The Calgary Flames have had another tough season so far with a few players really standing out in a bad way. It is well known that Jonathan Huberdeau just hasn’t worked out in Calgary, but the focus here is on Dillon Dube. This young player has had a big drop-off from last season and has been moved all the way down the lineup.
It’s fairly evident that the Flames are going to sell this season, but to what extent and how much they can pull off remains to be seen. This is a team that needs a reset and to get younger. The pieces are there, but they also have to cut the dead weight. It is never the best time to trade a player when he’s struggling, but sometimes it can get even worse and the team can get no assets in return. That remains to be seen from Dube, but as he’s now in a fourth line role and younger and talented players have surpassed him, it might be time to part with him.
The 25-year-old is a RFA at the end of the season and has a cap hit of $2.3 million AAV. He’s finished consecutive seasons with 18 goals and put up 45 points last season as well. In 2023-24, he has just three goals and seven points in 34 games. Some teams around the league like to take advantage of players who are struggling and see if a change in scenery will help them. This tends to cost less for the player to be acquired as well. These are three teams that could take a run at Dube during his struggles and when the Flames are vulnerable.
Vegas Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights are always looking for ways to make their team better, and that’s what makes them a top team in the league year after year. To stay cap compliant, the team was forced to move Reilly Smith this past offseason. Taking over his spot in the lineup was a combination of Paul Cotter, Brett Howden, and Pavel Dorofeyev. I would argue that none of them have proven that they are top-six talent just yet, even though Cotter has been better than expected this season.
In this case, the Golden Knights will be looking to upgrade their left wing. This is the area where they are weakest at and will want to improve for another deep playoff run. Seeing as Dube is young and has proven just last season that he can produce offensively, there could be a place for him in Vegas. Whether he is brought in and plays on the second, third, or fourth line, he can play all forward positions and may surprise. It would create more competition at forward at the very least.
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are rising up the standings quickly and should be in a playoff spot by the end of the season. This team has had to manage a lot of dead cap the last few seasons and has still been a strong team. Not only are they looking to make the playoffs this season, they haven’t gotten out of the first round since 2014-15 (seven attempts without a series win).
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The Wild really don’t have much of a backup plan if more of their players were to get injured, and that could hurt them. The best thing this team could do is add some depth since that is all they can really afford. Dube could surely find a place in the bottom-six for Minnesota. This team has had to have their depth help contribute, so Dube could be a part of that. He still has team control, so the Wild would have another piece for after this season as well when they have more money to spend.
Florida Panthers
The production from the bottom of the Florida Panthers’ lineup has been lackluster. As it stands, only Anton Lundell has more than eight points on the season (12). The top-six has really carried the play and the offense, so it is clear what the Panthers will be looking to add at the trade deadline. There’s not much in the way of strong prospects or good young talent that can come up and help either.
The Panthers are a top team this season and will be looking to bolster their lineup for another potential deep run. Dube might not be much more impressive than many of the depth players the Panthers have this season, but he has proven as recently as last season that he can score. That’s more than what can be said for those players on Florida. As the Flames aren’t equipped offensively either, it definitely hasn’t helped Dube’s case.
