NHL trade rumors: 5 teams that should trade for Patrik Laine

4. Calgary Flames

The Calgary Flames entered the playoffs as a prime favorite to win the Stanley Cup, having racked up 107 points en route to a Pacific Division title — only to be ousted by the eighth-seeded Colorado Avalanche in just five games.

Now, offense isn’t exactly Calgary’s biggest weakness. They scored the second most goals during the regular season (289), and five players scored at least 70 points. That said, general manager Brad Treliving is the master of “hockey trades” as evidenced by that Dougie Hamilton blockbuster he made with the Carolina Hurricanes last offseason.

Treliving has built a tremendous young core up front in Sean Monahan, Johnny Gaudreau, Elias Lindholm, and Matthew Tkachuk, but maybe he wants to shake things up a bit. After all, the Flames only have one playoff series win since the 2005-06 season (in 2015).

As good as Tkachuk is (34 goals and 77 points this season), the 6-foot-2, 202-pound power forward might be a better fit on a Winnipeg team that’s built more around size and physicality. Laine, a great skater and elite goal-scorer, might be better playing on a Calgary team built entirely around speed, skill and a strong transition game.

In this trade, the Flames and Jets are swapping out two superstar and pure-goal scorers. But since Laine has a little more upside, Winnipeg gets an ice sweetener in top-four blueliner T.J. Brodie, who appears to be on the trade block. Tkachuk can replace the offense Laine leaves behind, and his strong defensive game and physical style of play is an added bonus for head coach Paul Maurice.

The Flames, meanwhile, get themselves a flashy sniper in Laine plus a capable top-four blueliner in Ben Chiarot, replacing the void left by Brodie. It’s a fair two-for-two trade that benefits both the Flames and Jets, as Cheveldayoff gets near-equal value in return for one of his core players.