[Trade] Weegar to Utah for Maatta, Castagna, 3 x 2026 2nd rounders

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by mile

Friedman said in a radio hit today that he wasn't sure that Castagna was going to sign in Utah. Has heard really good things about him as a player

Also heard that the Flames room didn't see this coming, players are shocked and there's a real ripple effect there

Doesn't know if Maatta will be flipped right away

I heard that as well. I felt like Kevin Costner in Tin Cup when he nails his approach into 18, says to himself "we're home", then out of nowhere feels a slight breeze on his face.

Hopefully it's nothing.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I heard that as well. I felt like Kevin Costner in Tin Cup when he nails his approach into 18, says to himself "we're home", then out of nowhere feels a slight breeze on his face.

Hopefully it's nothing.

Canadian kid. Utah has a #### ton of young Cs.

I doubt there is anything at all to be concerned about.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by mile

Friedman said in a radio hit today that he wasn't sure that Castagna was going to sign in Utah. Has heard really good things about him as a player

Also heard that the Flames room didn't see this coming, players are shocked and there's a real ripple effect there

Doesn't know if Maatta will be flipped right away

I'm sure the Weegar trade pushes Kadri and Coleman from "Yeah I'm open to a move" to "Please trade me right now"

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by UKflames

Liking this trade, especially the 2nd rd picks. I see us going after both of the Ruck twins with these picks.

Flames development and scouts have probably seen a lot of them whilst keeping an eye on Reschny. On the other side of the coin, if the flames are checking in regularly with Reschny, similar to Wyttenbach, that could sell the Flames to the twins.

Get ready for the Sedins 2.0 flames edition.

Their stock is quickly rising. I would not be surprised if they both get drafted in the teens. Would be nice to see the Flames draft them both, but it might be easier said than done.

[sureLoss]

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/cast...s-organization

t started out just like any other Wednesday.

But by suppertime, Jonathan Castagna was thinking about how to get decked out in a new shade of red.

The Cornell forward was acquired by the Flames in the deal that saw MacKenzie Weegar head to Utah Wednesday evening, and by the time news of the deal sunk in, Castagna’s excitement only grew.

“I guess you could say that it was definitely an interesting day,” Castagna said during a phone conversation Wednesday evening. “It all happened pretty quickly, to say that I'm excited would be an understatement, because for them to take a chance on me like that, it means a lot.

“I know Calgary is a very good organization to be a part of and they value their prospects a lot. I'm just really grateful to have this opportunity and it really is an honour.”

The deal came in a soft part of the schedule for Castagna’s Big Red. Cornell - ranked No. 9 in this week’s USCHO national poll - finished third in the ECAC with a 20-8-1 overall record after wrapping up the regular season last weekend, and they now await their first-round playoff opponent, who they’ll open up against on home ice March 13.

Castagna’s had a breakout campaign, too. The 20-year-old led the Big Red in scoring with 14 goals and 32 points, all while winning 64.6% of the nearly 600 face-offs he took over those 29 games.

“I guess you would call it a breakout, if you're looking at the stats specifically,” Castagna said of his 2025-26 campaign. “Just for myself being an older player in the NCAA now - a junior on the team - I feel like just this year was the one where it all really connected. It's been such a huge learning curve ever since I stepped into the NCAA, and I guess you would say that it was the maturity year, where everything kind of, Um, settled in nicely.

“I’m feeling good about my game right now and I've been getting rewarded for it. The team’s going into playoffs now, so just super-excited about that, and I feel like we're in a good spot altogether.”

Cornell goes into the post-season as back-to-back ECAC tournament champs, and last spring, the Big Red were a win away from reaching their Frozen Four since 2003.

Castagna has a potential new teammate standing in his way, though. Quinnipiac - and the nation’s scoring leader Ethan Wyttenbach - are the top seed heading into the ECAC playoffs. And Castagna says his fellow Flames prospect is someone his group will have to keep an eye on, in the event they meet down the post-season trail.

“He's a good player, and he's obviously a guy that needs to have a lot of attention towards him when you're playing against him because he is a natural goal scorer, a natural point-getter,” Castagna said of Wyttenbach. “I guess lucky for for us, we play a rather defensive game, and we're usually pretty defensively sound.”

“I like to play physical, and I also really value the defensive aspects of the game as much as I do the offence.”

Cornell and Quinnipiac split their two regular-season meetings. Wyttenbach had a goal in a 4-1 Bobcats win in January, but Castagna’s goal and three assists helped pace the Big Red to a 6-1 triumph in their last meeting Feb. 20.

As for his new professional hockey home, Castagna - who hails from Etobicoke, Ont., admits he’s never been to Calgary. But he’s got two teammates on this year’s Cornell squad who both hail from the Stampede City and have been singing its praises.

“I've heard it's really beautiful down there,” Castagna said. “I have (teammates) from there right now, they have nothing but good things to say about it.

“I'm excited nonetheless to get there.”

[JD]

While Castagna has decent but not eye-popping offensive numbers, the size and defensive acumen has me remembering that while a team needs their Joe Nieuwendyks and Jarome Iginlas, Joel Otto and Stephane Yelle were just as critical of players as any in Flames' past successes. Maybe this guy can develop into that.

[looooob]

Originally Posted by JD

While Castagna has decent but not eye-popping offensive numbers, the size and defensive acumen has me remembering that while a team needs their Joe Nieuwendyks and Jarome Iginlas, Joel Otto and Stephane Yelle were just as critical of players as any in Flames' past successes. Maybe this guy can develop into that.

or, you know, a Craig Conroy of sorts

[SuperMatt18]

His playstyle reminds me a little of Matthew Lombardi too.

