Brad Treliving's tenure as the Calgary Flames' general manager, which spanned from April 2014 to April 2023, was marked by a mix of shrewd moves and questionable decisions. His time in Calgary saw the team make the playoffs five times, but only advance past the first round twice. Treliving's legacy is complex, defined by improved drafting, particularly in 2015 and 2016, but also by some free-agent signings that are now viewed as detrimental. After mutually agreeing to part ways with the Flames, Treliving was hired as the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs in May 2023.

Here's a look at some of Treliving's best and worst trades as Flames GM:

Best Trades

1. Rasmus Andersson for Sven Baertschi (2015): One of Treliving's first trades, this deal sent Sven Baertschi to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a 2015 second-round pick, which the Flames used to select Rasmus Andersson. Andersson has become a mainstay on the Flames' blue line, logging significant minutes and contributing offensively. Baertschi, on the other hand, struggled to find consistency in Vancouver and is now playing overseas.

2. Dougie Hamilton Acquisition (2015): Treliving sent a 2015 first-round pick (Zach Senyshyn) and two 2015 second-round picks (Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson & Jeremy Lauzon) to the Boston Bruins for Dougie Hamilton. While Hamilton's time in Calgary was relatively short, he was a valuable contributor during his tenure. The picks that Calgary gave up didn't amount to much for Boston.

3. Tyler Toffoli Acquisition (2022): Ahead of the 2022 trade deadline, the Flames acquired Tyler Toffoli from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Tyler Pitlick, Emil Heineman, a 2022 first-round pick (Filip Mesar), and a 2023 fifth-round pick. Toffoli provided scoring depth and a veteran presence to the Flames' lineup and had two more seasons left on his contract at the time.

4. Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm for Dougie Hamilton, Micheal Ferland and Adam Fox’s rights (2018): While giving up Hamilton was a tough pill to swallow, Treliving managed to acquire two key pieces in Hanifin and Lindholm. Both players signed six-year contracts with Calgary and became important contributors. Although, the Flames also gave up the rights to Adam Fox, who went on to win the Norris Trophy.

5. Acquiring Draft Picks (2015): Treliving's ability to accumulate draft picks by trading away assets like Curtis Glencross and Sven Baertschi proved beneficial. These picks allowed the Flames to make moves like trading up to draft Oliver Kylington and acquiring Dougie Hamilton.

Worst Trades

1. Travis Hamonic Acquisition (2017): In an effort to bolster the team's defense, Treliving traded a 2018 first-round pick (Noah Dobson), a 2018 second-round pick (Ruslan Iskhakov), and a 2019 second-round pick (Samuel Bolduc) to the New York Islanders for Travis Hamonic and a 2019 fourth-round pick (Lucas Feuk). Hamonic's time in Calgary was underwhelming, and the Islanders used the acquired picks to select high-potential players.

2. The Matthew Tkachuk Trade (2022): While Treliving was in a difficult position after Matthew Tkachuk requested a trade, the return the Flames received has been widely criticized. Calgary acquired Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Cole Schwindt, and a 2025 first-round pick from the Florida Panthers. While Huberdeau and Weegar were considered valuable assets at the time, Huberdeau's performance declined significantly after signing a lucrative extension, and Schwindt hasn't developed into an impactful player.

3. Sam Bennett Trade (2021): The Flames traded Sam Bennett and a 2022 sixth-round pick (Gustav Karlsson) to the Florida Panthers for Emil Heineman and a 2022 second-round pick (David Goyette). Bennett, a former fourth-overall pick, had struggled to live up to expectations in Calgary, but he experienced a career resurgence after being traded to Florida.

4. James Neal Signing (2018): Although not a trade, the signing of James Neal to a five-year, $28.75 million contract was a significant misstep. Neal failed to produce offensively in Calgary and was eventually traded to the Edmonton Oilers for Milan Lucic.

5. Brian Elliott Acquisition (2016): Treliving traded a second-round pick to St. Louis for veteran netminder Brian Elliott. The Blues used the pick to select Jordan Kyrou. Elliott's tenure with the Flames was short-lived and inconsistent, and he did not provide the stability the team was seeking in goal.

Treliving's tenure as Flames GM was a mixed bag. While he made some astute moves that improved the team, he also made some questionable decisions that ultimately hindered the Flames' progress. His legacy will be debated for years to come, but there is no denying that he left a significant mark on the Calgary Flames organization.