKenzie Weegar, Jonathan Huberdeau, and Mikael Backlund under contract. There’s a leadership core in place.
And if the team wants to add a veteran or two in free agency to balance the roster, that’s always an option.
The bottom line? This is the right time to sell.
The market is hot, the returns are real, and the Flames have assets that can help accelerate a smart retool. Hanging onto hope for a playoff push might feel good in the moment, but it won’t move the franchise forward.
Selling now - and selling smart - just might.
The Flames are technically still in the playoff race. But deep down, everyone knows the truth: it’s time to build for the future.