February 23, 2023 | 8:52pm ET
By Anthony Di Marco, TheFourthPeriod.com
FLAMES CAUTIOUS AS DEADLINE APPROACHES
Flames GM Brad Treliving
MONTREAL, QC — With the NHL trade deadline eight days away, it appears Calgary Flames General Manager Brad Treliving is still on the fence about whether to add or not.
The Flames are currently sitting just outside the playoffs (65 points with one game more played than the eighth seed Minnesota Wild) and I’m told Treliving wants to see how things go over the next few games before deciding to add to the group.
The Flames have a very tough stretch ahead, as they’re set to face off with the Vegas Golden Knights, Colorado Avalanche, Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs before the March 3 deadline.
Given the wide-open nature of the Pacific Division – and the Western Conference as whole – there are those within the Flames who feel the team should be looking to add to the team’s depth regardless. But given the Flames’ inconsistency and being 4-4-2 in their last 10 games, I can’t blame Treliving for having trepidation to relinquish assets for a team that may not even get in.
In terms of what the Flames are looking to add, should they explore that path, a depth forward and defenseman have long been thought to be on their radar. Treliving openly admitted earlier in the month that he wanted to add a forward.
The Flames have been tied to several names up front, such as Philadelphia Flyers winger James van Riemdsdyk and Detroit Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi, but there hasn’t been a ton of traction yet. One thing that I’ve heard could potentially hold up a deal is that Treliving wants to add guys with term on their contracts.
St. Louis Blues left wing Ivan Barbashev, for example, is a name that would fit the script as to what the Flames are looking for. But given what the player may be seeking on his next deal, it seems unlikely the Flames will pursue him at this point.
Defensively, Vancouver Canucks blueliner Luke Schenn has been on the Flames’ radar for a few weeks now. The 33-year-old Saskatchewan native has caught the eyes of many this season and has quickly become one of the more sought-after names, in large part due to his $850,000 cap hit. Schenn would perfectly fill the shoes of Erik Gudbranson, who left as a free agent to Columbus, as the team’s physical, all-defense presence on the third pair.
Given Schenn’s age and role (a third pair guy on a contending team) it may be more realistic for Treliving to get him locked up before the end of the season. With is wife due to give birth to their third child, Schenn may prefer to stay in Western Canada, but ultimately that decision is out of his control.
The Flames are evaluating a lot of options right now and we will be getting more clarity on their direction over the next few games.
But given the murderous row of teams they have to face and Treliving’s reluctance to add to a group on the outside looking in, I don’t think it’s a slam dunk that the Flames will be big players by the time the clock strikes 3pm ET on March 3.
