4 Young Centres the Flames Should Look to Trade for This Offseason

The Calgary Flames are continuing to search for a top-line centreman that fits into their rebuilding timeline. This isn’t a new search by any means for the Flames, who are lacking talent down the middle on their roster. While they do have some interesting centre prospects including Cole Reschny and Cullen Potter, they would ideally like to add another young piece down the middle who is NHL-ready.

The problem for the Flames is that these types of players don’t become available very often, if at all. If this type of player is to come to Calgary in a trade, general manager (GM) Craig Conroy will likely have to gamble on a player with potential rather than one who is already considered a number-one centre at the NHL level. With that said, here are four centremen they could look to target in a potential trade this offseason.

Mason McTavish

Once thought of as the brightest young prospect in the Anaheim Ducks system, Mason McTavish has seemingly been surpassed by the likes of Leo Carlsson, Beckett Sennecke, and Cutter Gauthier. There were even some whispers that the 23-year-old centre was frustrated with the organization last offseason.

McTavish has yet to become the star talent many projected, but he is still quite young and has shown flashes of the player he has the potential to become. He still has untapped offensive potential, and brings a physical side that makes him all the more effective. This seemingly would be the top option for Conroy to go after should he indeed be looking to make a trade.

Robert Thomas

Another player you can’t help but wonder about is Robert Thomas. It was no secret that the St. Louis Blues were discussing moving him before the trade deadline, and though a deal failed to come to fruition, it seems likely that it’s a revisited situation in the offseason. He is one of the NHL’s most underrated centres, and is still just 26 years old.

The issue with trading for Thomas is that it won’t be cheap. The Blues were reportedly seeking multiple prospects, an NHL player, and a first-round pick as a return. Having no teams step to the plate may cause them to lower that price this summer, but he certainly won’t come cheap for the Flames. Conroy will have to make a decision on just how much he is comfortable sending the other way.

Josh Norris

One very talented centreman the Flames may be able to add at a discounted price is Josh Norris. The Buffalo Sabres forward oozes talent, but has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career. He’s surpassed the 60-game marker just once, and has a combined 47 games played over the past two seasons.

When Norris is healthy, however, he can be a difference maker. He once again found ways to be productive when in the lineup this season, scoring 13 goals and 34 points in 44 games. The fact he has four more years remaining on a contract with a $7.95 million cap hit does cause a pause for concern, though the Flames do have plenty of cap space on their hands.

Mavrik Bourque

One final player to consider for the Flames is Dallas Stars forward Mavrik Bourque. Though he has predominantly played on the wing this season, he took 348 draws in just 73 games during the 2024-25 campaign. In other words, he does have experience playing down the middle. The Stars just happen to have a luxury of riches in that position.

Bourque, while not as intriguing as the three names above, is a player who is slowly beginning to find his footing at the NHL level. The 24-year-old registered new career highs this season with 20 goals and 41 points, and still feels as though he’s just scratching the surface. He is set to become a restricted free agent this offseason.

Young Talent Doesn’t Come Cheap

One thing that’s become painfully obvious in Conroy’s search for a young centre is that these types of players don’t come cheap. It’s a premium position, one which many teams are often trying to upgrade. These types of players rarely become available, and if they do, teams acquiring them are usually forced to overpay. That said, these four players are all worth consideration for Conroy and his staff this offseason.