The Calgary Flames have set themselves up well for the future

The Calgary Flames have been a middling team this season. They go on stretches where they look like they're a playoff team and then follow it up looking like they are a lottery team.

The inconsistency in their play has led to them being one of the more active teams in the NHL when it comes to making deals.

So far this season, the Flames have made four major trades. They traded Nikita Zadarov and Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks, traded Chris Tanev to the Dallas Stars, and most recently Noah Hanifin to the Vegas Golden Knights. Those players were major pieces to the team so it's clear a retool or rebuild is in effect.

Draft pick-wise, the Flames got eight picks back in these four deals. Think what you want about that number but that's a different conversation. The Flames got back four really interesting prospects that need to be talked about.

The Calgary Flames have brought in a lot of good players this season

Andrei Kuzmenko

Andre Kuzmenko was a part of the Zadarov deal in December. The former Canuck had trouble finding his footing in Vancouver this year as he had 8 goals in 43 games when he was phenomenal the year before scoring 39 in 81 games.

His production in 13 games for Calgary has much better as he has 5 goals and 3 assists for eight points.

Kuzmenko's 40-goal season might just be a one-off but there is no reason to think he can't score 15-20 in any given year. He's a shooter and having a pure goal scorer on a retooling Calgary team can never hurt.

Hunter Brzustewicz

Brzustewicz is an intriguing piece for the Flames. He's currently playing in the Ontario Hockey League for the Kitchener Rangers and has an incredible 86 points in 62 games. He is only 19 years old and was a 2023 third-round pick by Vancouver last season.

The numbers speak for themselves as this kid can play. The OHL and the NHL are two different speeds but Flames fans should be excited about a 19-year-old defenseman putting up those kinds of numbers.

Artem Grushnikov and Daniil Miramonov

Artem Grushnikov and Daniil Miramonov are interesting pieces that the Flames acquired. Grushnikov plays a very tough style of hockey and isn't afraid to throw his body around. He'll be a valuable asset to their blueline.

Miramonov was a little bit more controversial of a pickup because some Flames fans felt like including him as the centerpiece of the Hanifin deal wasn't enough in return. There's an argument to be had there.

Overall, the Flames acquired some intriguing pieces here. They have enough talent on their roster that makes you think this won't be a full rebuild but only time will tell.