Former teammates criticized by Flames' Mackenzie Weegar

Defenseman Mackenzie Weegar recently expressed his frank views on this continuing trend during an appearance on the Missing Curfew podcast.

Weegar openly discussed his disappointment regarding teammates, like Noah Hanifin, who opted to leave the Flames in pursuit of joining more competitive teams. Hanifin's departure led him to the Vegas Golden Knights under a lucrative long-term contract.

Following the exits of star players Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau, the Flames have seen an exodus of talent, with players like Jacob Markstrom potentially next on the trade list.

Despite the turmoil, 30-year-old Weegar had an impressive season. Over 82 games, he netted 20 goals and provided 32 assists, tallying a total of 52 points and maintaining a positive plus-minus of two.

Weegar's consistent performance has solidified his role as a key player in Calgary's defense. As the Flames look to rebuild, general manager Craig Conroy is reportedly seeking to bolster the defensive lineup, focusing on leveraging Weegar's strengths.

With the Flames set to pick 9th in this year's entry draft, which is notably rich in defensive talent, speculation abounds about Conroy's strategies—particularly whether he will attempt to move up in the draft, beyond the likes of prospect Macklin Celebrini.