NHL Rumors: Breaking Down Trade Buzz on Flames, Niklas Backstrom

Goalie is perhaps the most important position in hockey, and teams are always looking for one who can keep the puck out of the net. The Minnesota Wild and Calgary Flames have an abundance of players at the position and could be looking to move at least one during the season. 

For Minnesota, Niklas Backstrom looks to be on his way out of town in the final season of his three-year, $10.25 million deal, and the Flames are carrying three goalies they feel can contribute. But for how long?

Let's take a look at what these teams could end up doing with their netminders.

Backstrom's Days in Minnesota Numbered?

Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports

The former William M. Jennings Trophy winner and four-time All-Star has appeared in just 40 games over the past two seasons. Those were his two worst seasons in terms of goals-against average (3.02 and 3.04, respectively) after he posted a GAA under 3.00 in every other year of his career.

His two teammates in goal, Darcy Kuemper and Devan Dubnyk, have played well enough, allowing just three goals per game and earning seven points for the Wild in five games this season.

This year, the Wild are paying the 37-year-old more than $3 million to warm the bench. On Monday, Damien Cox of Sportsnet reported that Backstrom is open to a trade:

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Like the Flames, the Wild are carrying three goalies, with 37-year-old veteran Niklas Backstrom the odd man out for the moment.

His agent, Jay Grossman, confirmed that Backstrom is healthy and wants to play, and will consider options if the Wild want to move him.

At a reasonable $3.4 million this season in the final year of his contract, Backstrom may be a viable option for some team.

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Could that team be the Buffalo Sabres? It may not be the likeliest scenario, but there is some history between the teams' general managers. Michael Russo of the Star Tribune noted that Wild GM Chuck Fletcher is Sabres GM Tim Murray's "old pal."

He also said a trade between the two is unlikely, but it's clear that Backstrom isn't part of the Wild's short-term plans:

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The most common question from Wild fans lately has been whether Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher could get his old pal and counterpart in Buffalo, Tim Murray, to trade for goalie Niklas Backstrom.

The Sabres lost goalie Robin Lehner for six to eight weeks because of a high-ankle sprain. It still seems unlikely the Sabres would have interest. They’re going to start by giving Chad Johnson a chance, and if that doesn’t work, there should be younger and cheaper options than Backstrom, and that’s even if the Wild retained half his $4 million salary and $3.417 million cap hit.

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It seems odd that the Wild would keep a 37-year-old goalie who is making that much money just to sit on the bench as a third option. He may be aging, but Backstrom has proved he can still play. He is just three years removed from a 24-15-3 season and a 2.48 GAA.

He would bring veteran leadership to a team, which could be the reason why the Wild are holding on to him. It will be interesting to see if his openness to a trade will trigger a move sooner than later.

Flames Looking to Make Move with Crowded Goalie Situation

The Flames have gotten off to a poor start, with just one win in five games and some subpar play from their goalies. Calgary is carrying three netminders on its roster in Karri Ramo, Jonas Hiller and Joni Ortio. Ramo is allowing 3.53 goals per game, Hiller is surrendering 3.65 per game and Ortio has not even seen the ice.

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reported a trade including one of the three is imminent, though it may not come soon. "Calgary GM Brad Treliving has a crowded crease with Jonas Hiller, Karri Ramo and third-stringer Joni Ortio," he wrote. "He's expected to make a trade at some point but for the time being nobody is going anywhere because the Flames like all three and will see if the market improves."

All three goalies are in the final year of their contracts, but Hiller will make $4.5 million, Ramo will make $3.8 million and Ortio will earn just $600,000.

Garrioch didn't speculate about which goalie the team will trade and noted the Flames like all three, but Hiller could be the odd man out. He costs the most and has not been performing well early in the season, winning just one of the three games he has started.

The team signed Ramo to a one-year deal in the summer after a solid 15-9-3 season and .912 save percentage in 2014-15, while Ortio is cheap enough to hold on to and may not bring as much in a trade.

The March 2 trade deadline is several months away, and it might be worth it for the Flames to sit on the trio for now to see if any of the goalies' performances can yield more talent in return down the road.