The writing isn’t just on the wall; it’s practically in neon lights at the Scotiabank Saddledome. While the Calgary Flames struggle to find their footing near the bottom of the standings, one player has quietly become the most valuable asset GM Craig Conroy holds. Blake Coleman isn’t just playing well—he is showcasing exactly why Stanley Cup contenders pay a premium at the deadline. If you want to know who is moving first, look at number 20.
Analyzing Coleman’s Resurgence and Market Value
As someone who has covered the league for years, I’ve always viewed Coleman as the quintessential “Swiss Army Knife” forward. But this season feels different. We are finally seeing the version of Coleman that helped Tampa Bay go back-to-back.
The revelation that he has been managing a nagging back injury since those Tampa cup runs explains the occasional inconsistencies of the past few years. Now fully healthy and free of injections for the first time in forever, his game has that relentless, physical pop back. He is tied for the team lead in goals and is driving play with Mikael Backlund, proving he hasn’t lost a step at 33.
For a contender, Coleman is the Holy Grail of trade deadline acquisitions: a two-time winner who kills penalties, scores dirty goals, and seamless fits into any locker room culture.
The Rumor Mill
The sharks are already circling. While Coleman has a 10-team trade list, the fit with the New Jersey Devils is almost too perfect to ignore—a reunion that makes sense for a Devils team ready to win now. However, don’t sleep on the Toronto Maple Leafs or Utah Mammoth, both desperate for that gritty, middle-six stability. Even a return to the Tampa Bay Lightning isn’t out of the question given their history.
With one year left at $4.9 million, the price won’t be cheap, but Conroy holds all the cards here.
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