The Calgary Flames are in a rebuilding phase.
Three years ago, they beat the Dallas Stars in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs but lost to the Edmonton Oilers. Since then, many key players like Matthew Tkachuk, Sean Monahan, and Johnny Gaudreau have left. Despite these losses, Calgary managed to get good returns for most of them.
In this year’s draft, they had some interesting picks. Zayne Parekh was their top pick at ninth overall. He’s an offensive defenseman who scored 33 goals and 96 points last season with Saginaw in the OHL. Matvei Gridin was another first-round pick known for creating space on the ice; he scored 46 goals and 104 points over two years with Muskegon in the USHL.
Jacob Battaglia from Kingston is fast and skilled; he might make it to Calgary’s top six if he keeps improving. He scored 31 goals and 65 points last season but may find it harder to score as much in the NHL.
Trade Acquisitions:
Kevin Bahl joined from New Jersey along with a future first-round pick. With many defensemen leaving Calgary, Bahl could get more ice time here than he did with New Jersey.
Fans might think these moves show a clear direction toward rebuilding.
UFA Signings:
Calgary signed Jake Bean for $3.5M over two years, Devin Cooley for $1.55M also over two years, Martin Frk for one year at $775K, Justin Kirkland for one year at $775K, Ryan Lomberg for two years at $4M, and Anthony Mantha for one year at $3.5M. These signings were short-term deals mostly aimed at adding depth.
Lomberg is known for his physical play; he had 445 hits over three seasons with Florida Panthers . Mantha has potential but struggled after being traded to Vegas last year.
RFA Re-Signings:
Jonathan Aspirot signed a one-year deal worth $775K along with Adam Klapka and Yan Kuznetsov on similar terms. Yegor Sharangovich got a five-year deal worth $28.75M after impressing last season by scoring 31 goals and leading the team in scoring with 59 points .
Dustin Wolf re-signed on a two-year deal worth $1.7M; he’s seen as their goalie of the future given his strong AHL performances despite struggling briefly in NHL stints so far.
Departures:
Dennis Gilbert went to Buffalo on a one-year deal worth $825K while A.J Greer joined Florida on a two-year contract valued at $1.7M among others leaving via free agency or trades including notable names like Mangiapane (traded) & Markstrom (traded).
Calgary now has significant cap space ($19.2M), second-most in NHL which they can use strategically throughout next season possibly taking on bad contracts from other teams needing relief thereby gaining more assets/prospects/draft picks !
Will there be more selling? Likely yes! Depending upon how soon they aim returning into contention window Flames might explore markets around Kadri/Coleman/Huberdeau/Weegar especially considering Huberdeau’s hefty contract already deemed problematic within league circles
When will prospects come up? Training camp yet pending however both Wolf & Connor Zary expected making roster alongside potentially integrating notable draft picks Parekh/Basha once junior seasons conclude next year ensuring ample opportunities awaiting promising talents
What do you think about all these changes?
