Coleman, Maatta traded to Wild by Flames for Middleton, draft picks

Blake Coleman was traded to the Minnesota Wild by the Calgary Flames on Thursday.

The Flames received Jake Middleton, a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, a fourth-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft and a second-round pick in the 2029 NHL Draft for the 34-year-old forward, with Olli Maatta also going to the Wild.

Coleman had 35 points (20 goals, 15 assists) in 69 games for the Flames last season. He has one season remaining on a six-year, $29.4 million contract ($4.9 million average annual value) he signed with the Flames on July 28, 2021, and can become an unrestricted free agent after this season. The third-round pick (No. 75) by the New Jersey Devils in the 2011 NHL Draft is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning (2020, 2021), and has 325 points (170 goals, 155 assists) in 693 regular-season games for the Devils, Lightning and Flames, and 31 points (12 goals, 19 assists) in 65 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

"You know, I knew that it was a bit of a possibility to be getting moved," Coleman said Thursday. "I had my name floating around for about six months now, so I guess it was always kind of in the back of our minds, but you know, after surviving the draft and July 1, wasn't exactly expecting the phone call this morning. But, yeah, we were excited to get the call. Obviously really excited about going back to a competitive team that has a great chance to win, and you know, I know a guy or two on there, which is nice to have somebody to reach out to and kind of get the feel for things around there. But yeah, it's been a crazy morning, and we're really excited to start this chapter."

Coleman will be reunited with coach John Hynes, who he played under for four seasons with the Devils.

"I've got a lot of respect for 'Hynesy,' " Coleman said. "Obviously, we had a great relationship. When I was in New Jersey, he really gave me my start in the League. And kind of believed in me, and saw something in me, so I've always had a lot of appreciation for him, and I like the way that he coaches. ... I'm excited to get to play for him again. You know, great coach, but for me more importantly, I think he's a better person. So, excited to build on that relationship."

Wild general manager Bill Guerin said Coleman and Maatta will bring a lot to Minnesota.

"He's a competitor at the highest level," Guerin said of Coleman. "He's produced. He's a top-end penalty killer as well. I know he's got a good relationship with John Hynes. And yeah, along with Olli Maatta, too, another guy with a winning pedigree. You know, Olli and I go back to his draft day in Pittsburgh, so I've known Olli for a long time, and I believe in the person. His game's gotten better over the last couple years, and again, the winning pedigree. These guys know what it takes to grind through four rounds of the playoffs to get to the ultimate goal. And I think when you have guys like that in your dressing room, it can only help."

Middleton, a 30-year-old defenseman, had 16 points (two goals, 14 assists) in 75 regular-season games for the Wild last season and one assist in 11 playoff games. He signed a four-year, $17.4 million contract ($4.35 AAV) with Minnesota on July 1, 2024, that began last season. 

Selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the seventh round (No. 210) of the 2014 NHL Draft, Middleton has 94 points (24 goals, 70 assists) in 381 regular-season games for the San Jose Sharks and Wild and six assists in 29 playoff games.

Maatta, a 31-year-old defenseman, is a two-time Cup champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins (2016, 2017). He was traded to the Flames by the Utah Mammoth on March 4. and had 15 points (two goals, 13 assists) in 43 regular-season games for the Utah and Calgary last season. He has two seasons remaining on a three-year contract he signed with Utah on March 3, 2025.

Guerin was assistant general manager for the Penguins when Maatta played in Pittsburgh.

"I’ve known (Guerin) my whole career," Maatta said Friday. "He obviously was there in Pittsburgh when I got drafted as a young guy. He’s been along my whole career, and it’s really cool that he really wanted me there. It does put a pressure on you as well, which is a good thing I think in my mind. It gets you excited and a little bit nervous, which is another good thing. Because you want to succeed."

The Wild also signed Maxim Shabanov to a one-year, $1.6 million contract Thursday.

The 25-year-old forward had 18 points (five goals, 13 assists) in 44 games for the New York Islanders last season, his first in the NHL. He did not receive a qualifying offer from the Islanders and became an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday.

An undrafted free agent, Shabanov signed with New York on July 2, 2025, after four seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League. 

"We actually tried to sign him coming out of Russia," Guerin said. "You know, there was a lot to be excited about with him, because he's on the upward trajectory. I think he will probably be more comfortable, because he's already spent a full year in North America figuring out the lifestyle, the NHL, how this game is played over here. ... So we're very happy to have him now, and excited to see what he can do on our team."

NHL.com independent correspondent Heather Rule contributed to this report