Gear’s Grades: Calle Jarnkrok a useful but costly acquisition for Flames
The Trade
The Calgary Flames continue to position themselves as Stanley Cup contenders in the West. They shored up their forward depth Wednesday, acquiring versatile center Calle Jarnkrok from the Seattle Kraken for a 2022 second-round pick (previously acquired from Florida), a 2023 third-round pick and a 2024 seventh-round pick, as reported by Frank Seravalli. The Kraken retain 50 percent of Jarnkrok’s salary.
Did Calgary pay a fair price for the upgrade?
Calgary Flames analysis
After a very slow start to his season, Jarnkrok emerged as one of Seattle’s few bright spots up front and started to contribute the type of steady and reliable game that he became known for during his eight-year stint in Nashville. Jarnkrok will improve the Flames’ forward group overall and provide additional secondary scoring. My only concern is that Calgary gave up a fair bit to get him, and it already had somewhat of a depleted draft cupboard. By pushing two of the picks to future years, the Flames are trying to spread out the pain of giving up three picks. It’s a decent strategy and also evidence that teams tend to de-value draft picks for future seasons, especially when the team is in win-now mode. Jarnkrok is a good enough player that this is still a move I can get behind for the Flames, but the higher-than-expected price results in a middling trade grade.
Gear’s Grade: B-
Seattle Kraken analysis
Jarnkrok was playing well for the Kraken, especially of late, and turning into a bit of a fan and organizational favorite at the same time. Kraken marketing and social media was starting to focus heavily on ‘Boi Boi Calle’ (the name christened by Marshawn Lynch when he introduced Jarnkrok to the market at the expansion draft). Jarnkrok certainly could have been a candidate to re-sign in the Emerald City. However, he is now on the wrong side of 30 years old, and it was imperative that the Kraken use their veteran players on expiring contracts to begin the process of accumulating picks and building a proper farm system. Getting three picks in return for Jarnkrok was a coup, a haul aided by the fact Seattle was able to retain 50 percent of Jarnkrok’s money. This is a strong showing by the Kraken to start their first deadline. My only criticism, and it’s light, is that only one of the picks acquired is for the 2022 Draft, when Seattle needs it most.
Grade: B+
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Chris Gear joined Daily Faceoff in January after a 12-year run with the Vancouver Canucks, most recently as the club’s Assistant General Manager and Chief Legal Officer. Before migrating over to the hockey operations department, where his responsibilities included contract negotiations, CBA compliance, assisting with roster and salary cap management and governance for the AHL franchise, Gear was the Canucks’ vice president and general counsel.
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