The Calgary Flames joined the NHL because the Atlanta Flames in 1972. Whereas the workforce was in Georgia, that they had no interstate rivals like the 2 Pennsylvania groups, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers. In contrast to the 2 groups beforehand talked about, the Flames didn’t have a built-in rivalry till they relocated to southern Alberta in 1980. 

There have solely been three provincial rivalries in Canada, with two nonetheless lively. In Quebec, the Quebec Nordiques and Montreal Canadiens by no means executed a commerce in the course of the Nordiques’ 15-year NHL tenure within the province. Nevertheless, when the Nordiques left for Denver in 1995 to turn out to be the Colorado Avalanche, they orchestrated probably the most stunning trades in hockey historical past involving Corridor of Famer Patrick Roy. 

Associated: Calgary Flames – Seven Worst Trades in Franchise Historical past

Within the different japanese province with two groups, Ontario, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators have a protracted historical past of dealings. The Maple Leafs are an Unique Six franchise with a century of expertise, whereas the Senators got here again into existence in 1992. Since they renewed their rivalry 32 years in the past, the 2 groups have made seven trades, their most up-to-date (summer time 2022) involving goalie Matt Murray. 

In 1980, the Flames moved three hours down the Queen Elizabeth Freeway (Freeway 2) from the Alberta capital metropolis, Edmonton, which had an up-and-coming workforce within the Oilers. In western Canada, the Flames and Oilers have one of many league’s most intense rivalries. Between 1984 and 1990, the trail to the Stanley Cup ran via Alberta, the place the Oilers claimed the Silver Chalice in 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, and 1990. Whereas the Flames misplaced within the 1986 Remaining, they rebounded to win all of it in 1989.

The 2 groups strongly dislike each other, and their emotions go approach past the ice. The animosity between the franchises runs right down to the fanbases dividing the province in half. These feelings make conducting enterprise with one another close to unattainable, but listed here are the few moments when the Flames and Oilers have made a deal.

The First Flames and Oilers Commerce (2010)

On March 3, 2010, the 2 groups agreed to the primary commerce of their rivalry. Thirty-six-year-old defenceman Steve Staois turned the primary participant to swap sides, turning into the centerpiece in a transaction with Aaron Johnson and a third-round decide within the 2011 Entry Draft going to Edmonton. Staois suited up for 573 video games over eight seasons with the Oilers, which included a visit to the 2006 Stanley Cup Remaining. The veteran rearguard additionally spent a part of his profession with the Vancouver Canucks, Boston Bruins, Atlanta Thrashers, and the New York Islanders. He registered 146 factors in northern Alberta earlier than accumulating simply 13 factors in 57 video games over two seasons as a member of the Flames. 

Johnson was additionally well-traveled however lacked the taking part in time Staois had accrued. After making his NHL debut with the Columbus Blue Jackets, he performed with the New York Islanders and Chicago Blackhawks. Nevertheless, Johnson turned a member of the Flames group in 2009 because of a commerce with the Blackhawks for Kyle Greentree. Sadly, he registered three factors in 22 video games earlier than switching postal codes once more in Alberta. 

The ultimate commerce piece concerned St. Albert, AB, native Travis Ewanyk, who has by no means performed within the NHL. A younger prospect on the time of the commerce, Ewanyk performed with the Edmonton Oil Kings within the Western Hockey League (WHL) after which the Oklahoma Metropolis Barons within the American Hockey League (AHL) earlier than departing the Oilers group in 2015. 

Flames and Oilers Make One other Deal (2013)

The 2 groups got here collectively to execute the rivalry’s second commerce on Nov. 8, 2013. As a substitute of a 2-for-1 deal, the groups agreed to swap 4 gamers, with Ladislav Smid and Olivier Roy going to Calgary whereas Laurent Brossoit and Roman Horak headed to Edmonton. 

Smid got here to the Oilers in 2006 within the Chris Pronger commerce. He collected 65 factors in 474 video games earlier than ending his NHL profession with the Flames. In three seasons in Calgary, Smid scored simply seven factors over 109 video games earlier than returning to Europe to finish his skilled profession. In the meantime, Roy was a younger goalie prospect on the time and by no means performed increased than the AHL in North America. He’s nonetheless lively on the skilled stage, taking part in in France after stints in Germany. 

The Oilers obtained Horak, who performed 82 video games with the Flames over three seasons, accumulating 18 factors. He struggled to crack the lineup in Edmonton, suiting up for simply two video games and scoring a objective. Horak completed his NHL profession in 2014, departing for the Swedish Elite League (SHL) earlier than returning dwelling to play in Czechia. He’s nonetheless an lively league member initially of the 2022-23 season. The opposite commerce piece was goalie Brossoit, who didn’t get an opportunity to search out his recreation with the Oilers, suiting up in 28 video games over 4 years. As a free agent in 2018, he left the group for a task with the Winnipeg Jets, compiling a 25-19-3 report as a backup. After a two-season stint with the Vegas Golden Knights, Brossoit returned to the Jets for the 2023-24 season.

The Newest Deal Between Flames and Oilers (2019)

The Alberta rivals solely made their first deal 14 years in the past, so it could be no shock that some gamers are nonetheless actively taking part in skilled hockey. The newest blockbuster between the Flames and the Oilers occurred on July 19, 2019, when a pair of former 30-goal scorers swapped addresses. 

The Oilers made an enormous splash in free company by signing Milan Lucic in 2016. Some could argue that the deal didn’t work out for the workforce, as Lucic scored 104 factors in 243 video games, hitting the 20-goal plateau solely as soon as in three seasons. Nevertheless, they discovered a approach out of the remaining years of his contract by buying and selling him south to the Flames for James Neal, a former 40-goal scorer with the Penguins. 

Neal joined the Flames in 2018, inking a five-year deal as a free agent. In his first season, which lasted solely 67 video games, he scored simply seven targets and 19 factors. A change of surroundings was vital for each gamers, and the groups may accommodate it. As a member of the Oilers, Neal didn’t fare any higher, scoring 41 factors in 84 video games earlier than leaving the group as a free agent in 2021. After a launch from the Blue Jackets in 2022, he was unable to discover a job. In the meantime, Lucic remains to be an lively NHLer, having returned to the Bruins in the course of the 2023 offseason. In 283 video games with the Flames, he totaled 35 targets and 83 factors. 

A conditional draft decide (third spherical in 2021) was related to the Lucic and Neal commerce, which the Flames traded to the Los Angeles Kings for a third-round and sixth-round decide in 2021. The Kings chosen Kirill Kirsanov, who has but to play within the NHL, whereas the Flames used their selections to spice up their prospect pool by choosing Cameron Whynot and Jack Beck.

Analyzing Battle of Alberta Transactions

Between 1942 and 1967, the NHL solely had six franchises, which means transactions between rivals occurred usually. Iconic names like Corridor of Famer goalies Terry Sawchuk and Jacques Plante every discovered themselves on the commerce block, altering tackle earlier than the enlargement. 

Associated: Calgary Flames – 5 Historic Trades That Ignited the Franchise

While you flick through the historical past books, you’ll examine lots of of blockbuster trades; nevertheless, there’ll solely be a handful of offers between groups who stay three hours aside. Because the league grew via enlargement, new rivalries sprung up, and few groups preferred to conduct enterprise near dwelling, whether or not geographical or divisional.

The Flames and Oilers could have been late to the occasion, however as each franchises chase one other Stanley Cup ring, the longer term has limitless prospects. Anybody will be concerned in a commerce, and though common managers could wish to cope with one other workforce in addition to their provincial rivals, possibly what they’re on the lookout for is correct down the freeway.