NHL Insider expects the Calgary Flames to aggressively pursue trade opportunities

The Calgary Flames had their sights set on a much stronger start in the North Division in 2020-21, but with an 8-9-1 record through the club's first 18 games of the season, it may be time for a change in Calgary.

During his most recent edition of 31 Thoughts, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman has suggested that the Flames are looking at potentially mixing things up and getting involved in the trade market in an attempt to change the make-up of the roster.

"I think they will aggressively try to change their mix... You're probably at the point where you're looking at this group and saying, you know what, this group had its run and now we're going to do some other things," Friedman stated on the podcast, insinuating that GM Brad Treliving could be on the brink of making a splash.

By now, everyone's heard about forward Sam Bennett's desire to leave the Flames in favor of a fresh environment and a new challenge, and some may also recall Sportsnet's Eric Francis commenting earlier this season about his suspicion that Johnny Gaudreau would be a Philadelphia Flyer sooner than later. These could represent two of the biggest potential changes for the current Flames group, though there are a few other intriguing names in the mix who could also be candidates for a trade.

Center Sean Monahan has been a member of the Calgary Flames since being drafted by the club 6th overall in 2013. His 196 goals and 423 points in 557 career NHL games, including three 30-goal seasons and two 27-goal seasons would be enticing to just about any club in the league. Given the fact that he has also managed to produce at a high level in the postseason, with 21 points in 30 career playoff games, the Flames should have no shortage of suitors lining up for a chance to acquire the 26-year-old Brampton, Ontario native if Treliving was to make him available.

The tricky part of any deal involving Monahan is that starting this season, he had a partial no-trade clause kick in, giving him the right to submit a list of 10 teams that he could not be traded to.

The intriguing part of any deal involving Monahan is that he has term remaining on his current deal, signed through 2022-23 at a very reasonable $6.375M, given the position he plays and what he brings to any team both in the regular season and in the postseason.

With the Flames currently sitting in 6th place in the North Division, it would not shock me to see Treliving pull the trigger on a deal in the coming week or two in an attempt to stop the bleeding and turn the season around for his club. Of course, there are quarantine protocols to consider when dealing with teams South of the border, so dealing within the North Division seems more likely to try to address the team's more immediate needs.

Calgary did have a good night Monday, defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-0

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