The Calgary Flames finally got in on the free agency action on July 2. After being the lone team left in the NHL that didn’t have a single move to note on the opening day, the team announced the signing of three AHL players from last season to help round out the Calgary Wranglers roster.
The Flames’ signings
The Flames signed all three players to two-way, league minimum contracts with an AAV of $775K, though with varying terms.
Dryden Hunt, who was acquired at the 2023 NHL trade deadline for Radim Zohorna, was a UFA. He played very well for the Wranglers, with 15 points in 17 regular season contests followed by six points in nine playoff games. He gets a two-year, two-way deal with an AAV of $775K.
The other UFA signing was Colton Poolman, who has been with the organization since March 2020 after signing out of college. Poolman is a stay-at-home defenceman who has been a warrior for the AHL club. He was rewarded with another one-year, two-way deal worth $775K.
Finally, one of the Flames’ three RFAs who was qualified on Friday signed his new contract. Martin Pospisil, a fourth round pick in 2018, was given a one-year, two-way contract worth $775K. Pospisil has shown some flashes of brilliance in the AHL, but has dealt with a number of injuries over his career that have seriously hurt his NHL chances. The team is most likely hoping that he can stay healthy and either make a run for an NHL job in training camp or be one of the Wranglers’ best players next season.
At least the Flames are doing something
The Flames can no longer say they are the only team that hasn’t made a signing this offseason, but these were all AHL signings that don’t move the needle too much. With a number of players leaving the organization, the team needed to secure some organizational depth for next year, otherwise they might have better luck at online slots Canada than they do on the ice.
This at least reinforces the Wranglers a bit to hopefully bear the loss of some young prospects to the Flames roster, and departures to other teams.
