With Flames hockey postponed until at least after Christmas, we’ll be continuing our dive into acquisition options that General Manager Brad Treliving has available to him this season. With the perpetually present absence of a right shooting, top six right wing on the roster; here are a two prime candidates that could join the Flames and contribute immediately.


Joe Pavelski
Cap Hit: Seven million until end of season
Trade Clauses: M-NTC – Three team trade list
Age: 37
27 GP 9G 13A 22Pts
Shoots: Right

Dallas currently sits 13th in the Western Conference. If they can’t get the ship righted in the coming weeks, Jim Nill is going to start looking into getting assets out of expiring contracts. The 38 year old Joe Pavelski would be their most valuable asset in that regard. One major obstacle being that he would need to be convinced to move as he has firm control of his destiny with a 3 team trade list NTC.

With the Flames currently looking at $3,054,755 in cap space by the trade deadline, the idea of acquiring Joe Pavelski from the Dallas Stars has suddenly become quite palatable. The Plover, Wisconsin native has been the straw that stirs the drink for Dallas’ offence for the last two seasons with the team.

This year is no different. He leads the team in points and is second on the team in goals. His ability to tip in shots is so ahead of everyone else that his ability to make plays often gets overshadowed.

A significant aspect of getting him would be his right shot — something that the Flames are in short supply of. We can discuss paying a king’s ransom for a young stud defenseman like Jakob Chychrun or debate what discount Treliving could get on Mark Giordano, but a right shot top six forward is a closer to a need than a want for the roster.

His playoff experience would be invaluable as well. Acquiring the veteran Pavelski would be a realistic move that would drastically improve the Flames power play and add another dimension to their top six.

Potential Return: If Joe becomes available then there are sure to be bidders. Those GMs scared off by his age when he was a UFA learned the hard way that he is worth every penny of his three year 21 million dollar contract.

Bidding would start at a first and an above-average prospect. How high that bidding goes is anyone’s guess.

An estimate of the eventual cost would be:


To the Flames:
Joe Pavelski (1.5 million retained)


To the Stars:
2022 first round draft pick
2023 third round draft pick
D Yan Kuznetsov




Tyler Toffoli
Cap Hit: 4.25 million for three more seasons after this year
Trade Clauses: None
Age: 29
26GP 5G 12A 17Pts
Shoots: Right

Both of these players Coach Darryl Sutter is quite familiar with. In Pavelski, he worked towards shutting him down in the playoffs. In Tyler Toffoli it was quite the opposite.

Drafted in the second round in 2010 by the Kings and showing that belonged on the team during the 2013 playoffs, Toffoli went on to put up 14 points in 26 games the following postseason en route to Darryl Sutter’s second Stanley Cup win with the organization.

Toffoli broke into the NHL under Sutter and gives him significant credit for his development as more of a pure sniper.

The shared history doesn’t end there. Tyler Toffoli and Sean Monahan played in the OHL together on the Ottawa 67’s for two seasons – 2010-11 and 2011-12. Over those two seasons they racked up a combined 333 points in 136 games.

If Sutter really is writing up a shopping list of players for Treliving to pursue; Toffoli is sure to be near the top of that list.

Potential Return: Sportsnet Columnist Elliotte Friedman speculated that the cost would be in the area of a first round pick and a decent prospect — similar to Pavelski. Given that his 4.25 cap hit is quite manageable and has two and a half more seasons on it; it’s possible the price goes higher.

The trade may look like:


To the Flames:
Tyler Toffoli

To the Canadiens:
2022 first round pick
C Ryan Francis


Which would you prefer? Lots more options than just these two. What right handed right winger would you like to see on the Flames?



Trevor Neufeld

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