Analyzing a potential fit between the Calgary Flames and Olen Zellweger

By now, almost everyone should know that the Calgary Flames have put a focus on becoming younger. There is a desire to build a decently competitive team for years when the new arena in Calgary is fully constructed. Tons of focus has been on finding that young stud centre to complement the Flames’ solid core that is being built. I think this focus has drawn attention away from another weakness with the future left side of the defence.

With the Flames trending younger, to look for an upgrade for now and in the future for the left side, they may not have to look far. The Anaheim Ducks have been an interesting team to keep tabs on with their younger players. Their left side is jammed as of now. Potentially, this could lead to Calgary-born, Olen Zellweger, hitting the market.

A review of Zellweger’s career

Juniors

After a solid CSSHL career, Zellweger was drafted 42nd overall by the Everett Silvertips in the 2018 WHL draft. He would play his first full year during the 2019–20 season. Zellweger wouldn’t serve a huge role in his first season, putting up only 12 points in 58 games for the Silvertips.

Zellweger became regarded highly in the incredibly short 2020–21 season. In just 11 games, he surpassed his totals from last season with 13 points. Zellweger was now poised to go in the high rounds of one of the hardest drafts to scout. Shining with his offensive flair and elite skating, the Anaheim Ducks happily jumped to select him 34th overall in the 2021 draft.

Zellweger would return to juniors the following season and finally play a full season with a big role. To say he heavily impressed would be an understatement, as he put up 78 points in 55 games, leading all defencemen in points. This helped win the best defenceman in the WHL. In the playoffs, Zellweger and the Silvertips were unfortunately upset by the Vancouver Giants in just six games. On the positive side, during the 2021–22 season, Zellweger would win gold once again with Canada, this time at the World Juniors. In the seven games, he put up 11 points.

Again, Zellweger would head back to the WHL. Starting the season in Everett, he would produce 28 points in 23 games. However, the Silvertips weren’t as strong a team as they had been in prior seasons. Zellweger was then on his way to the Kamloops Blazers. Zellweger would pick up the pace with 22 goals and 52 points in just 32 games for the Blazers. He would best defenceman in the WHL again. In the playoffs, Kamloops would fall short in the semi-finals to the Seattle Thunderbirds in six games. Zellweger was phenomenal, having 11 goals and 29 points in just 14 games.

Pro-career

Ageing out in the 2023–24 season, Zellweger finally made the jump to professional hockey. Not quite NHL-ready, he would join the Ducks’ AHL affiliate in the San Diego Gulls. Zellweger continued showing tremendous promise with the Gulls. In 44 games, He would find himself producing 37 points on a Gulls team that was not so good. The blueliner received his first call-up in January of 2024 and made his NHL debut on the 23rd against the Buffalo Sabres. During the game, he received his first NHL point. Zellweger would play three more games before being reassigned to the Gulls at the end of the month.

Zellweger was then recalled exactly a month later on March 1st, and spent the rest of his season with the Ducks. He played 22 more games, adding eight points to his 1, including his first-ever NHL goal against the Vancouver Canucks.

To no one’s surprise, Zellwegar was on the Ducks’ opening night roster of 2024–25. The season was a little shaky on the Ducks’ defence. Many players would be healthy scratched for several games, sometimes with no apparent reason. Zellweger wasn’t an exception to this. Sometimes it was one game at a time, sometimes it was three or four. In total, Zellweger was in the press box for twenty games. The inconsistent ice-time didn’t help either, as for a handful of stretches he’d play 19–21 minutes a night while others he’d play only 15–17 minutes.

Despite this, Zellweger had 20 points in 62 games. While not exactly what many people were probably expecting from Zellweger, it is still solid production, especially considering the inconsistencies that Zellweger faced this season in terms of getting to play.

Rumours start to swirl

With how the Ducks organisation has treated certain young players, many reports have been pointing towards a possible trade for Zellweger. The Ducks’ left side of the defence currently looks stacked for the future. They have Jackson LaCombe, who had a complete breakout season. Also in their arsenal is Pavel Mintyukov, a 10th overall selection in 2022, who had a promising rookie campaign and was also a victim of the defence carousel this past year. Another is Stian Solberg, a first-round pick from 2024 who is continuing to show strong stability in his two-way game. And of course, Olen Zellweger.

