THE The Calgary Flames are one of the big surprises at the start of the 2024-25 National Hockey League campaign. After missing back-to-back playoffs and trading away a ton of talent over the past year, this team was not expected to be competing for a playoff spot next spring. But after seven games, the Flames are 5-1-1 and in first place in the Pacific Division.

It’s a pretty encouraging start for Craig Conroy and the front office, especially since Nikita Zadorov, Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev, Jacob Markstrom and Andrew Mangiapane are no longer part of the equation. Even though we’re still early in the season, Calgary looks like a team that could stay in the playoffs until next April.

This will be especially true if Conroy ends up making the team even better on the trade market. And according to Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, that’s exactly what the executive is trying to do.

Flames reportedly looking to add top 6 player

Seravalli reported last week that Conroy inquires about mid-six center with a few teams.

“A lot of people were expecting that at some point this year, with all the names that were announced last year, they might move on from the guys. It’s actually quite the opposite,” Seravalli said on Prime Video’s Coast to Coast.

The hockey insider continued: “There isn’t usually a lot of business activity to start a season, but I’m told Flames general manager Craig Conroy has been working the phones in recent days to trying to find a center to add to the Calgary Flames in their middle. -six years old, preferably someone who matches his age, preferably if possible in a perfect world, a right shooting center at that.

Currently, the Flames have four left-handed centers: Nazem Kadri, Mikael Backlund, Martin Pospisil and Justin Kirkland; they are all left-handed. Although Conroy hasn’t been able to complete a trade over the past week, it’s certainly encouraging for Flames fans to see that the general manager is trying to improve his club in real time. Calgary changed the narrative at the start of the 2024-25 season, and the team is looking to get even better.

One team that can’t be called good is the winless San Jose Sharks, who for the second straight season failed to win a game in their first eight tries. It took the Sharks 2023-24 until Game 12 to achieve that elusive first victory. And this year’s iteration is an abysmal 0-6-2.

It’s clear the rebuild is going to take a few more years in California, and the Sharks have a key pending unrestricted free agent that San Jose general manager Mike Grier could look to move for draft capital: Mikael Granlund .

Sharks’ Mikael Granlund could be a great addition

Granlund has been the undisputed best player on the Sharks roster since being traded from the Pittsburgh Penguins before the 2023-24 season. He was exceptional last year, collecting 12 goals and 60 points in 69 regular season games for the worst team in the league. That was 15 points more than the next highest scorer.

The 32-year-old is a proven player, having eclipsed the 60-point mark four times during his career. Granlund started with the Minnesota Wild and spent time with the Nashville Predators before being traded from the Preds to the Pens in 2023.

There’s a good chance Granlund is on the move again, as he’s one of the older forwards on the roster and his contract is expiring. The Finnish striker is playing the final season of a contract that will earn him $5 million in 2024-2025; he will be an unrestricted free agent next summer.

In 2024-25, Granlund was once again San Jose’s best player. He plays at a point-per-game pace while centering the top line and being the focal point of the top unit on the power play; he is up to three goals and nine points in eight games.

While there is a chance Grier tries to re-sign Granlund, it doesn’t make much sense considering the rebuild will still take at least a few years. At 32 years old, one has to wonder what level of offense he will be able to produce in a few years, even though Granlund has become one of the most underrated forwards in the league over the past few seasons.

He’s not a good shooter, but if the price is right, the Flames could certainly consider adding Granlund as they look to make the playoffs. And Conroy would be willing to part with a first-round pick.

Are the Flames ready to trade their 1st round pick?

Conroy told Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman that he would consider trading a first-round pick if circumstances were favorable.

“Sending out a first-round pick for a guy who would be here for a year doesn’t make a lot of sense,” Conroy said. “But if it was a first-round pick for a guy who would be here long term, we would be open to that.”

If the Flames were able to lock up Granlund as part of the deal, it could make sense. Whether or not the veteran deserves a first-round pick is another story, especially considering how the season has started. But Granlund has proven he can produce over multiple seasons, and he could be a great injection into the Flames’ lineup.

If Granlund isn’t locked up by the Sharks, there’s a good chance Grier trades him before the 2025 deadline. And Conroy should look into it, especially since he can line up at center and on the wing, and that he has played excellent hockey over the last few years.

The Flames could also use another defenseman to play behind Mackenzie Weegar and Rasmus Andersson, and it’s possible Conroy will be busy over the next few months as he looks to improve several areas of the lineup.

It will be intriguing to see if he pulls the trigger on bringing a player of Granlund’s caliber to Calgary.