Blake Coleman pens thank-you letter after being traded from Calgary Flames to Minnesota Wild
The veteran forward, who spent five seasons with the Flames, expressed gratitude for the city and community support before joining the Wild.
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Blake Coleman, a cornerstone of the Calgary Flames for five seasons, has been traded to the Minnesota Wild along with defenceman Olli Maatta. The Flames received defenceman Jacob Middleton and three draft picks in return.
Coleman arrived in Calgary for the 2021-22 season and became one of the team's steadiest contributors despite years of limited playoff success. His best season came in 2023-24, when he set career highs with 30 goals and 54 points.
In an Instagram post, Coleman expressed deep affection for the city and its people. "My family and I took a leap of faith choosing to come to Calgary 5 years ago to represent the flames and wear the flaming C," he wrote. "We didn't know anything about the city other than what we had heard from word of mouth, and even though it was great things, it was completely undersold."
He credited the passion of the fanbase, the kindness of neighbors, the friendships made, and the supportive community for making Calgary feel like home. "The staff members, teammates and countless relationships we built around the rink made it some of the most enjoyable years of my career," Coleman wrote.
At 34, Coleman gets a chance to chase playoff success with a talented Wild roster. He has reached the postseason just once since winning back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
