The Flames appear headed for another rebuilding year in 2026-27, and that has Craig Conroy leaning toward seller mode. In an interview with Pierre LeBrun for The Athletic, the Calgary GM said defenseman Zach Whitecloud has made it clear he wants to be part of the team’s long-term picture.
Since arriving last season in the Rasmus Andersson trade, the 29-year-old has taken on a much heavier workload, skating more than 20 minutes per night. He’s signed through next season at a $2.75MM cap hit, and interest around the league has already been there since last season.
Even so, Conroy also wants to keep useful veterans around his young core, so moving Whitecloud would take a major offer.
Ryan Strome looks like a much more realistic trade candidate. Conroy spoke positively about the veteran after acquiring him from Anaheim at last season’s deadline, but also said the team will need time to sort out his situation before the March 1st deadline.
Strome is on an expiring $5MM deal and has four points in 11 games this season. He’s expected to be one of the more likely Flames to move by then.
Calgary also had a rough night on the injury front in Wednesday’s game against Edmonton. The club announced that goaltender Devin Cooley and winger Brennan Othmann both left with injuries and did not return. Cooley was hurt in a first-period collision, while Othmann exited after an early fight.
In San Jose, the Sharks are being mentioned as a possible landing spot for Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson. Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic reported on TSN Insider Trading that the Sharks are among the teams with interest in the restricted free agent.
On paper, the fit makes sense because of San Jose’s young core, though actually landing him could be tricky because of the long-term money the team has already committed this summer. Detroit still wants Edvinsson signed before the December 1st deadline, but if that doesn’t happen, the Sharks would be a team to watch.
Meanwhile, Devon Levi is working back from an undisclosed injury he suffered last week. Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal reported that the Oilers goalie took shots in practice, but third-stringer Matt Tomkins will travel with the club on its three-game road trip, so Levi likely needs more time. The 24-year-old has handled the starting job early this season, going 6-1 with a 3.11 GAA and an .887 SV%.
In Other News...
Flames Win Streak Suddenly Comes With A New Crease Concern
Calgarys recent run has given the club some much-needed momentum, but the mood shifted in a hurry during the game against Edmonton when Devin Cooley was forced out with a lower-body injury. The Flames goalie left after a collision with Oilers forward Colton Dach, then did not return after the first period, sending Dustin Wolf into the crease for the rest of the night.
It was a rough scene for a team trying to keep things steady, especially with Brennan Othmann also leaving because of an upper-body injury and not coming back. For a Flames group that has benefited from better form lately, the bigger concern now is how quickly it can get through a game that suddenly carried a lot more injury fallout than anyone in Calgary wanted to see. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Crease Suddenly Under Pressure After Devin Cooley Scare
The Flames' crease took a sudden hit late in the first period when Devin Cooley exited after a collision with Colton Dach, forcing Calgary to regroup on the fly. With the game still unfolding, the injury immediately shifted the focus from the score to the condition of a goaltender the team was counting on in a key moment.
Dustin Wolf came on for the second period, giving Calgary a quick adjustment in net while the bench also had to absorb another loss after Brennan Othmann was ruled out following a fight with Ty Emberson. For a team already trying to manage the pace of the night, the added uncertainty around two players left plenty to monitor going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Suddenly Have A Goalie Concern In Battle Of Alberta
The Battle of Alberta took an abrupt turn in the first period when Devin Cooley was forced out after a collision with Edmonton forward Colton Dach, leaving the Flames to regroup in a game that already carried plenty of edge. Calgary also had to absorb another injury blow with forward Brennan Othmann unable to continue, turning a heated rivalry night into an early test of depth and composure.
Dustin Wolf stepped in to begin the second period as the Flames tried to steady themselves without their backup netminder. Calgary later said Cooley has a lower body injury and will not return, a development that adds an immediate layer of concern to a position group the club can ill afford to lose in a game of this intensity. [Read more 🡒]