The Calgary Flames post-draft offseason business has begun.
The team announced that they have tended qualifying offers to seven of their pending restricted free agents, with several players headed towards unrestricted free agency tomorrow.
Here is everything you need to know:
Flames RFAs who were tendered qualifying offers
The seven players that are now RFAs with the team needing new contracts are:
- Adam Klapka (RW)
- Yan Kuznetsov (D)
- Nikita Okhotiuk (D)
- Jakob Pelletier (LW)
- Cole Schwindt (C)
- Ilya Solovyov (D)
- Dustin Wolf (G)
No surprises on this list at all, compared to other team’s difficult decisions. Pelletier and Wolf are going to be starting with the Flames this season and play key roles. Klapka, Kuznetsov, Schwindt, and Solovyov will be big-minute players with the Calgary Wranglers while also potentially challenging for spots in the NHL.
The only name there that won’t factor in is Okhotiuk who will be playing in the KHL next year, despite the Flames giving up a fifth-round pick at the NHL Trade Deadline for him. The qualifying offer will keep his rights with the Flames should he ever return to the NHL or until he’s 27.
Flames Group 6 UFAs
Two players didn’t meet the GP requirements to become RFAs, therefore falling under the Group 6 UFAs, those were:
- Ben Jones (LW)
- Brady Lyle (D)
They could still be signed by the team, but are more depth moves if anything.
Flames RFAs who were not tendered qualifying offers
Additionally, two players did not receive qualifying offers from the Flames:
- Dillon Dube (RW)
- Riley Damiani (RW)
Damiani was acquired last season at the trade deadline in exchange for Emilio Pettersen. He played in 20 total games for the Wranglers and only registered two goals over that time frame. He wasn’t much of a fit for the team.
Dube on the other hand is currently on trial for sexual assault and may never play in the NHL again. Rumors are floating around that he has accepted a one-year contract in the KHL, but that has not been confirmed yet. Dube was clearly not going to receive a qualifying offer from the Flames, nor should he have, and now the Flames can completely distance themselves from Dube.
We stand in support of the victim in this ongoing case.
