With the Flames expected to have another rebuilding season in 2026-27, GM Craig Conroy is expected to be a seller. In an interview with Pierre LeBrun for The Athletic, Conroy acknowledged that defenseman Zach Whitecloud has indicated that he’d like to be part of the long-term solution in Calgary.
Since being acquired last season in the Rasmus Andersson trade, the 29-year-old is playing a much bigger role, averaging over 20 minutes per game. Signed through next season at a $2.75MM cap charge, teams have been interested since last season but Conroy also wants to keep quality veterans around his young core.
It’s safe to say it will take a significant offer for them to consider moving him. The same shouldn’t be the case for center Ryan Strome.
While Conroy praised how the veteran has come in after being acquired at the trade deadline from Anaheim last season, he noted Strome’s case will take some time to evaluate with a decision coming before the March 1st deadline. Strome has a $5MM expiring contract and has four points in 11 games so far this season.
He’s someone the Flames are quite likely to move by then. More from the Pacific: Still with the Flames, they didn’t make it through Wednesday’s game against Edmonton unscathed on the injury front.
The team announced (Twitter link) that goaltender Devin Cooley (lower body) and winger Brennan Othmann (upper body) exited with injuries and did not return. Cooley appeared to be banged up in a collision in the first period while Othmann didn’t return after getting into an early fight.
The Sharks are among the teams showing interest in Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson, Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic relayed in a recent TSN Insider Trading San Jose would be a logical fit for the restricted free agent given their young core although affording him on the contract he’ll eventually sign could be challenging, given the long-term commitments handed out this summer.
At this point, Detroit’s preference remains to get the blueliner to re-sign before the December 1st deadline but if he won’t do so, the Sharks would be an intriguing team for him to potentially join. Oilers goaltender Devon Levi faced some shots in practice as he works his way back from an undisclosed injury sustained last week, notes Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal.
However, third-stringer Matt Tomkins will be accompanying the team on their three-game road trip so Levi will likely need a few more days to recover, at least. The 24-year-old has taken over the starting role in the early going this season, winning six of seven starts while posting a 3.11 GAA and an .887 SV%.