With No. 6 pick, cap space, Flames in unique spot going into NHL draft

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – With the No. 6 pick and plenty of cap space to work with, Jay Feaster is hoping the Calgary Flames are busy during the weekend of the NHL draft,

After trading Jarome Iginla and with Miikka Kiprusoff’s future uncertain, the Flames are in the midst of an overhaul, and Feaster is working the phones trying to make more things happen.

Armed with over $18 million in cap space, Calgary’s general manager said he has had discussions with all 29 of his colleagues around the league.

Some of those discussions have involved the No. 6 pick, though Feaster has made no secret of the Flames’ desire to move up in Sunday’s draft if possible. With plenty of NHL teams interested in moving up, a trade down in the first round could fill multiple holes on the roster.

Feaster already made one deal this week, sending Alex Tanguay and Corey Sarich to the Colorado Avalanche for David Jones and Shane O’Brien. That move was made with realignment in mind, as the Flames are moving into a division with some bigger teams like the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks.

Feaster would like to find a trading partner for centre Michael Cammalleri but said there hasn’t been any interest yet. The former Tampa Bay Lightning general manager spoke in glowing terms about Vincent Lecavalier but declined to say whether the Flames would have interest in signing the free-agent centre who was bought out of his contract.

Kiprusoff and Feaster met last week, but the veteran goaltender has not informed the team whether he’ll play next season or retire. Feaster said the organization has not pressured Kiprusoff to make a decision and said there’s no time frame for him to do so.