Breaking down trade clauses on the Calgary Flames roster

Trade rumours have been at the forefront of the news cycle for the Calgary Flames this season. Such is the case when you’re sitting last place in the NHL despite calling yourself a playoff team.

If the Flames decide to start shipping out bodies, trade clauses and protections could play a major factor in trade discussions. Here’s a refresher on which players hold clauses, and what those clauses entail.

NMC (no-movement clause)

Jonathan Huberdeau

Jonathan Huberdeau may have the least useful no-movement clause in the NHL. Let’s be honest with ourselves, his contract is a no-movement clause in itself. No team is ever going to ask to acquire Huberdeau and his bloated deal, meaning he’s not moving regardless of any clauses. With that said, if a team did want to acquire Huberdeau, he’d have to give his full approval. In other words, don’t expect Huberdeau to leave Calgary anytime soon.

Mikael Backlund

The only other Flame with a full no-movement clause is the captain, Mikael Backlund. After over 15 years as a Flame, Backlund has earned the right to decide when he wants to leave. He committed to the Flames back in 2024, and the organization thanked him by giving him a full NMC. While his recent multi-year extension was a bit of a head scratcher, it’s not surprising he was awarded another NMC.

At this point in his career, it will be up to Backlund to decide if he wants to chase his first Stanley Cup or stick it out in Calgary until he retires.

NTC (no-trade clause)

MacKenzie Weegar

While he doesn’t have a NMC, MacKenzie Weegar has the next best thing in a full NTC. In other words, he can’t be traded anywhere without his approval. While this doesn’t prevent him from being waived or sent to the minors like a NMC does, his full NTC ensures Weegar cannot be involved in any trades if he doesn’t want to be.

Of all of the Flames’ veterans, Weegar seems like the most likely one to stick around long-term. If the team did want to move him, though, or received an offer too good to decline, they’d need Weegar’s approval first.

M-NTC (10 team-approved list)

Blake Coleman

Next up in terms of trade protection would be veteran Blake Coleman, who has a modified no-trade clause. The clause allows Coleman to pick 10 teams he would allow a trade to, essentially blocking a trade to the remaining 21 teams in the NHL. This is one to keep an eye on, as Coleman is among the top veteran names the Flames could look to move if things continue to go south.

While there would no doubt be a ton of suitors looking to acquire Coleman, the Flames will have to hope that one of those teams is among the 10 Coleman is willing to go to.

M-NTC (13-team no trade list)

Nazem Kadri

Nazem Kadri’s trade protection was a point of contention earlier this season. What was once assumed to be a full no-movement clause for the duration of this season, Elliotte Friedman dropped a bomb last week that Kadri’s protection actually shifted to a modified 13-team no-trade list as of this season. In other words, trading Kadri this season just got a whole lot easier for Craig Conroy.

Kadri can now only block a trade to 13 of 31 teams, instead of blocking a trade to anyone he wishes. This will allow the Flames a gigantic opportunity to move Kadri this season if they wish to.

M-NTC (10-team no trade list)

Yegor Sharangovich

No, this isn’t a typo. Yegor Sharangovich has a 10-team no-trade list built into his new five-year contract, meaning he can block a trade to 10 of 31 teams if the Flames want to trade him. Much like Huberdeau, Sharangovich’s clause is pretty redundant at this point, as his contract alone likely prevents any team wanting to acquire him anyway.

M-NTC (six-team no-trade list)

Rasmus Andersson

Perhaps no Flames trade clause will be more front and centre this season than Rasmus Andersson’s. The 28-year-old is a pending UFA, and everything has pointed towards the veteran parting ways with the Flames one way or another. With the team almost certainly needing to trade him at some point this season, Andersson will only be able to block a trade to six of 31 teams.

With that said, as we saw in the summer, Andersson also possesses the ability to block a trade by refusing to sign with interested teams. This will be an interesting one to watch as the season progresses and teams become willing to trade for Andersson without an extension.