Calgary Flames forward Morgan Frost celebrates his empty net goal on the Los Angeles Kings at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary on Thursday, April 16, 2026. The Flames won the game 3-1. Gavin Young/Postmedia Gavin Young/Postmedia

Article content

With the recent trades of Rasmus Andersson, Nazem Kadri, MacKenzie Weegar, and Blake Coleman, Craig Conroy has effectively concluded the primary sell-off phase of the rebuild. Beyond a couple of notable exceptions in Mikael Backlund and Jonathan Huberdeau, the Flames have turned over the vast majority of the previous regime’s veterans.

Article content

Nevertheless, the team is still in its reload phase. Absent a miracle, we can expect them to finish low in the standings and pick high at the draft for the next few years. Calgary will remain trade deadline sellers for now.

Article content

Article content

Article content

The big trade assets have been cashed in, but more than a few guys on the roster today are likely to be moved out before the Flames are competitive again.

Article content

Article content

Morgan Frost, C

Article content

Frost finished the year on a high, centering Calgary’s top offensive line with Matthew Coronato and Matvei Gridin. His 22 goals were the most on the team, and his 43 points placed him second behind Coronato.

Article content

Frost has never broken the 50-point threshold in the NHL, though he might flirt with that benchmark this season if he can stick at the top of the rotation. The problem for the Flames is he is a pending free agent who will turn 28 next May. His new contract, which will no doubt be the biggest of his career, won’t kick in until his 29-year-old season.

Article content

If Frost has a strong season, he’ll become an attractive trade target at the deadline for teams looking for offensive depth down the middle. He is not, however, a compelling enough player to bet a big, long-term contract extending into his mid-30’s, for Calgary.

Article content

Zach Whitecloud, D

Article content

Former Vegas Knight Zach Whitecloud might be the most valuable veteran trade chip left. A Cup champion who turns 30 in November, Whitecloud has two years left on a contract with the relatively trivial cap hit of $2.75 million.

Article content

Article content

Whitecloud is a defensively responsible, right-handed rearguard who is well-respected around the league. Practically every contender in the race would like to add Whitecloud as veteran depth, especially given his palatable contract.

Article content

For now, the player is a good bet to stick around as a mentor and support structure for a very young, defensively suspect blueline in Calgary this coming season. If guys like Simon Nemec and Zayne Parekh can take major strides this year, however, the club may be comfortable moving Whitecloud as a pending free agent in 2027-28.

Article content

Ryan Strome, C

Article content

Ryan Strome was added for the cost of a seventh-round pick at the deadline. The 33-year-old center scored 41 points in three straight seasons for the Ducks before falling out of favour last year.

Article content

Like Whitecloud, Strome is here to provide veteran infrastructure during this interim restock phase. His $5 million per year contract has just one season remaining, but he’ll need to have a better effort than the 21-points he managed last year to garner much interest.

Article content

The 12 points he managed in 19 games with the Flames suggest he might have some game left and could be in line for a rebound. If Strome gets back to a 40-point pace, he could be flipped in March.