Flames Trade Veteran Defenseman MacKenzie Weegar to Utah Mammoth

Calgary Acquires Olli Määttä, Prospect, and Draft Picks in Deal

Mar. 5, 2026 at 3:51pm

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The Calgary Flames have traded veteran defenseman MacKenzie Weegar to the Utah Mammoth in exchange for defenseman Olli Määttä, prospect center Jonathan Castagna, and three second-round draft picks. The deal comes just hours before the Flames face the Ottawa Senators.

Why it matters

The trade sends the 32-year-old Weegar to a Utah team pushing for its first playoff berth, while giving Calgary significant draft capital and roster flexibility. The move also creates an opportunity for the Flames' top defensive prospect, 19-year-old Zayne Parekh, to take on a bigger role.

The details

The Flames acquired Määttä, a 31-year-old defenseman with over 860 NHL games played and two Stanley Cup wins with the Pittsburgh Penguins. They also received Castagna, a 20-year-old center currently playing at Cornell University, and three second-round picks from Utah, the New York Rangers, and the Ottawa Senators. Weegar, who has struggled this season with just 3 goals and 21 points in 60 games, carries a $6.25 million cap hit through the 2030-31 season.

  • The trade was finalized just hours before the Flames faced the Ottawa Senators on March 5, 2026.
  • Negotiations between the Flames and Mammoth accelerated around lunchtime on Wednesday.

The players

MacKenzie Weegar

A 32-year-old veteran defenseman who was traded by the Calgary Flames to the Utah Mammoth.

Olli Määttä

A 31-year-old defenseman acquired by the Calgary Flames from the Utah Mammoth, with over 860 NHL games played and two Stanley Cup wins with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Jonathan Castagna

A 20-year-old center prospect currently playing at Cornell University, acquired by the Calgary Flames from the Utah Mammoth.

Craig Conroy

The general manager of the Calgary Flames, who explained the rationale behind the trade.

Bill Armstrong

The general manager of the Utah Mammoth, who negotiated the trade with the Flames.

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What they’re saying

“It just sets us up moving forward with the Draft capital that we're getting back, with a young player and a player like Olli Määttä. We kind of checked all the little boxes along the way.”

— Craig Conroy, General Manager, Calgary Flames

“I think the one thing that really does is Zayne on the power play. Zayne's going to see a bigger role moving forward, and it gives opportunities to guys on that right side to maybe come up and show what they can do.”

— Craig Conroy, General Manager, Calgary Flames

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This trade gives the Flames significant draft capital and roster flexibility, while also creating an opportunity for their top defensive prospect, Zayne Parekh, to take on a bigger role. The move comes as the Flames sit 12 points out of a playoff spot and are in full seller mode ahead of the trade deadline.