It was almost 30 years ago when the Detroit Red Wings and Calgary Flames became dance partners and hooked up for a hockey trade. Calgary had a wealth of goaltenders at the time, with Mike Vernon, Trevor Kidd, Jason Muzzatti, and Andrei Trefilov all vying for playing time. Detroit was desperate for a starting goaltender, and on June 29, 1994, Scotty Bowman, Detroit’s coach and director of player personnel, and Doug Risebrough, general manager of the Flames pulled the trigger, and a trade was consummated. After eight seasons as the Flames’ No. 1 tender, Vernon officially became a Red Wing, and the Flames received defenseman Steve Chaisson in return.

Since that trade, there has been nothing of significance between the two clubs. However, that was then, and this is now. Steve Yzerman is t

“Ranking the Red Wings’ Offseason Priorities: Detroit’s Needs & Targets,” by Tony Wolak, when I thought now might be a good time for the Flames and Red Wings to become reacquainted with the trade table. Wolak identified a whole litany of needs for Detroit, and it occurred to me that the Flames are facing serious salary cap issues as they try to get back into Cup contention. I have put together three trade possibilities for consideration.

NHL

Flames deny Penguins permission to contact Brad Treliving

 

Jacob Markstrom for Draft Pick

One of the areas of concern identified by Tony Wolak for Yzerman is goaltending. Wolak specifically referred to the backup position, but I have heard that the Red Wings are looking for overall improvement in their goaltending depth chart. Calgary may not have the wealth of goalies that they had back in 1994, but they could be persuaded to part with Jacob Markstrom if the price is right.

He was not having his greatest season last year, but he did seem to get his mojo back after the All-Star Break and performed closer to his Vezina consideration play of the previous season. With Detroit’s Ville Husso under contract for the next two years at an average annual value (AAV) of $4.75 million, Yzerman may not wish to take on the 33-year-old Markstrom’s four-year, $6 million AAV contract, but if he is serious about improving goaltending, then I think Calgary could persuade Markstrom to waive his no-move clause. Likely, Calgary would want Detroit’s 2023 17th-overall pick as a return.

Benefits for Calgary: frees up $6 million in cap space and makes room for Dustin Wolf to move up from the American Hockey League.
Benefits for Detroit: big improvement to their goaltending depth chart.

he general manager (GM) of the Red Wings, and the Flames are in the process of hiring a new GM. I was reading a The Hockey Writers (THW) article