Calgary Flames 2021 Trade Deadline Preview
What could the Calgary Flames do this trade deadline?
With the NHL’s trade deadline exactly a month away, and the fact that players acquired by Canadian teams with need to quarantine for two weeks, we could see moves being made leading up to the deadline. So lets get into it.
Of the day I am writing this, March 15th, the Calgary Flames sit only two points outside of a playoff spot, and look like a much better team under new coach Darryl Sutter.
Given hints from insiders like Frank Seravalli, Pierre LeBrun, Elliotte Friedman and others, it sounds like the Calgary Flames could be buyers for a top 6 right winger or bottom pairing defensmen. But, the Flames might also sell some expiring contracts, like Sam Bennett or David Rittich.
We have heard names like Rickard Rakell or Viktor Arvidsson linked to the Flames in the past week, and given Brad Treliving’s due diligence, it seems as though the Flames could be in everything prior to deadline day. Given this is a year where the team was expected to be contenders within the Canadian Division, I could see a situation where Treliving swings for the fences to acquire a big piece to propel this team to a playoff spot and save his job.
Given the Flames interest in a top six, right shot, right winger, per TSN’s Frank Seravalli, lets first jump into candidates from that position, as I believe that is number 1 on Treliving’s list.
Given the current Flames forward lines, we see Brett Ritchie in a top six position, next to Gaudreau and Monahan. No offence to Brett Ritchie, I haven’t minded him there, but if you can acquire an elite top six right winger, that would propel our forward core.
First, lets look at Viktor Arvidsson. The 27 year old, right shot, right winger fits all of Calgary’s needs, so it makes sense the Flames have inquired on him. Arvidsson is signed at a reasonable 4.25 million cap hit for another 3 years after this one, so acquiring Arvidsson fits that need for the foreseeable future. The winger currently has 13 points in 28 games on a struggling Predators team. Arvidsson’s career high is 61 points in 78 games, in the 2017-2018 season.
His RAPM chart listed above, thanks to my good friends at Evolving-Hockey.com, data from the past three years shows Arvidsson as a good offensive player that is able to generate chances, but struggles in the defensive end.
Next, Rickard Rakell. Similar to Arvidsson, Rakell is also a 27 year old, right shot, right winger, who can also play centre. Signed for a nice 3.79 million for this year and next, he, like Arvidsson, is not a rental. Rakell currently has 19 points in 29 games, and has a career high 69 points in 77 games. Nice.
Rakell’s RAPM chart, shown above, is quite similar to Arvidsson’s, where he puts up decent offensive numbers, but struggles a bit in the defensive end.
Per Frank Seravalli, “The Calgary Flames took a run at Rickard Rakell before their coaching change but the price was too high.” Anaheim is asking for a steep return for Rakell, and Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported this morning that “I’m not convinced the Ducks are going to do it,” when discussing the Ducks moving Rakell.
If the Flames want to go the cheaper route and not have to give up lots of picks and prospects like a Rakell or Arvidsson deal, I wonder if they take a look at Bobby Ryan in Detroit. The 33 year old, right shot, right winger signed a 1 year, 1 million dollar deal with the Red Wings, with the intent to get his career back on track and be shipped at the deadline. The winger has 13 points in 28 games with the struggling Red Wings, and because of his low cap hit, would be much easier to acquire than previously mentioned names.
While his RAPM isn’t pretty, playing for Detroit and Ottawa in the past three years doesn’t help. While Bobby Ryan isn’t the best or the biggest name out there, I included him because the Flames might turn his way because of the low cap hit, as well as the low cost to acquire him.
Lastly on the right wing list, we have my favourite candidate by far, Sam Reinhart. The former 2nd overall pick finds himself in a situation where the Buffalo Sabres, in midst of their tire fire season, might send him out of town for assets to rebuild, once again. The 25 year old signed a one year deal worth 5.2 million dollars in the off-season, so Buffalo could potentially retain some cap for this year, making it easier for the Flames to acquire.
His RAPM chart is very impressive, given he plays for the Sabres. Sam is a defensively responsible forward who I think would be the perfect fit beside Gaudreau and Monahan. Reinhart has an outstanding 19 points in 24 games, so he wouldn’t come cheap, but if the Flames really want to propel themselves to cup contender status, Sam Reinhart is your guy to acquire. It is also nice that Reinhart is a pending RFA, as Treliving can extend him to whatever deal he sees fit, be it a bridge or a long term deal.
The package for Reinhart would be a dousy, but I think it is a deal the Flames should do. The 2021 draft isn’t the most stellar class, so giving up our 2021 1st would be alright with me, plus whatever else that package for Reinhart would include.
Some other pieces the Flames could look at would be forwards Kyle Palmieri, Filip Forsberg, Joel Armia, Troy Terry, Anders Bjork, Calle Jarnkrok, and defensmen David Savard, Brandon Montour, Jason Demers, and Sami Vatanen.
As for pieces the Flames could sell off to make cap room, lets first start with Sam Bennett, a controversial topic among Flames Twitter. I think if you are acquiring a top 6 forward, Sam Bennett is the guy you are sending the other way to make the money work. While he is a guy that only gets better in the playoffs, due to his trade request this season as well as his contract ending, I think its a good bet that he is on the move if the Flames make a big deal.
Another person I wanted to touch on briefly was goaltender David Rittich. “Big Save Dave” has been a fan favourite at parts of his career, but has struggled mightily over the past year. At a 2.75 million cap hit for backup duties, I think there is a strong possibility that Rittich is moved in order to save cap space for other positions. Pierre LeBrun of the Athletic published an article this week which mentioned David Rittich and a potential deal to the Washington Capitals.
That makes a lot of sense, as their young starter, Ilya Samsonov, came into contact with COVID-19 and was sidelined for some time. While the Capitals don’t have any cap space, so this would be an exchange of salaries, could a G David Rittich and D Oliver Kylington for G Vitek Vanacek and D Nick Jensen trade work for both teams. Just speculation from my part, but the key here being swaping Rittich’s backup money for nice bottom pairing defensive defensmen Nick Jensen.
I also look at the Buffalo Sabres and their goaltending issues and maybe Rittich would be among the pieces going back to Buffalo in exchange for Sam Reinhart.
In summary, it sounds as though the Flames are looking at a lot of options to improve the team as they continue on their playoff hunt. It seems as though the team is looking for a top six right winger, as well as some depth on defense, and could potentially part ways with one or both of Sam Bennett and David Rittich for it to happen.
Should be an interesting month. Lets see where it goes!
Have a Blasty day everyone!
-James Johnson (@JamesJohnsonYYC on Twitter)