Category Archives: Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames forward Mikael Backlund takes notice of trade rumours
For the record, Mikael Backlund wants to stay.
The Calgary Flames centre is suddenly the subject of trade speculation, with TSN’s Darren Dreger reporting Friday on Twitter that four or five teams have ‘kicked tires’ on Backlund and the Flames are ‘willing to move him.’
RUMOURS DU JOUR – From the Ottawa Sun
Three teams say there is a lot of chatter and most of it is coming from the Sunshine State. After sending Versteeg back to the Hawks, Florida GM Dale Tallon isn’t done. He’d like to move RW Scottie Upshall, LW Tomas Fleischman, RW Brad Boyes, RW Tomas Kopecky, C Marcel Goc and C Shawn Matthias before the deadline.
Teams reportedly asking Flames about Mikael Backlund
4 or 5 teams have kicked tires on Calgary's Mikael Backlund. Flames willing to move him.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) November 23, 2013
On the Mike Cammalleri trade speculation
Cammalleri, 31, is a pending unrestricted free agent. He’s said he’s “open” to signing an extension, but does he fit into the club’s plans?
Speaking of which, here’s ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun with the second reason we’re writing about Cammalleri today:
Are the Flames about to make some major moves ?
Give Flames GM Jay Feaster credit, his team needed a defenceman and he acquired Ladislav Smid for a goalie prospect the club felt was well behind Jonathan Gillies and a centre in Roman Horak who hadn’t proven he could be a top-nine skater.
With Smid’s age — 27 — he’s still in his prime and should serve as a good mentor for the likes of Patrick Sieloff and Tyler Wotherspoon in the future.
Here are three players who, some way, some how, might help Tampa skate through a tough spot.
Mike Cammalleri
With seven goals in 10 games this year, Cammalleri is off to a fantastic start after missing seven contests with a hand injury. A pending unrestricted free agent this summer, Cammalleri, at 31, doesn’t figure to stick around for the Flames’ rebuild, but will be a major bargaining chip if Calgary puts him in play. That means he won’t come cheap.
Could Tampa go afer Cammalleri?
Just wondering, would the Tampa Bay Lightning have interest in Cammalleri with Steven Stamkos on the shelf for a long time due to that broken leg? Cammalleri’s strong start, including eight goals in 11 games, could make him the sniper the Lightning may need to stay in the hunt for top spot in the Eastern Conference … C Roman Horak was the first player in the Ladislav Smid trade to play for a new team, and the now-former Flames centre scored in his debut with the AHL’s Oklahoma City Barons in Tuesday’s 3-2 victory over the San Antonio Rampage … Really starting to believe Sharks C/W Patrick Marleau is playing his way onto Team Canada for the Winter Olympics.
http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/11/13/moral-victories-for-flames-getting-tiresome–wins-would-be-nice–stempniak-skating-but-still-in-walking-boot–cammy-to-bolts
OILERS TRADE SMID TO FLAMES, REACH AGREEMENT WITH BRYZGALOV
The Edmonton Oilers have a verbal agreement in place to sign goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov to a one-year contract, the team announced.
Bryzgalov’s deal was contingent upon the completion of the Oilers’ trade with the Calgary Flames that cleared defenceman Ladislav Smid’s US$3.5-million cap hit off the books. It was not immediately clear what Bryzgalov’s contract was worth, but a source said recent negotiations involved talks about a pro-rated US$3-million salary.
Flames may be looking to make some moves
Calgary Flames GM Jay Feaster has been fielding phone calls on his veteran players, reports Sportsnet’s Roger Millions.
Poor Flyers start fuels trade buzz
In their history, the Flyers have only made one somewhat significant trade in October after the start of the season: an eight-player deal with Pittsburgh on Oct. 23, 1983, that landed Rich Sutter.
So far, the Flyers have shown interest in the Flames, a team in the midst of a rebuild expected to finish near the bottom of the standings. Complicating matters even more is the fact that the Flames are off to a 1-0-2 start.