Should the Flames target Sharks forward Luke Kunin in a trade?

Could this be a fit with the Flames?

By no means does this solve any of the problems the Flames are currently experiencing. As a 27-year-old pending UFA, Kunin does not fit into the team’s long-term plans. He wouldn’t be an answer to the Flames’ offensive struggles and would blend in as just another checking forward—a role the team already has in abundance.

What Kunin would provide is an upgrade over Kevin Rooney. He offers more offensive upside than Rooney and is arguably better defensively, particularly on the penalty kill where he has face-off percentage above 50%. Plus, he’s the right-shot centre the Flames have been searching for all season—minus the high skill, youth, and controllability they ideally want.

The general consensus is that the Flames are not looking to make a splash at the trade deadline, either by buying big or selling off major assets. A minor upgrade among the forward group and the off-loading of expendable assets, such as potentially Dan Vladar, is all that’s really expected before Friday. A move like this is exactly in line with that approach.

Overall, while it wouldn’t be a significant move or one to get overly excited about, Kunin would be an improvement to the current roster. If the cost is a third- or fourth-round pick, it’s not a deal that wouldn’t cost the Flames any significant pieces of the future. At the end of the day, it’s a low-risk, low-reward trade that doesn’t really move the needle.

What do you think? Would this be enough to change anything for the Flames? Are there better fourth-line upgrades available, or should they stick with what they have?