Back in the City of Brotherly Love.
Calgary Flames forwards Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost made their return Tuesday to Wells Fargo Center, their first trip to Philadelphia since they were traded west in late January.
On the opposite side, Andrei Kuzmenko and Jakob Pelletier — the other pieces in that Jan. 30 blockbuster — were also facing familiar faces.
“Went back to my place, picked up some more stuff,” a grinning Frost told reporters after Tuesday’s morning skate in his old home rink. “When I left, I kind of just threw two bags together, so had some stuff to grab, and then obviously saw some of the guys.
“Only great memories here, and the guys are awesome. I have some friends for life over there.”
As we reflect on the Flames-Flyers trade, here are five questions that remain unanswered …
Who won the trade?
While there’s always a rush to assign immediate trade grades, it remains way too soon to determine the winner in this deal. The Flames made this move to bolster their scoring depth, although both additions are off to a slow start. Heading into Tuesday’s battle with his old besties, Frost had notched two goals and one assist in 10 appearances with his new crew, with Farabee limited to just one marker in the same number of contests. While the Flames believe that their acquisitions can help with both the wild-card chase and their bigger-picture build, the Flyers were more motivated to clear cap space. It wouldn’t be a surprise if they flipped Kuzmenko — with one goal, two apples and a team-worst minus-4 rating in his past five games — prior to Friday’s trade deadline. After an extended wait for his immigration paperwork, Pelletier entered Tuesday’s action with one assist in four outings since arriving in Philly. The Flyers also received two draft picks, including one that won’t be cashed until 2028.
What will Frost’s next contract look like?
The upside of Frost’s underwhelming offensive stat-line so far — it’s especially surprising that such a confident puck-handler and skilled playmaker has managed just one assist through his first 10 games in Calgary’s colours — is that it may save the Flames some loot in the long run. The 25-year-old centre is set to be a restricted free agent this summer, and the Flyers were reportedly wary of the potential cost to keep him. However, after a third straight campaign in the 40-point range, and that’s if he doesn’t stall out this season in the 30s, Flames general manager Craig Conroy should be able to extend him at a reasonable rate. While Frost would be eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2026, a mid-length pact could make sense for both sides. It could turn out to be a bit of a bargain if he can blossom into a 50- or 60-point performer, and that doesn’t seem pie-in-the-sky with his skill-set.
Where does Farabee fit in the Flames’ lineup?
Here’s hoping that Farabee is good with names. Because not only has he had to introduce himself to a bunch of new teammates, but it feels like he’s already skated on a line with almost every one of the Flames’ forwards. The 25-year-old left-hander debuted alongside Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri, asked to play his off-wing with those go-to guys, and has since been shuffled through several different spots. He was slated to work Tuesday with Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman. With his crash-and-bang capabilities and his nose for the net, Farabee can offer a couple of important ingredients to any line. To maximize that, the Flames are still trying to find where he fits best. (It’s worth noting that Farabee was more involved on the penalty-kill during Sunday’s overtime loss in Carolina, which should help to bump his icetime.)
Are the Flames missing Pelletier’s positivity?
Heading into Tuesday’s tilt against the Flyers, the Flames had stumbled to a 3-5-2 record since the swap. While we don’t view that as a negative reflection of the new guys, and while we don’t doubt Conroy would do this same deal all over again, we do wonder if they are missing Pelletier’s energy and enthusiasm. When the Flames agreed to include their first-round pick from 2019, they realized they’d be lowering the volume in the locker-room. One of Pelletier’s best qualities is his ability to boost up teammates — he’ll be the first to admit that he is almost annoyingly positive — and perhaps that would have been beneficial during their recent swoon. There are other chatterboxes on the roster, meaning this isn’t a long-term concern, but maybe his old buddies are still feeling this absence.
What is Conroy’s next move?
The NHL’s trade deadline is Friday at 1 p.m. MT, so we won’t be waiting long for the answer to this one. What does Conroy have up his sleeve over the next few days? The Flames remain right in the thick of the what is suddenly a crowded wild-card race, although they have lost three straight to legit contenders — in Tampa, in Florida and in Carolina — and that’s a timely reminder that they’d be in tough in a best-of-seven series against a top seed. Does that mean Conroy will be quiet this week, or is he targeting a 20-something who can contribute immediately but also become part of the long-term core? And what about potential farewells? Will the Flames shop defenceman Joel Hanley and backup goaltender Dan Vladar, both pending unrestricted free agents, or choose to keep those depth pieces around for the playoff push?