It’s not a blockbuster, but the NHL’s first notable pre-trade deadline domino fell Monday, when the Calgary Flames announced a swap of two draft picks -- one conditional -- for Arizona Coyotes defenseman Michael Stone.

Perhaps one of the top 10 targets on the market this month, Stone was set to enter the homestretch of a one-year deal with Arizona when the Flames agreed to send a 2017 third-round draft pick, along with a 2018 fifth-rounder contingent on the blue liner re-signing with Calgary, for some anticipated defensive help.

The impact of the Stone move figures to be anything but earth-shattering but it makes sense on a couple of levels:

1. Homecoming and welcome change of scenery for Stone

The 26-year-old has a history in the Calgary area, having played four seasons to the Hitmen of the Western Hockey League. So there’s a slight comfort factor.

More important, the move out of Arizona gives Stone a fresh start and a way out of his one-season stint with the Coyotes, who started negotiations for a longer-term deal but settled on 2016-17 as a post-injury test run for Stone.

2.  Coyotes had no real reason to hang on to Stone

Maybe Stone’s edgy defensive play and reputation for being a generally good shooter are hard to ignore, especially for an Arizona club that needs all the help it can get as it rebuilds. But with more young talent, especially on defense, coming up the pipeline and Stone struggling for consistency, it was in the Coyotes’ best interest to get compensation for their once-hot prospect while they could.

Even in retaining half of Stone’s cap hit for the year, Arizona can move full speed into free-agent selling mode. And if Stone winds up re-upping with his new team, the Coyotes have a little bonus to look forward to as well.

3. What do the Flames have to lose?

Both sides probably win in this deal. While Stone’s 2016-17 struggles have showcased anything but consistency, Calgary has made it clear it needs defensive reinforcements. And for a potential top-four blue liner, the Flames gave up little of gigantic value.

With flexibility to dump Stone after the season, the Flames picked up an unpredictable and sometimes flashy talent in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race.