Today is the day! Millions of dollars are set to be handed out as NHL players switch teams in the annual free agent frenzy. What is in store for the Calgary Flames today? Let’s get into it.
Looking at the Flames forwards
Currently, the Flames have:
Huberdeau – Zary – Sharangovich
Kuzmenko – Kadri – Coronato
Pelletier – Backlund – Coleman
Pospisil – Rooney – Duehr/Klapka
With Pelletier and Coronato not being guarantees, I could see an addition or two to this Flames forward group. We know the Flames aren’t going to be in the market for the really big names. They aren’t going to be a player for Steven Stamkos. General Manager Craig Conroy has said he is not looking to hand out five- to seven-year deals to free agents. And nor should they.
Forward free agents
However, we know the team wants to “stay competitive” and help out the roster they already have. So, I could see them being interested in some of the middle-market guys. The rumours surrounding Jake DeBrusk and the Flames continue to swirl, but there are a lot of teams with interest.
Anthony Duclair is an obvious connection given that he’s played on a line with Jonathan Huberdeau before. I also look at guys like Alexander Wennberg and Jack Roslovic as potential middle-six options.
I would like to see the team sign a few rolea players for the bottom-six. Guys like Blake Lizotte or Brandon Duhaime for example. They can contribute and provide insulation for the younger players, and be kept or flipped for futures at the trade deadline. For example, Duhaime was dealt for a third-round pick at this past deadline. Teams love these types of guys at the deadline. Parker Kelly is a guy who screams Calgary Flame to me.
Calgary’s defence picture
The Flames blueline took some hits with the loss of Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev. Currently, the Flames stack up like:
Weegar – Andersson
Bahl – Miromanov
Hanley/Solovyov – Pachal
Defencemen free agents
With Oliver Kylington headed to free agency, there’s definitely some room for improvement there. I could see the team adding a defenceman or two, particularly on the left side. We heard some talk of Tyson Barrie and the Flames at the deadline, so maybe that’s something that occurs if they are looking for a powerplay quarterback. My money would be on someone like Nate Schmidt, Matt Grzelyck, or Joel Edmundson brought in. Essentially, find players who can play up and down your lineup and chew up some minutes, and be dealt at the deadline.
Goaltenders
With Dustin Wolf and Dan Vladar as the goaltending tandem, the Flames are guaranteed to grab a third string goaltender in free agency. There is some talk about Devin Cooley being that third-stringer.
Chances on a couple of unqualified RFAs
There were quite a few intriguing names that went unqualified, such as Erik Brannstrom, Alex Nylander, Nils Lundkvist, Blake Lizotte, and Pierre-Olivier Joseph. Given the situation the Flames find themselves in, taking a shot on a couple of guys like this could make some sense. I particularly like somebody like Erik Brannstrom, who has fantastic underlying results. Given he is still 24 years old, there’s certainly some untapped ceiling that could be had. He could fit a need if Kylington signs somewhere else.
Building out for the future
The Flames aren’t heading into this free agency solely for 2024–25. Conroy has hinted several times that he’s looking at the bigger picture, most notably in how he’s handling contracts right now. No matter where the Flames see themselves in one year’s time and beyond, they’ll need to ice a lineup that can steer the ship in the right direction and it starts with free agency.
Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire
