We are just days away from the 2024 NHL Draft, which means we are also just days away from NHL Free Agency, which opens on July 1. The Calgary Flames are in the midst of the most pivotal weeks in franchise history, with the decisions made this week shaping the future direction of the organization in their next chapter.
While most talk of free agency is about who the Flames will sign, the team has a lot of decisions to make about who they will retain. There are 18 players that the Flames will need to decide on. Here’s who’s on the block and the likelihood they will come back to Calgary next season.
Unrestricted free agents
Unless these players are signed by July 1, they are able to sign freely with any team.
A.J. Greer
A handy fourth line piece, A.J. Greer was fine in his time with the Flames. He didn’t add much aside from stability to the bottom line, but that in itself was an asset. Odds are he’s looking for a new team this summer.
Dennis Gilbert
Known for his physicality and fighting, Dennis Gilbert was a fan favourite this season in Calgary. Not including Oliver Kylington, the Flames have six defencemen under contract for next season already, and Gilbert probably isn’t much of an upgrade on the blueline. He could re-sign, but the odds are he doesn’t.
Oliver Kylington
Probably the most interesting name on the list, Kylington and the Flames have both been very clear about the mutual desire to remain in Calgary. The big question is probably the contract specifics, with both term and amount being contentious. He almost certainly re-signs in Calgary, but how this contract negotiation shakes out is going to be very interesting.
Oscar Dansk
Oscar Dansk was a very good backup to Dustin Wolf this season and was able to hold down the fort on a depleted Calgary Wranglers side this past year. He’s very unlikely to get an NHL look in Calgary, and if that’s what he’s after, he probably goes someplace else. But if he wants more minutes in the AHL, staying with the Wranglers may be a good option. They have newcomer Waltteri Ignatjew starting this season, and it’s unknown exactly how good he’ll be at the AHL level.
Jordan Oesterle
The 32-year-old played more AHL than NHL games this season, and if he does re-sign in Calgary, will probably do more of the same next season. Jordan Oesterle likely wants a bigger role and a team where there is a path back to the NHL, and that probably means he’s off to a new team.
Colton Poolman
The brother of Tucker Poolman has been a decent defensive defenceman in the AHL, but has had virtually no offensive upside. Colton Poolman is almost certainly a career AHLer, which means he could stay with the Wranglers but is more likely to move on to a new team this summer.
Mark Pysyk
Mark Pysyk was once a depth NHL defenceman, but spent the full season in the AHL between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Calgary. With just four points on the year, he’s likely not coming back to the Wranglers next season.
Restricted free agents
The Flames do have the option to give these players a qualifying offer this summer, but they are by no means bound to do so. Qualifying offers are due on July 1, the first Monday after the NHL Draft.
Nikita Okhotiuk
This is an interesting one. The Flames can offer Okhotiuk a qualifying offer this summer to retain his rights, but the defenceman has signed a contract with the KHL’s CSKA Moscow for next season. The 23-year-old may come back to North America in time, which may make this a smart move, but odds are he doesn’t plan on coming back at all.
Dustin Wolf
Dustin Wolf will certainly be qualified this summer, and the amount he earns as he is expected to take over the net this season is going to be fascinating to see. He does not have arbitration rights.
Dillon Dube
Easily the most interesting name on this list, the Flames can technically (as far as has been reported) offer him a qualifying offer as he faces charges of sexual assault in London, Ontario. However, the odds of Dillon Dube coming back to the NHL, even if proven innocent, are very low. This one could honestly go either way. There’s also the chance the NHL sets a precedent on what teams can and can not do with the players on trial.
Adam Klapka
The massive Czech forward played NHL games this year and was a decent depth option in his time. The Flames brought Adam Klapka over from Europe as an unsigned prospect and he has blossomed in the organization. He will almost certainly be retained this summer, but he does have arbitration rights and may use them to get the contract he thinks he deserves.
Jakob Pelletier
The 2019 first-round pick had a very forgettable season in Calgary and ended the season in the AHL with the Wranglers. The Flames definitely qualify Jakob Pelletier this summer, but he has a lot of work to do to show the organization that he is an NHLer.
Riley Damiani
Acquired from Dallas this season, Riley Damiani had one assist in 14 games for the Wranglers and was just fine in his time. He doesn’t look like an NHLer at all and is unlikely to be retained this summer.
Cole Schwindt
Having completed his third full AHL season, Cole Schwindt has not really developed the way anyone expected when he was drafted. He had 36 points in 66 games for the Wranglers, which doesn’t really bode well for his future. However, he is a centre and a good human, which just may be enough to earn one more look with the Flames.
Yan Kuznetsov
A 2020 second-round pick of the Flames, Yan Kuznetsov got into NHL games this season but was broadly just fine across the board. He has shown he has grown, but he likely ends up as a fringe NHLer at best at this point in his career. He probably gets qualified, but the projection is low on him.
Ilya Solovyov
Ilya Solovyov has quietly blossomed into a very good all-around defenceman in the AHL, and handy depth in the organization. The seventh-round pick played NHL games this year, but also played a massive role on the top pair with the Wranglers. He has arbitration rights this year, and will almost certainly be qualified this summer.
Group 6 UFAs
Group six UFAs are former RFAs who have not hit the minimum number of games by the age of 25. They then become UFAs.
Ben Jones
The 25-year-old centre had 43 points for the Wranglers and was quite good, but doesn’t have enough to show he deserves an NHL look. With many prospects ahead of him, Ben Jones may be looking for an easier path to the NHL someplace else. He likely signs somewhere new this summer/
Expiring prospects without contracts
Jake Boltmann
The Flames have until mid-August to sign Jake Boltmann, but odds are they don’t. The blueliner player his senior year at Notre Dame, putting up just two points in 30 games for the Fighting Irish. He was regularly a bottom-pairing guy and spent time out of the lineup. He’s likely on to new pastures this summer and may be finding something new and different to do altogether. All the best to him.
What to expect on July 1
This is going to be one of the most exciting weekends this offseason for the Flames, culminating in the Flames extending qualifying offers to their players and prospects. There should be a lot of offers made, and who does and doesn’t get one will be fascinating to see.
