After exceeding expectations all season and missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Calgary Flames are focused on taking another step forward next season.
General manager Craig Conroy is adamant that Calgary won’t deviate from the big-picture plan, which puts most of the off-season focus on internal business. The Flames have interesting decisions to make on a few pending free agents, while the trade buzz will be swirling around one big-name defenceman.
We’re covering it all in the latest edition of our Flames Mailbag.
You knew we couldn’t do an off-season mailbag without addressing Rasmus Andersson’s future in Calgary.
Entering the final year of his contract, and coming off a frustratingly inconsistent season, Andersson’s outlook over the next two to 12 months is cloudy at best.
Andersson is very aware that both he and the team have a big decision to make as early as this summer. As Eric Francis detailed last week, Andersson spoke at length about his future on locker clean-out day and admitted he truly doesn’t know what’s going to happen.
Turning 29 in October, Andersson is just over a year away from his first shot at unrestricted free agency. He and his representation will understandably be looking for a big-ticket extension, with a couple of recently signed deals providing a potential range.
On the high end is Washington’s Jakob Chychrun, who signed an eight-year deal in March that carries a $9 million cap hit. On the opposite end is Winnipeg’s Neal Pionk, who signed at a $7 million AAV over six years earlier this month. In this case, you can imagine which contract would be favoured by the player and team.
“He told me he wants to be here,” Conroy revealed to Flames Talk on locker clean-out day.
“Rasmus understands it’s a business. Same thing for me. Everybody has an idea what they’re worth and how long they want and then the team has a different opinion usually. So, we’ll have to see if it works out for both sides.”
That said, there’s no guarantee a decision is made by the NHL Draft in late June.
One thing we know: Conroy will absolutely trade Andersson if agreeing to a contract isn’t in the cards. But if that decision isn’t made until sometime next season, Andersson’s value will remain high, considering his palatable $4.55 million cap hit.
Making the right decision is the most important thing, though, regardless of timeline. And if that choice is a trade, getting the best possible return is the priority
Coming off a 24-goal campaign in his first full NHL season, pending restricted free agent Matt Coronato is right near the top of Calgary’s priority list.
I believe the Flames are willing to go seven or eight years with Coronato this summer if the number is right. The slight issue with Jalil’s comparable deals is that each of Seattle’s Beniers ($7.14 million AAV), Ottawa’s Cozens ($7.1 million), and Utah’s Guenther (7.14 million) had multiple full campaigns under their belt before signing their term extensions.
Coronato has just the one, which could keep his number lower. Would a cap hit in the mid or high sixes, which would still carry a total value in and around $50 million, be enough to convince Coronato’s camp to forego betting on himself on a two or three-year bridge?
If the answer is yes, we could very well see a long-term extension announced over the next few months.
This answer comes down to Dan Vladar’s preference.
Vladar, who went 6-1-1 with a 0.927 save percentage down the stretch, is a pending unrestricted free agent and has a decision to make. Does he want to remain with the Flames, where he’s comfortable, but will be number two behind Dustin Wolf? Or does he prioritize more potential playing time elsewhere?
My belief is that Calgary would like to bring Vladar back on a similar deal he signed back in October 2022 (two years, $2.2 million AAV). If that cap hit needs to be slightly higher to keep Vladar in the fold, the Flames have nothing but cap room.
“We would love to have Dan back,” Conroy admitted on Flames Talk. “We’ve seen him over the years. He…gives us a chance to win every night, and that’s all you can ask for. He’s a great person, and he’s great in the room.
“Vlad is a true pro, you know. So, we’ll see where it goes.”
Working in Calgary’s favour is the lack of open goaltending jobs around the league this summer. It’s a departure from the annual goalie carousel we’ve gotten used to.
Coupling that and Vladar’s locker clean-out admission he’d also like to return, it would be a surprise if he’s not partnering with Wolf again next season.
I want to focus on one player from Devon’s question and that’s pending RFA Connor Zary.
After a promising rookie season, Zary’s latest campaign was riddled with frustration, including a pair of knee injuries. All told, Zary recorded 13 goals and 27 points in 54 games and didn’t deliver the step forward he or the Flames were hoping for as an NHL sophomore.
“I know I have so much to offer,” said Zary on locker clean-out day.
“I think I could have produced more, but at the end of the day, I think if I play even 70 games out of the 80, I think I’m a 20-goal guy, I’m a 50-point guy. I think it’s disappointing not to reach those goals I had set for myself.”
Zary’s most recent season was full of stops and starts and he’s dealt with a few different injuries since becoming an NHLer in November 2023. As such, it’s difficult to get a definitive read on what Zary truly is. For those reasons, a bridge deal is the likely outcome here.
