NHL Rumour Report says other teams have shown varying interest in Flames defenseman Zach Whitecloud, plus centers Morgan Frost and Ryan Strome.
Calgary beat Philadelphia 4-3 in overtime Sunday night, but the Flames sit 22nd in the NHL at 8-9-1. They have also lost defenseman Kevin Bahl for the season, and a crowded forward group is waiting to get healthy.
The report adds that young forward Connor Zary "remains available in the market," per the 11/8 column.
-
Nothing here says a deal is close. It describes interest, and interest is the cheapest thing in the league in November.
Whitecloud is a 29-year-old right-shot... the sheet doesn't say that, so keep it to what's known: he's undrafted, has 3 points in 18 games and a -5 rating, and he scored his first goal as a Flame on Sunday. He also played 22:19 in that win, the most of any Calgary skater in the game.
Frost, 27, was a first-round pick of the Flyers in 2017 and has 12 points through 18 games, including 3 power-play goals. Strome, 33, went fifth overall in 2011 and has 6 points. Both are listed on deals that run through this season.
[TABLE_COMPARE_SEASON: CGY | Morgan Frost | Ryan Strome | Zach Whitecloud | Connor Zary]
Zary is the most interesting name for other teams. He was the Flames' own first-round pick in 2020, he is 25, and he has 39 goals over 193 NHL games. This season he has played twice.
Who would Calgary actually move with Bahl out?
Mike Gould wrote that the forward logjam has dominated Flames talk this week, and that GM Craig Conroy has options once everyone is healthy.
-
Jonathan Huberdeau is listed on injured reserve until at least Nov 21, and Samuel Honzek until at least Nov 15. Brennan Othmann is day-to-day. Once they return, somebody up front is squeezed out, and Zary is the obvious candidate.
Whitecloud is a different case. Darren Dreger said earlier that Conroy won't simply add a defenseman after Kevin Bahl's season-ending Achilles injury. Dealing one away would run against that.
Moving Whitecloud while the blue line is already short makes no sense for a team trying to climb from 22nd. Frost, with the production and the expiring deal, and Strome, at 33, are the names that make more sense on a market list. Zary is the one Calgary can afford to lose, though that doesn't mean it should.
The Flames host the Rangers on Wednesday, and contenders watching that game will be doing some scouting of their own.
Quick hits
HALL OF FAME: Patrice Bergeron thanked Bruins fans during his Hockey Hall of Fame speech tonight, Belle Fraser reports. Nobody in Boston will be surprised he made sure to say it.
-
NEW YORK ISLANDERS: Andrew Gross reports that Ilya Sorokin is in net in San Jose, with Yaroslav Askarov opposite him for the Sharks. It's a goalie duel worth watching.
-
GOALIE WATCH: The Coming In Hot Sens account says Linus Ullmark is expected back in goal for the Senators against the Capitals tonight. Ottawa will gladly take him back.
-
INJURY: The Avalanche placed Josh Manson on long-term injured reserve and recalled Alex Gagne. That's a hit to the defensive depth in Colorado.
-
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Calgary Flames hit hard by Kevin Bahl injury news
