From 2006 to 2015 the Edmonton Oilers were very bad at hockey. The Calgary Flames were better, and every spring there were opportunities for draft picks to head up the Queen Elizabeth II highway and depth players to go south, but that barely ever happened. Two trades occurred between the organizations in that period, with the most important player involved in any deal being an aging Steve Staios in 2010.
Provincial rivals don't like helping one another, and with the shoe very much on the other foot, it seems unlikely that the Flames will be willing to send any worthwhile player north to help Edmonton attempt their third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.
But we should never say never, after all, the Milan Lucic/James Neal trade happened, and both sides will forever claim they were the victors. So let's see who Calgary might have available.
Nazem Kadri
Flames assistant captain Nazem Kadri is 35 years old. He has three years remaining on his current deal, at a decent $7 million per year. He's won a Stanley Cup, and been a strong producer in two Canadian hockey markets. He'd be a huge addition in a supporting role, offering both offense and defensive responsibility to any team that manages to bring him on board.
The salary dollars and term won't work in a basic trade, so Edmonton Oilers management would have to get fancy. If it were me, I'd pull the wool over Calgary's eyes, have a proxy team trade them for Kadri at 50% retention, and then flip him to Edmonton, maybe even with more dollars retained. Kadri at 25% cost could look great in orange and blue.
Connor Zary
Connor Zary is likely on the "Untouchables" list for many in the Flames organization. A responsible two-way player who's been able to score in the NHL since his rookie debut and rarely looks bad in his own zone. But with the Flames languishing around the bottom of the league standings, some people have to be thinking tank mode and "Full Rebuild."
Zary would net a 1st round pick, and probably more besides. He's 24, signed to a reasonable $3.75 million for two more years, and remains a restricted free agent at the end of that deal. He has the ability to grow into something more but if Calgary does rebuild, his career might peak at the wrong time. Edmonton chose not to select the player back in 2020, drafting Dylan Holloway instead. With Holloway off to Bluer pastures, Zary could be both depth today and a vital piece in the future.
Mackenzie Weegar
The overall issue, when one examines the Flames roster for potential rentals, is that Calgary's management has locked most of the significant players to longer term deals. That means when you're acquiring a player, you need to be relatively sure they can either fit with your team long term, or remain a positive asset for a future trade. Mackenzie Weegar fits that definition.
The former Florida Panther has a contract that pays him $6.25 million until 2031. He's 32, and is likely to remain an effective defender for most of that deal, but that money and term means someone significant is heading the other direction. Darnell Nurse is very comparable, but he makes 50% more money, and I'm not sure how anyone would convince Flames management to make that deal. Plus, other than the cap savings, the team might not be noticeably better if Weegar simply fills the second pairing hole that Nurse would leave.
Another option might be Mattias Ekholm. An important piece of both recent Cup drives, Ekholm's injuries caught up with him last year in the Cup Final series. Weegar, at three years younger, might better withstand the rigors of a long post-season run.
All contract information via puckpedia.com