Insider links 'Toronto farmhand' to potential Zadorov trade.

The Calgary Flames were hit with a surprise trade demand this weekend courtesy of veteran defenseman Nikita Zadorov. Zadorov, through his agent Dan Milstein, made it clear that his time with the Calgary Flames was coming to an end.

The Flames now find themselves with an unhappy player on their hands and, with the way the season has progressed for the Flames thus far, it seems likely that a trade of Zadorov will be inevitable.

There are a number of potential destinations for Zadorov but on Monday, Flames insider Eric Francis suggested that a young Maple Leafs forward could be a player on the radar for the Flames. Francis named former Toronto Maple Leafs fourth round pick Nick Abruzzese as a potential target for the Flames.

From Francis: 

As the hockey world tries to piece together various pieces that could make a Leafs trade for a Flames defenceman possible, consider the fact Toronto farmhand Nick Abruzzese was Matt Coronato’s setup man at Harvard two seasons ago.

Coronato was the Flames' first round pick (13th overall) at the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and is no doubt a piece that the Flames are hoping to build around in the future.

Abruzzes has had a solid start to the season in the American Hockey League with 3 goals and 8 assists for a total of 11 points in just 12 games with the Toronto Marlies.