Report: Calgary Flames Talking Trade For A Centre

The Calgary Flames have come out of the gate like a house on fire, pun intended. After finishing last season and going into the summer like a team in the throes of a rebuild, Calgary has started the year at 4-0-0 with the top goal differential in the Western Conference, at +9.

Whether this can keep up is still in question, but according to insider Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff, the Flames are looking to "add" right now, and they're specifically in the market for a right-shot center.

Early season trades are rare, but the #Flames - one of the best stories to start the year - are looking to add another center to the mix.

Details tonight on @SportsOnPrimeCA:pic.twitter.com/V4Zvm6eqPi
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) October 18, 2024
A lot of people were expecting at some point this year that with all the names that went out the door last year, 'hey, they might be moving on from guys'... (But) No, it's actually quite the opposite.

I'm told Flames GM Craig Conroy has been working the phones in recent days to try and find a centre to add to their middle six. Preferably someone that fits their age scheme, (and) in a perfect world, a right shooting centre at that.

The Flames' lineup down the middle currently features Nazem Kadri at center on the top line, with Mikael Backlund and Martin Pospisil in the middle six, followed by Justin Kirkland on the fourth line.

The youngster Pospisil is off to a tremendous start with five points in the first four games and a plus/minus rating of +3 in just 12:52 ice time per night, while 35-year-old captain Backlund has two points with a +2 rating. Both are left-shot.

Nevertheless, the Flames are shooting higher this season after their hot start.

"They don't have any interest in tearing things down," confirmed Seravalli, "but actually would like to beef up and bolster their lineup if it all possible."

He does admit that trades are hard to come by at this early stage of the season, so we'll have to see how things unfold.