The Calgary Flames’ rough opening has put the front office on alert, and the search for help may extend beyond Patrik Laine.
After three games, Calgary has been outscored 16-3, a brutal number that underlines just how ugly this start has been. The losses were expected to come for a rebuilding club, but the manner of them has been the real issue. That kind of start is especially frustrating in a season meant to help build confidence for young players such as Zayne Parekh, Matvei Gridin, and Sam Honzek.
The defensive side should settle down with time, based on past results. The bigger concern right now is the lack of offense, and general manager Craig Conroy appears to know it.
Earlier in the week, reports surfaced that the Flames have interest in free-agent forward Patrik Laine. The 28-year-old is still unsigned after appearing in just five games last season because of injury.
But Laine may not be the only option Calgary is exploring.
“Patrick Laine isn’t the only free-agent forward the Calgary Flames are in conversation with after a rough start to the season,” NHL insider Frank Seravalli wrote in his latest Sportsnet column. “Still unsigned: Vladimir Tarasenko, David Perron, James van Riemsdyk, Jonathan Drouin.”
Among that group, Tarasenko stands out most at this point in his career. The 34-year-old is no longer the player he was with the St. Louis Blues, but he can still put the puck in the net, finishing with 23 goals and 47 points for the Minnesota Wild in 2025-26.
Calgary still has room to be patient. Nobody expected this team to make the playoffs, and the organization plans to keep giving opportunities to Aydar Suniev and Jonathan Castagna in hopes of finding a spark.
If that doesn’t happen, Conroy could move quickly and bring in one of the available forwards on a low-cost, one-year deal.
In Other News...
Flames Shake Up Lineup As Pressure Builds Before Avalanche Test
The Flames are making a noticeable set of changes as they head into a matchup with the Colorado Avalanche, reworking both their forward group and defensive pairings in search of a cleaner look. Among the most telling moves is the arrival of Aydar Suniev and Jonathan Castagna from the AHL, a pair of recalls that gives Calgary a fresh fourth-line option and adds a little more intrigue to how the bottom half of the lineup will be deployed.
Calgary is also turning to Devin Cooley in goal for the Avalanche test, a decision that puts added attention on a game already carrying some weight as the pressure builds. With middle-six forwards shuffled around and the back end adjusted as well, the Flames are clearly trying to find a combination that can steady things against one of the leagues tougher opponents. The question now is whether those changes give them enough structure to hang with Colorado. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Rumors Suddenly Point To A Much More Realistic Upgrade
The trade chatter around Detroit has started to drift away from the more sensational names and toward a possibility that feels far more grounded. Pierre LeBrun has downplayed the speculation tying Dylan Larkin to Florida, especially with Aleksander Barkov expected back in six to eight weeks, and that has shifted some of the focus to other options around the league. Among the clubs keeping an eye on the market are the Flames and Red Wings, both of whom have shown interest in Patrik Laine as they look for ways to add offense without paying the price that comes with a true blockbuster.
Laine remains unsigned despite drawing contact from multiple teams, which keeps the door open for a move if the right situation emerges. For Calgary, the appeal is obvious, but the timing matters just as much as the talent, with the organization watching how its younger players perform before deciding how aggressive to get. Around the league, there is also a separate goaltending thread involving Connor Hellebuyck and the Jets, but for the Flames the bigger question is whether this becomes the kind of measured upgrade that fits their timeline. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Face A Telling Whitecloud Decision As Trade Buzz Builds
With trade talk beginning to swirl around the league, the Flames have at least one veteran piece they do not seem eager to move. Sources say Calgary is in no hurry to part with Zach Whitecloud, a sign the club still places real value on what he brings to a very young defense. In a season where roster balance matters as much as upside, that kind of steadying presence can be hard to replace.
The broader market, though, is still full of moving parts, and that matters for a Flames team keeping an eye on how other clubs might reshuffle their own assets. One thread has centered on Seattle forward Shane Wright and whether he could factor into a larger conversation involving Simon Edvinsson, even as Detroit is signaling it wants to re-sign Edvinsson and is not looking to move him. For Calgary, it is another reminder that patience can be just as important as aggressiveness when the rumor mill starts turning. [Read more 🡒]