A few talented players have been traded during General Manager Craig Conroy’s tenure. Trying to get younger and find the next wave of the Calgary Flames’ future has been a priority. That includes the addition of Kevin Bahl.
Conroy has traded out top defensemen like Nikita Zadorov, Chris Tanev and Noah Hanifin. Leaving a hole in his defense core, the Flames GM used another trade piece, Jacob Markstrom, to help fill it. In a trade with the New Jersey Devils, Kevin Bahl was moved to Calgary (along with a 2025 first-round pick).
This is not the first time Bahl has been traded since being drafted into the NHL. Originally selected by the Arizona Coyotes in the second round, he was traded to the Devils in the Taylor Hall deal. As a result, Bahl made his NHL debut with the Devils and played 148 games for them.
Since being moved to Calgary, Bahl has seen top pairing minutes with partner Rasmus Andersson. The duo has seen 28 goals for and 25 goals against when on the ice together.
Bahl has provided 56 hits and 63 blocks in 37 games with the Flames this year. Providing a great physical presence, he’s also already surpassed his career high in points after recording 11 in an 82-game season with the Devils. His goal goal and 11 assists this year are a bonus with his main role shutting down top opponents, using his physicality and penalty-killing so to contribute.
At 24, the young d-man will become a restricted free agent at the end of the year. This means Conroy still has some team control, but he will likely want to get a deal done soon. Getting a young player locked up through his prime would be a smart bet for the Flames.
The team has stressed before they want players who want to be with Calgary. Getting a younger guy who was recently acquired to commit to the team would be a great way to show that players want to come to the Flames.
While Conroy’s to-do list with his defensive group will likely be figuring out a next move for Bahl’s partner Andersson, Bahl should be a high priority as well.
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