Calgary Flames

The hockey community is mourning the death of Calgary Flames assistant general manager Chris Snow, who died Saturday after a four-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He was 42.

The news comes after Snow's wife Kelsie posted Wednesday on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Chris became unresponsive and went into cardiac arrest on Tuesday. Doctors were able to restore his heart beat, but a brain scan revealed he had "suffered a catastrophic brain injury caused by a lack of oxygen."

Kelsie posted an update on Thursday stating that tests confirmed Snow would not wake up and that he would remain on life support while organ donation was arranged. Chris donated his kidneys, liver and lungs, helping save the lives of four people, Kelsie wrote Saturday.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement:

The National Hockey League family is deeply saddened by the passing of Calgary Flames assistant general manager Chris Snow, a remarkable man whose courageous and relentless battle with ALS has been an inspiration to so many. An innovative student of our game with an expertise in data analysis, Chris supervised the creation and build-out of the Flames' analytics department and was influential in all facets of the club's hockey operations decision-making. First and foremost, however, he was a beloved husband to Kelsie, a devoted dad to Cohen and Willa, and a friend to everyone in hockey fortunate enough to have met him.

The Snows' willingness to share the trials and triumphs of Chris' lengthy ALS journey has inspired so many and profoundly increased awareness of the need to find a cure for this debilitating disease. The NHL sends its most sincere condolences to the Snow family, the Calgary Flames organization and all who were touched by this special person.

Snow was diagnosed with ALS, "a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord," in 2019 and was given one year to live. He had entered a clinical trial for an experimental gene therapy.

Snow continued his work for the Flames after the diagnosis.

"We will never replace a person like Chris," Flames general manager Craig Conroy said Saturday. "We simply pay tribute to him by moving forward with the same passion that he brought to his life each day."

Kelsie had chronicled her husband's condition over the years through social media and her personal blog, documenting the toll the disease took on her husband and family. She kept his journey in the public eye as a way to raise awareness for ALS.

Snow, a native of Melrose, Massachusetts, began his career as a sports reporter for the Boston Globe and Minneapolis Star-Tribune before entering the NHL as the director of hockey operations for the Minnesota Wild in 2006.

Snow joined the Flames organization in 2011 as director of hockey analysis and was promoted to assistant general manager in 2019.

Snow previously lost his father, two uncles and a cousin to ALS.

A friend of the Snow family set up a GoFundMe page that has received more than $138,000 in donations. The NHLPA, former Flames general manager Brad Treliving, Montreal Canadiens forward Nick Suzuki, New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox and Chicago Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard are among the donors.

Calgary Flames defenseman Nikita Zadorov became one of the first high-profile Russian athletes to speak out strongly against Russia's invasion of Ukraine during an interview this week.

Zadorov condemned his home country's actions in a YouTube video released Thursday and also explained his stance in an interview with Randy Sportak of The Hockey News:

While speaking to Yuri Dud in the YouTube video, Zadorov took issue with his countrymen being put in harm's way in the name of war, saying: "I'm sorry for all the young guys. I'm sorry. Instead of raising the new generation, we sent them to die."

Also, during his interview with The Hockey News at Flames training camp, Zadorov acknowledged the challenges he could face now that he has spoken out, but encouraged other Russian NHL players to do so:

"I understand the consequences from my Motherland, word's going to come out and how they're going to react over there, but I think it's really important for people to know my point of view on that. And I think it's important for young guys, Russian players, to know it's OK to speak out. I just have a hope—maybe it's a child hope—but I hope my words can change something in this world. I think it's important to speak out. ...

"I'm definitely aware of the consequences I'm going to get. I probably can't go back to my Motherland, where I grew up, my city where I grew up, and I'm OK with that. I know how it works over there. It's gonna be big propaganda, TV channels are going to be talking about me, and be pushing the agenda, saying, 'He's brainwashed by the West,' that kind of thing. They'll say I'm watching CNN too much or something, but I don't. It's a clear view. You see bad and you see good things, and that's my opinion."

Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, further escalating a war that began in 2014 when Russia invaded and annexed the Crimean portion of Ukraine.

Most Russian athletes have chosen to refrain from commenting on the conflict, likely out of fear of Russian reprisal against them or their families.

Zadorov understands the Catch-22 situation many Russian athletes are facing, but he still expressed hope that more Russian NHL players will follow his lead, saying, "I think athletes, especially hockey players in this league, have a great voice, and I think they shouldn't be afraid to speak up."

Per Sportak, Zadorov's beliefs are at odds with his own family, as his parents support Russia in the war.

Zadorov, who posted a graphic that reads "No war" on Instagram, said he has not gone back to Russia the past offseasons and does not intend to until matters improve.

The 28-year-old blueliner, who has spent 10 seasons in the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres, Colorado Avalanche, Chicago Blackhawks and Flames, said he believes "millions" of Russians agree with his stance but feel they are unable to risk their livelihoods and lives by speaking up.

Zadorov and the Flames are less than one month away from opening their 2023-24 regular-season slate, as they host the Winnipeg Jets on Oct. 11.

The Calgary Flames have already made one trade this week, as they dealt center Tyler Toffoli to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday. But the Flames likely aren't done making moves this offseason, and more could possibly happen in the near future.

According to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, several teams have called Calgary regarding defenseman Noah Hanifin, who has spent the past five seasons with the Flames. The 26-year-old spent the first three seasons of his eight-year NHL career with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Hanifin was traded from Carolina to Calgary in June 2018, and he may be dealt again soon, if the rumors are true. And if that's the case, it's pretty clear where he could be headed.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman recently reported on his 32 Thoughts podcast that Hanifin "indicated he would like to go back to the United States." He was born in Boston and attended Boston College before getting picked by the Hurricanes with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2015 draft.

