Flames trade Andrei Kuzmenko to Flyers in exchange deal
Four strikers are on the move following a trade between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Calgary Flames on Thursday night.
The Flames acquired Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee, while the Flyers received Andrei Kuzmenko, Jakob Pelletier, a second-round draft pick in 2021, and a seventh-round pick in 2028.
None of the players involved have scored more than 11 goals this season.
According to NHL.com, Flames general manager Craig Conroy said, "We have been discussing these players for some time now, but it never seemed like the right fit. We went back and forth, but the timing or the return just wasn't right... Today, everything fell into place and it made sense for both teams to make the trade."
Kuzmenko, 28, will be playing for his third team in as many NHL seasons. He had an impressive rookie year with the Vancouver Canucks in 2023-24, scoring 39 goals and 35 assists. He was traded to the Flames a year ago and finished the season with a combined 22 goals and 24 assists.
However, his offensive production has decreased this season, with only four goals and 11 assists in 37 games.
Pelletier, 23, has played in only 24 games for the Flames in the 2024-25 season, recording four goals and seven assists. In his three NHL seasons, he has a total of eight goals and 13 assists in 61 games.
Pelletier did not score in the Flames' 4-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, as Kuzmenko was scratched from the lineup due to the pending trade.
Conroy expressed his regret for losing Kuzmenko and Pelletier, saying, "It's always tough to say goodbye to great players like Kuzy and Pelts. Unfortunately, in order to acquire new players, we have to give up some of our own - and that's what we had to do in this trade."
Frost and Farabee both played for the Flyers in their 3-0 loss to the New York Islanders on Thursday.
Frost, 25, has recorded 11 goals and 14 assists in 49 games this season, bringing his total in six seasons with the Flyers to 50 goals and 85 assists.
Farabee, 24, has also played six NHL seasons, all with the Flyers. He has a total of 90 goals and 111 assists in 384 games, including eight goals and 11 assists in 50 games this season.
