The Calgary Flames have already reshuffled their roster considerably this season, shipping Nazem Kadri back to Colorado and moving MacKenzie Weegar — a key piece from the 2022 Matthew Tkachuk megadeal — to the Utah Mammoth. But one veteran who stayed put despite swirling trade chatter is Blake Coleman.
According to NHL insider Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, that situation is far from settled. The Flames are open to moving Coleman, but only under one specific condition: the return has to be a hockey trade, not a futures deal.
“I’m told both options remain on the table. Calgary is willing to make a hockey trade involving Coleman but not a picks deal,” LeBrun wrote. “The Flames have so many draft picks, it doesn’t make sense for them to gather more. But if there’s a hockey trade that makes sense, they would look at that.”
Translation: Calgary isn’t interested in stockpiling more draft capital. They want a player — likely a roster-ready piece — coming back the other way. That narrows the field of potential trade partners, but it also signals that the Flames aren’t desperate to dump Coleman’s cap hit.
Why Coleman Matters
The 33-year-old winger signed with Calgary as a free agent in 2021 after helping the Tampa Bay Lightning win back-to-back Stanley Cups. He has one year left on his deal carrying a $4.9 million cap hit. That contract is short enough to be movable but expensive enough that some contenders may balk.
Coleman has logged 693 career regular-season games split between the New Jersey Devils, Lightning, and Flames, totaling 170 goals and 155 assists. He’s also added 12 goals and 19 assists in 65 career playoff games — exactly the kind of depth scoring and physical edge contending teams look for at the deadline.
Both Sides Still Talking
LeBrun also noted the Flames haven’t closed the door on keeping Coleman around. If no trade materializes in the coming weeks, Calgary is reportedly open to discussing a contract extension. That dual-track approach — shopping while also preparing to extend — gives general manager Craig Conroy flexibility.
For a Flames team already deep in a retool, moving Coleman for a younger asset would accelerate the rebuild. But holding onto a proven postseason performer might be just as valuable if management believes the team can compete sooner than expected.
Either way, the next few weeks will determine whether Coleman finishes his career in Calgary or adds another chapter somewhere else.
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