Flyers acquire Andrei Kuzmenko in trade with Flames

Field Level Media|published: Fri 31st January, 03:02 2025

Jan 23, 2025; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames left wing Andrei Kuzmenko (96) skates against the Buffalo Sabres during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

Four forwards are on the move after the Philadelphia Flyers and the Calgary Flames pulled off a trade late Thursday night.

The Flames received Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee, while the Flyers got Andrei Kuzmenko, Jakob Pelletier and second-round draft pick this year and a seventh-round pick in 2028.

None of the players involved has more than 11 goals this season.

Flames general manager Craig Conroy said, according to NHL.com: "We've talked about the players maybe even last year and this year, but it never really made sense. We were going back and forth. It just wasn't the right time or wasn't the right return. ...

"Today it just happened to really speed up and became, 'Look, this makes sense for both teams, let's do it.'"

Kuzmenko, 28, is headed for his third team in three NHL seasons. He produced 39 goals and 35 assists as a rookie for the Vancouver Canucks in 2023-24. He was dealt to the Flames one year ago Friday, and he finished the season with a combined 22 goals and 24 assists.

This season, his offensive figures have dropped further, as he has four goals and 11 assists in 37 games.

Pelletier, 23, appeared in just 24 games for Calgary in 2024-25, notching four goals and seven assists. He has eight goals and 13 assists in 61 games across three NHL seasons.

Pelletier finished without a point in the Flames' 4-1 home victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday. Kuzmenko was scratched with the trade pending.

"We lose some great people in Kuzy and Pelts. Those are the hard parts of the job," Conroy said, according to NHL.com. "... Unfortunately to get players, you have to give up players -- and that's what we had to do in this deal."

Frost and Farabee both played for the Flyers in a 3-0 home loss to the New York Islanders on Thursday.

Frost, 25, has 11 goals and 14 assists in 49 games this season, raising his totals in six seasons (278 games) for Philadelphia to 50 goals and 85 assists.

Farabee, 24, also has played six NHL campaigns, all for the Flyers. He has 90 goals and 111 assists in 384 games, including eight goals and 11 assists in 50 appearances this season.

--Field Level Media

Latest