If Hanifin has any say in where he gets traded, then it won't be to a Canadian team. Of course, the Flames don't have to take that into account, and Hanifin can then decide where he wants to play following the 2023-24 season, when he's set to become an unrestricted free agent.

However, several of the teams reportedly showing interest in Hanifin are American franchises.

LeBrun reported the Florida Panthers have interest in Hanifin, "which isn't surprising given their need for a blue-line upgrade." But LeBrun doesn't think Florida is the most likely landing spot for the defenseman as Panthers forward Anthony Duclair is "part of that trade conversation."

Hanifin could make a lot of sense in Florida, as he'd improve an area of need. But it might not be worth parting with Duclair in order to make a trade happen.

The Boston Bruins are another potential suitor for Hanifin, per LeBrun, who noted the team would need to clear cap space in order to work out a deal. Hanifin would bring a sizable cap hit, as he's set to make $4.95 million in the final year of his contract.

But Hanifin could be a strong long-term addition for the Bruins. And it's clear why he'd want to go to Boston, his hometown and a city where he has a lot of history. Plus, it doesn't hurt the Bruins have one of the best rosters in the NHL.

Hanifin, who had seven goals and 31 assists in 81 games last season, could help take Boston's solid defensive unit to another level. These are reasons why it would make the most sense for Hanifin to end up with the Bruins, as long as them and the Flames can work out a trade that works for both sides.

Tyler Toffoli is on the move.

The New Jersey Devils are acquiring Toffoli from the Calgary Flames in exchange for Yegor Sharangovich and a 2023 third-round pick, the franchise announced Tuesday.

Sharangovich is slated to become a restricted free agent on July 1.

The Devils have numerous restricted and unrestricted free-agents to re-sign this summer, and Sharangovich is likely only one of a number of potential moves the franchise will make moving forward.

New Jersey's restricted free agents include Nathan Bastian, Jesper Boqvist, Michael Mcleod, Timo Meier and Kevin Bahl. The team's unrestricted free agents are Jonathan Bernier, Ryan Graves, Miles Wood and Tomas Tatar.

The Devils are projected to have $19 million in cap space this summer, according to CapFriendly, so adding some more talent around Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier seems likely following the acquisition of Toffoli.

Toffoli, who is entering the final year of his contract worth $4.25 million annually, spent the last season and a half in Calgary after coming over in a trade from the Montreal Canadiens. He is coming off the best season of his career in 2022-23, having tallied 34 goals and 39 assists for 73 points in 82 games.

The 31-year-old was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round of the 2010 draft and he spent seven and a half seasons with the franchise before being traded to the Vancouver Canucks during the 2019-20 campaign.

In 733 games across 11 seasons, Toffoli has notched 227 goals and 239 assists for 466 points. He helped the Kings win the Stanley Cup in 2014 and could be a great asset for a young Devils team hoping to win a title in 2023-24.

In Sharangovich, the Flames are getting a 25-year-old center with plenty of upside.

The Devils selected the Belarusian in the fifth round of the 2018 draft and he had a solid three seasons in New Jersey, notching 53 goals and 53 assists for 106 points in 205 games.

During the 2022-23 campaign, Sharangovich notched 13 goals and 17 assists for 30 points in 75 games.

With an extension likely following the trade, Sharangovich figures to be a key depth player for the Flames next season in a lineup that includes Nazem Kadri, Jonathan Huberdeau and Elias Lindholm.

While the Devils are looking to make the postseason in back-to-back years, the Flames are looking to bounce back from a highly disappointing 2022-23 campaign in which they missed the postseason for the second time in three seasons.

The Calgary Flames have found Darryl Sutter's replacement behind their own bench.

Ryan Huska, who has served as an assistant coach in Calgary since 2018, will be the Flames' next head coach, ESPN's Kevin Weekes reported Friday.

Calgary fired Sutter after three seasons when the Flames missed the playoffs this spring. Huska previously served as the head coach of Calgary's AHL affiliate the Stockton Heat, formerly the Adirondack Flames, from 2014 to 2018.

Under Huska's direction, the Flames' penalty kill finished fifth in the NHL with an 82.6% kill rate in 2022-23. Since Huska took over the unit five seasons ago, Calgary escaped 81.7% of penalties unscathed, good for sixth-best in the league during that span, according to the Score's Kayla Douglas.

In addition to his work on the man disadvantage, Huska is known in Calgary for his direct communication style, the Calgary Sun's Wes Gilbertson reported.

"Huska has a reputation as a strong communicator, something [general manager Craig Conroy] has mentioned time and time again as a crucial quality," wrote Gilbertson. "It speaks volumes that in two-plus decades in the coaching biz, he has never been fired."

Huska finished out his time in the AHL with a 135-118-27 record over four seasons, during which he coached future NHLers including Rasmus Andersson and Oliver Kylington. Prior to that, he spent seven seasons as head coach for the WHL's Kelowna Rockets.

The Rockets rose to the top of the WHL under Huska's leadership. Kelowna claimed the 2009 championship, then became the eighth club in WHL history to win 57 games in 2014. Meanwhile, Huska was tapped to serve as a Team Canada assistant for two IIHF World Junior Championships.

As a player, Huska was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the third round of the 1993 draft. He spent most of his career in the minor leagues, and won back-to-back WHL championships alongside Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla with the Kamloops Blazers.

Leading up to Sutter's firing were rumors that the Flames' former coach had created a negative environment for players that may have helped push current Florida Panther star Matthew Tkachuk out of Calgary. It seems Huska will need to overhaul that locker room culture to get the Flames back on track toward the 2024 postseason.