With how the Ducks have treated their younger players in recent years, especially how the recently fired head coach Greg Cronin did, rumours have begun to speculate around Zellweger. A few reports have come out to wonder about the idea, thanks to the logjam at left defence. Some think they’ll for sure trade him at some point, whether that be now, during the season, or further into the future. LaCombe is not going anywhere with his breakout, and Mintyukov is regarded with higher potential. So will Zellweger stay as the third-best left-handed defenceman?

Elliotte Friedman did report that teams have called about Mintyukov and Zellweger, but the Ducks have said they are not going to do that.

A source has shared that Zellweger has had frustration grow with how his deployment was handled in the prior year. If this continues into the following year, don’t be surprised if Zellweger requests a trade seeking more playing time to really set the fire into flame.

Should the Flames be interested?

With Zellweger being 22 years old by the time the season begins, he would fit in perfectly with the timeline the Flames are crafting. He was also born in Calgary, which adds some interest. Zellweger’s agent, Dave Cowan, also has strong connections to the Flames, representing Dryden Hunt and Justin Kirkland, as well as former Flames Juuso Valimaki and Glenn Gawdin.

Some concern about him being undersized are fair. Zellweger is a defenceman who sparks some debate because he is for sure a talented player and offensively gifted, but would he really fit what the Flames should be seeking?

The positives

A player like Zellweger is someone who shouldn’t be passed up if the opportunity arrives, especially for cheap. He’s a dynamic skater, possessing incredible four-way mobility. He shines especially with his agility and edgework, and complements it with stride and speed. Zellweger’s offensive tools are also the type to blossom when fully tapped into.

Glimpses of being an incredible passer have shown. He has displayed vision and smarts in his playmaking abilities. While he doesn’t use it as much, his shot also has some flair to it. A dart of a wrister that can be lasered past goalies. Smooth and quick hands also tie into it all and make a very promising package if fully unlocked.

Between his fantastic skating and silky puck control, Zellweger is a great puck mover. He’s the type of guy to cycle the zone or quarterback your power play. Controlled exits are a strength of his and make him a good option in the rush.

This is the type of defenceman I would like to have on the current-day Flames. No full-time Flames defenceman from last season has the skating or puck-moving abilities that Zellweger displays. He would bring much-needed speed and dynamism to the Flames’ back-end. His quarterbacking abilities on the power play are something the team has needed for a long time. Zellweger is the type of player you pair with MacKenzie Weegar and see him explode with success.

The negatives

The Flames have plenty of defencemen prospects in the system that sound familiar. The Flames’ top prospect, Zayne Parekh, plays the game Zellweger does, but better. Parekh is built around his elite skating, specifically his agility, while being a fantastic passer, shooter, and puck handler. He’s poised to be the Flames’ number one defenceman for a long time. Some hiccups on the defensive end and a little undersized, just like Zellweger.

Usually, there’s no issue here; you’d take having two defencemen like this all the time. However, most will point to the fact that the Flames have a few more young defencemen who fit this mould. Those would be Hunter Brzustewicz and Henry Mews. Both are slightly undersized, have some defensive issues, and have a stellar offensive game. Guys that can quarterback your power play if they hit, and will have a strong focus in the offensive zone opposed to the defensive. Parekh and these two all play the right side. So, in the best-case scenario that they’re all NHLers, you want more defensive guys on the left. Zellweger isn’t that.

The argument that spending your assets where you’re already rich is useless can be true here. If there are already three young defencemen who match Zellweger’s style, why get another?

Would Zellweger be worth it?

Zellweger would be a great addition to the Flames. He already has established games under his belt and, at worst, is an alright offensive defenceman. I understand that with the amount of offensive defencemen prospects in the system, it can become a concern, but there is no guarantee that they will hit. Parekh seems like someone you can bet on being an impact player no matter what, but Brzustewicz and Mews are still up in the air.

Zellweger is great on the rush and through the transition, while also having great offensive tools. Yes, the defensive game is still a little shaky, but pairing him with a trusty guy like Weegar could do wonders. He can likely immediately be your second power play quarterback behind Parekh. Also, having one of the offensive defencemen be on the left instead of the right brings a natural versatility to the lineup.

A Zellweger deal isn’t one that I think gets done until halfway through the season or next offseason. Perhaps he and the Ducks under Joel Quenville find a balance and there’s no move at all. If the Flames are allowed to acquire Zellweger, I think they should do it. I don’t think the price would be incredibly expensive, and he has decent experience with plenty of potential left.