Flames' biggest move was re-signing Sharangovich, and avoiding overpayments on bigger free agent inkings
It was quite a long weekend for the Calgary Flames. A solid 10-player NHL draft was followed up by a low-key first day of free agency that saw GM Craig Conroy make more of a splash with an internal signing than anything big on the open market.
And that's a good thing for the rebuilding Flames.
Conroy made a splash with a five-year extension for Yegor Sharangovich — who was one of the high points of the Flames season in 2023-24. It was a tidy signing that locked up a core piece for essentially the same money the GM disposed of in the Andrew Mangiapane trade. Both were entering the final year of their current contracts.
Sometimes the best moves are the ones that don't get made. In the case of the Flames, they had been rumoured to be kicking tires on the likes of Jake DeBrusk, Anthony Duclair and Viktor Arvidsson, but didn't want to put up either the money or term they ultimately signed for.
Instead, the Flames opted for a few other sensible signings. They brought back energy winger, and now Stanley Cup champion, Ryan Lomberg for two years at $2 million AAV. Calgary product Jake Bean, whose dad only recently left his role as one of the franchise's top executives, was signed for two years at a $1.75 AAV.
With Dan Vladar's recovery from hip surgery a bit of a question mark, the Flames added depth with netminder Devin Cooley for $775,000 next season on a one-way deal and then a two-way deal the following year.
Their biggest move aside from the Sharangovich signing was giving 29-year-old Anthony Mantha a one-year deal worth $3.5 million. Mantha has been inconsistent over his NHL career but the team is hoping he may click with playmaker Jonathan Huberdeau.
They also gave two-way deals to forward Martin Frk and Justin Kirkland, as well as defenceman Jonathan Aspirot, who played last season on an AHL deal with the Calgary Wranglers.
There's little risk involved in any of these moves, and the term doesn't restrict their flexibility to add more via trade in the coming weeks and months.
It's been a solid start to the summer for the Flames even as expectations for the rebuilding club remain low.