[RedHawk12]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

His playstyle reminds me a little of Matthew Lombardi too.

I'd be happy if he turned into a Lombardi-type player for us. Rooting for the guy

[Fan69]

Sorry still dont know how to do this properly but the link is here for a shift report on Castagna.

From what i see not surprised that the flames targeted him.

Good size, very good skater, engaged, has some physicality. Seems to be equal parts shooter and passer, good quality for a center.


https://youtu.be/zCwBqlxak7w?si=VccH_2CfcxAzX8IX

[musth]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Sorry still dont know how to do this properly but the link is here for a shift report on Castagna.

From what i see not surprised that the flames targeted him.

Good size, very good skater, engaged, has some physicality. Seems to be equal parts shooter and passer, good quality for a center.


https://youtu.be/zCwBqlxak7w?si=VccH_2CfcxAzX8IX

just do youtube the equal sign and everything to the right /youtube with square brackets around the youtube parts

[jaikorven]

Regarding SuperMatt18's post - Just net those breakaways please.

[Roof-Daddy]

Hopefully Maatta can rebuild his value with the Flames. He was essentially a cap dump in this deal but not long ago was traded for a 3rd round pick.

[activeStick]

Unsure how the return could be considered bad but I guess it comes down to whether you think a 20th - 32nd pick is better than three bullets in the 2nd round or the Flames packaging some combination of 2nds with one of their 1sts to move up in the 1st round to pick the last guy on the ledge they have on their list.

The thing I'm actually more worried about is what this move does to the culture and vibe in the room. It's pretty clear Weegar is a clear leader in the room with the poker games, the Coronato jokes when he was a rookie, the messages to Parekh in the WJC, etc. Backlund, Huberdeau Coleman and Kadri are the only guys left now and 2 of them will likely be gone by this time next year, but I guess you gotta seize the opportunity if it comes and I feel like while it was likely a bit tough, Conroy jumped at accepting when he got the call.

[transplant99]

Dont know if mentioned yet or not, but Castagna in Italian means....Chestnut.

Henceforth he shall be known as Johnny Chestnut!!!



Also....speculation is that he will be signed to a deal and make an appearance with the Flames once his season is over.

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by BigThief

Loving it

So many late 1sts!!!!!

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by JD

While Castagna has decent but not eye-popping offensive numbers, the size and defensive acumen has me remembering that while a team needs their Joe Nieuwendyks and Jarome Iginlas, Joel Otto and Stephane Yelle were just as critical of players as any in Flames' past successes. Maybe this guy can develop into that.

Make no mistake, The Iggy's and Newy's of the world were way more critical to the success of the Flames than the Otto's and Yelle's.

You need elite talent to win.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Make no mistake, The Iggy's and Newy's of the world were way more critical to the success of the Flames than the Otto's and Yelle's.

You need elite talent to win.

Also, the sky is blue and the ocean is salty.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by BigThief

Loving it

Yep not only are the 2nds all in the 1st half of the 2nd round except 1 but the 2 3rds could be the top 2 picks in the 3rd round. 8 picks in the top 65 with ottawa's 1st being void. Just need to drop to bottom 2.

[browna]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

Do you actually know that Conroy had a plan to have a rebuild completed by 2028, and still have Weegar and Kadri here once the rebuild was done? Or are you assuming that?

Two years from now, Kadri will be 37 and Weegar will be 34. Their effectiveness will likely be diminished compared to now, but their cap hits will still be a combined $13.25M. So even if we follow your theory that Conny would've somehow had us in cup contention by 2028 if everything had gone right, would it have made sense to have 2 expensive, declining players on the roster if we're trying to win a cup? I don't know. Your theory doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

What I think actually happened is that there was a plan to do a long term rebuild, and it started when Hanifin, Tanev, Lindholm, etc were traded. Then, unexpectedly, the Flames got out to a hot start last season (largely due to goaltending), and stayed around the playoff line all the way up to the trade deadline. This prompted Conny to keep the team together instead of selling vets, and gave the team a chance to make the playoffs. They finished a point short. Now, this season, with the poor start, and the reality setting in that this is not a playoff calibre team, Conny moved forward with the next phase of the plan which is to move out more vets to stockpile futures and set themselves up for a strong draft. They have flexibility as to what they'll do with those picks. They can move up, trade picks for players, etc. I have no doubt they'll do what's best.

But this idea that Conny could have kept Weegar & other vets, pulled trade or two, signed a UFA or two, and had this team in cup contention by 2028, seems very farfetched and unrealistic to me.

Not cup contenders, but the plan was certainly not to jettison the guys that truly wanted to be here and could help the new young guys and help the Coronatos take the next step, at this point.
So far who is gone is Anderson and Weeger (and Markstrom) and could be Kadri and Coleman by tomorrow.

I have on fairly good authority that Conroy has been disappointed and left at the altar a few times on free agents and on trades over this past couple years that would’ve had this team maybe in a better spot as far as balanced roster. Some of them were akin to the Mantha UFA deal (so have him produce and flip), some were using cap space to get picks, and some were building blocks like Frost and Farabee. And he sniffed around some bigger things.

Again bottom line this is now Conroy hitting the reset button because he couldn’t get those moves done and moving on from these vets earlier than anticipated is required to get more peices (and the team is bad this year) , which leaves a hole in the overall development plan no matter what sort of spin you put on it.