There are still ways to improve your team after the NHL trade deadline passes. One way is by signing college free agents. There is a long list of college free agent successes, including Tyler Bozak, Chris Tanev, Torey Krug, and Chris Kunitz.
We always see a number of college free agents signed between now and the end of the regular seasons as their collegiate seasons come to an end. This year will be no different, and it appears the Flames are interested in the top dog this year.
The Calgary Flames are interested in signing Carter King
Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli linked the Calgary Flames to this year’s top undrafted college free agent, Carter King. Seravalli noted the Flames are one team in the fight to sign him. Since he is 23 years old, he can only sign a one-year entry-level contract (ELC).
King is a Calgary product who grew up playing with a variety of Calgary hockey organizations. He is a left-shot centre who played with the Surrey Eagles of the BCHL for one year in 2019–20, posting 33 points in 58 games. After his stint in the BCHL, he moved over to the University of Denver to play for the Denver Pioneers.
In his fourth full season with the Pioneers this year, King was named team captain. He has scored 20 goals and 38 points this season—both career highs—in 39 games.
King is not the biggest guy out there, standing at 5’11”, 190 pounds, but he’s got a motor and competes hard. He’s also good in his own zone, having been nominated for defensive forward of the year in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.
The Flames could follow a similar path as they did last year
The Flames signed Sam Morton as a college free agent last year. Like King, he could only sign a one-year ELC, which kicked in for the 2024–25 season. Morton joined the Calgary Wranglers on an amateur tryout for the remainder of the 2023–24 season after he signed his deal with the Flames.
If the Flames can land King, I would bet he’ll follow a similar trajectory to Morton’s deal. Interestingly—and it might not be relevant—King attended the Flames development camp last year. Whether that helps the Flames’ chances of signing him this year remains to be seen.
King and the Pioneers face Arizona State in the NCHC Frozen Face-off semifinals on Friday. He’s looking to wrap up his collegiate career on a high note. The forward already won two NCAA championships with the Pioneers in 2022 and 2024.
Expect a decision on King’s future in the coming weeks.
