Trade Release

Rumors were swirling around Calgary about another trade coming together, and earlier today the Calgary Flames and New York Islanders hooked up and in the process, GM Steve was able to bring home 2 local boys and Big Zadorov.

Coming to Calgary are Jacob Bernard-Docker, Parker Kelly, Nikita Zadorov, and a 2022 5^th.

Going to the Island are Keiffer Bellows, Christian Jaros, Trevor Lewis, and a 2022 3^rd.

GM Steve was excited to finally land JBD, Big Z, and Kelly and indicated that conversations have been ongoing since GM Kyle took over the Islanders. It is tough to see Bellows go, and in true Daryl Suter form Daryl was heard mumbling his sadness about seeing Lewis go but on the other side, he was also heard mumbling with excitement about landing a 6 foot 6, 236 lb defenseman.

According to GM Steve, Jacob Bernard-Docker was born in Banff Alberta and raised in Canmore. Bernard-Docker played for the Okotoks Oilers which play in Okotoks, which is about 15 minutes south of Calgary. It was during his time with the Okotoks Oilers he became noticed and in 2018 he was voted the CJHL’s Top Defenseman for the 2017/18 season. He was also awarded the W.G Scott Memorial Trophy for the league’s most outstanding defenceman. After playing for the Okotoks Oilers, Bernard-Docker took his skills to North Dakota where he was one of the key contributors in their success to the top of their conference.

Bernard-Docker could be described as an all-around defenseman with high character. He has great mobility and offensive skills to go along with strong shutdown abilities. Having the ability to add JBD to the current stable of young defense, only bolds well for the Flames in the long term.

 Parker Kelly is also from Alberta and he grew up in Camrose which is between Calgary and Edmonton. Kelly was given the nickname “Pesky Parker Kelly” during his rookie season with the Prince Albert Raiders. It was his pesky and scrappy style that gave him this name and what also drew the Flames to him. Back in 2020, GM Steve did attempt to sign Pesky Parker Kelly but lost out to the New York Islanders. Guess it was destiny that he arrives in Calgary now.

As for Daryl’s mumbling of excitement. Well, that’s because the Flames desperately needed to upgrade the bottom pairing with a big body who isn’t afraid to throw people around and into the boards. Opposing teams will need to keep their heads up when he is on the ice and the media will like his openness in media scrums as this big Russian famously put it to one reporter last year “Do you even watch hockey”.

After today’s deal, it’s very obvious that GM Steve has been building from the net out and to give the goalies Jordan Binnington and Jake Allen all the protection they can have while making the team tough to compete against now and into the future.