Calgary Flames add defensive depth at NHL trade deadline

The Calgary Flames finally addressed their defense at the 2020 NHL trade deadline and paid reasonable prices to do that.

The Calgary Flames made a trio of moves on the 2020 trade deadline day to add to their defensive depth. Those moves include the addition of Derek Forbort from the Los Angeles Kings and Erik Gustafsson from the Chicago Blackhawks. They also traded Brandon Davidson to the San Jose Sharks in a future considerations deal.

For Gustafsson, Calgary gave Chicago a 2020 conditional third-round pick. This pick is still pending from the Milan Lucic and James Neal trade that hinders on goal production and post-season appearances or lack thereof. Chicago will get this pick if James Neal scores at least 21 goals this season and Milan Lucic scores at least 10 less than Neal does.

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Gustafsson was in his fourth season with the Chicago Blackhawks where he had 59 games played, six goals and 20 assists for a total of 26 points. The 27-year-old Nynashamm, Sweden native was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in 2012, going 93rd overall. He will also bring some much needed defensive depth with current injuries to Mark Giordano and Travis Hamonic.

Both of their additions came one right after another. In the case of Derek Forbort, the Flames give the Kings their fourth-round pick in this year’s draft. Derek Forbort is another left-handed shot joining the blue-line as a result of the NHL trade deadline.

Forbort is in his fifth season in the NHL but has only appeared in 13 games with the Kings this season after battling a back injury he got in the offseason. Also 27, both these additions will bring forth more veteran players to the Flames locker room.

Closer to the deadline, the Flames made a future considerations deal with the San Jose Sharks for Brandon Davidson. Davidson had appeared in seven games for the Flames this season and spent most of the season in the AHL affiliate, the Stockton Heat.

What seemed to have stirred the most buzz around the trade deadline, was the status of Johnny Gaudreau. It is no secret that he has been underperforming in comparison to previous seasons with the Flames. Last week, some observant fans noticed Gaudreau changed his Twitter bio to take away Calgary Flames and leave #13. Fans worried this was a sign the young forward was on his way out the door.

Since then, his bio has been changed back to include Calgary Flames once again. At the squad’s morning skate in Boston today, Gaudreau left the ice early with no explanation and Flames fans assumed the worst. Flames insider, Derek Wills, broke the news via Twitter then followed up moments later to say, “I am told it’s nothing.”

Gaudreau was asked about the incident when the team met with the media and he cheekily replied with, “I had to pee.” He informed media Geoff Ward told him there were only a couple minutes of practice left and he was free to go do his business. Whether it was intentional or not, Johnny Hockey sure got the hearts pumping of fans in Southern Alberta over a seemingly innocent action.

Overall, the Flames did not end up giving up a significant piece of their team or future picks in order to get what they felt they needed to complete the season and put up their best chance at a meaningful postseason run. Where their new additions fit in the lineup will be found out in the next couple of games, starting with a re-match against the Boston Bruins Tuesday night at 5 p.m. MT.