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A check in on some former Calgary Flames going into the NHL Playoffs

Originally posted on The Win Column | By Cody Misyk | Last updated Apr 14, 2026 12:28 PM ET

The Calgary Flames finally committed to a fire sale at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. MacKenzie Weegar and Nazem Kadri were dealt to some new teams, while Rasmus Andersson was traded earlier in the season. These trades have assisted in providing the younger players with chances to prove themselves at the NHL level (Matvei Gridin, Zayne Parekh, and Hunter Brzustewicz). The former Flames have gotten some games under their belts with their new teams. Let’s take a look at how they are doing so far.

Rasmus Andersson, Vegas Golden Knights

Defenceman Rasmus Andersson was the first veteran to go. He was dealt to the Golden Knights back in January and gave the Flames an exceptional return. The Flames got Zach Whitecloud, Abram Wiebe, a first-round pick, and a second-round pick in return. Considering that Andersson is a UFA after this season, this was probably the best return Craig Conroy could have gotten. Andersson was one of the top defencemen for the Flames and has now joined a strong Golden Knights team.

Honestly, to this point, this trade has been underwhelming for the Golden Knights. Through 30 games, Andersson has posted six goals and 14 points for the Knights. Andersson’s individual performance has not been the issue. In fact, the team has struggled since making this trade. The Knights hold a 13–15–5 record since the Andersson trade, and might end up finishing third in the Pacific Division.

After making this trade, there is no doubt that the Knights wanted to push for the Pacific Division crown. They certainly still have a chance at winning the division, but they likely wanted it to be easier. The poor, inconsistent play of the Knights led to them firing head coach Bruce Cassidy and hiring John Tortorella. As of this moment, Tortorella seems to have helped turn the Knights in the right direction.

If Andersson does not sign an extension in Vegas, was this trade a make-up fleece for the Noah Hanifin trade?

MacKenzie Weegar, Utah Mammoth

The MacKenzie Weegar trade was another good one for the Flames. As much as it sucked to move on from such a reliable defenceman, this trade was worth it. Close to the 2026 deadline, Conroy dealt Weegar to the Mammoth and received Olli Maatta, Jonathan Castagna, and three second-round picks in return. This sets up the Flames for success at the upcoming NHL Draft, gives them another solid prospect, and provides them a potential trade chip at next year’s deadline.

Weegar was a great two-way defenceman with the Flames, but has struggled a bit to fit in in Utah. Through 15 games, Weegar has only one goal and four points as a Mammoth. On the defensive side, he got walked a few times and lost a tough fight against Ryan Hartman.

Ryan Hartman vs. MacKenzie Weegar pic.twitter.com/VsEmzHJCWo
— Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) March 11, 2026

Weegar is slated as a top-pair defenceman alongside Mikhail Sergachev. He is also on the second power play unit and the first penalty kill unit. Since acquiring Weegar, the Mammoth have posted a 10–6–2 record. Honestly, I think this trade was even for both sides. Yes, Weegar has had a slow start in Utah, but I have no doubt that he will be more comfortable at the start of next season. Flames fans had lots to be excited about as Weegar returned to Calgary in an emotional reunion on Sunday.

Nazem Kadri, Colorado Avalanche

The Nazem Kadri trade came in at the last minute of the deadline and sent a huge surge of excitement through the Flames fanbase. Yes, it sucked to lose a leader like Kadri, but this trade completed the sellout at the 2026 deadline. Conroy traded Kadri and a fourth-round pick to the Avalanche in exchange for Victor Olofsson, Max Curran, a second-round pick, and a first-round pick.

Since joining the Avalanche, Kadri’s offensive output has continued. The veteran forward has nine points through 16 games since returning to Colorado. Unfortunately, Kadri went down with an injury against the St. Louis Blues and has missed a few games. This injury was not anything serious and will not keep Kadri out for long. Even with Kadri’s injury, the Avalanche have continued to dominate the NHL. They have an 11–6–2 record since the trade deadline and have clinched the Presidents’ Trophy for being the best team in the regular season.

Like the Weegar trade, I think this trade was good for both sides. The Avalanche absolutely bolstered their roster going into the playoffs, while the Flames loaded up with more picks and prospects. Another positive from this trade is that Flames fans may get to see a Kadri return to finish the season. The Flames host the Avalanche on Tuesday in their second-to-last game of the regular season. Overall, it will be a happy end to the season, with some former fan favourites returning to the Dome.

Looking back at these trades, which one has most benefited the Flames moving forward? Did Conroy cook?

This article first appeared on The Win Column and was syndicated with permission.

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