Reported Flames NHL Trade Deadline Target: James van Riemsdyk

It's no secret the Calgary Flames are seeking a top-nine forward ahead of the NHL trade deadline. 

That and the Oliver Kylington issue are the biggest things to watch for this franchise before March 3 arrives. 

As far as names go, one reported connection to the Flames is veteran Philadelphia Flyers winger James van Riemsdyk — who's in the last year of a five-year, $35-million deal and set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. 

According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Freidman, the Calgary Flames could be one of the teams looking at the 33-year-old left-winger. 

“There are some teams looking at him. It wouldn’t surprise me if Calgary was looking at him, for example," Friedman said on the Jeff Marek Show on Wednesday afternoon. 

The topic was the Toronto Maple Leafs, but Friedman twice dropped the nugget that the Flames might be more likely to be in that conversation, even though van Riemsdyk — who played for the Leafs for six seasons before rejoining Philly in 2018 — is "the type of player that (the Leafs) add."

“I think they’ve got some interest in van Riemsdyk,” Friedman said. “I think if they were in it they’d have to get moving because I think Philly is getting to the short strokes with van Riemsdyk and I do think Calgary potentially is one of the teams.”

Calgary Flames GM Brad Treliving has said repeatedly this season that he's seeking a top-nine scoring complement. Although that might be something that comes internally via a prospect like the popular Jakob Pelletier, the right price on the open market will be hard to resist. Pelletier has four games on his NHL resume now, and although he has played well and created scoring chances on a line with Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri before the extended all-star break, it's challenging for a team committed to the playoffs to pass up on a proven performer. 

If the price is right. And he might be one of the few bargains at the trade deadline in what's being perceived as a buyer's market. Depending on how many teams are bidding, he could fetch a second-round pick or less. A team would have to be able to squeeze in the remainder of his AAV for the year as well. 

Van Riemsdyk has eight goals and 21 points through 31 game this season and is four goals shy of 300 for his career.