One month to go: What the Calgary Flames still need to address this offseason
Article content
In exactly one month, the Calgary Flames will hold their annual Celebrity Charity Golf Classic.
The tournament, which goes Sept. 8-9 this year, unofficially marks the start of the team’s eight-month grind — longer if they make the playoffs.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
One month to go: What the Calgary Flames still need to address this offseason Back to video
With that in mind, what’s left to be accomplished this summer? Here’s five stories we’ll be monitoring between now and when the Flames tee off.
1. THE RASMUS ANDERSSON SITUATION
At this point, it doesn’t seem super likely that Flames GM Craig Conroy will find a deal to trade Rasmus Andersson this summer.
We know there were offers around June’s NHL Draft and it has been reported that Andersson told teams he only was willing to sign an extension with the Vegas Golden Knights.
A trade with Vegas doesn’t make sense right now, they just don’t have the prospects to make it worthwhile from the Flames’ perspective.
That means Andersson will almost certainly be starting the season in Calgary. Fortunately, Conroy has publicly expressed that he has no concerns about Andersson’s attitude affecting the team, if that’s how it plays out.
The situation mostly has quieted down since the beginning of July, but it will surely heat up again once the Flames return to training like it did with Elias Lindholm two years ago at the golf tournament.
If Andersson can start the season hot, it will only increase his trade value and maybe a team will be willing to swing a deal without the guarantee of an extension.
It’s unfortunate that the situation has gotten to this point and questions will linger throughout training camp if a deal doesn’t get done, but that looks like the most likely scenario right now.
2. THE CONNOR ZARY EXTENSION
Connor Zary is the only remaining unsigned restricted free agent left for the Flames to get to commit pen-to-paper this summer. There’s an internal confidence about getting an extension done, but Conroy admitted last week that the process has been slow.
The Flames reportedly want to sign Zary to a short-term bridge deal, while the 23-year-old would like more of a commitment.
There’s absolutely no reason to believe they won’t be able to find common ground eventually, it’s just a matter of when. Nobody wants to see this drag out right until the final hours or days before training camp and anybody with half a brain knows Zary will be an important piece next season and beyond.
After suffering two knee injuries last year — neither of which were his fault — 2025-26 is going to be an important season for Zary to prove he can stay on the ice and produce.
Hopefully, the contract is done sooner rather than later so the focus can shift squarely to the season ahead.
3. DUSTIN WOLF’S FUTURE
This isn’t actually all that urgent, as Dustin Wolf doesn’t become a restricted free agent until next summer. The Flames won’t want to risk another team putting an offer sheet in front of their goaltender-of-the-future next July, though, so getting him signed to a long-term extension will be a priority.
Could it get done this summer? Why not?
Wolf was second in Calder Trophy voting last season after going 29-16-8 and posting a 2.64 goals-against-average and a .910 save percentage. The starter’s crease is all his and, even if there is a regression in Year 2 as a full-time NHLer, his history gives you every reason to believe the future is very bright.
He’ll be 25 years old next summer and will deservedly want to get paid. We’re probably not talking Igor Shesterkin numbers just yet, but Wolf’s next contract won’t be cheap.
It’s a deal the Flames will want to get done way before July 1 next year, though, and if they got him signed this summer it would make a lot of people in Calgary very, very happy.
4. BARGAIN-BASEMENT FREE AGENTS
The Flames were quiet when free agency opened and have remained so ever since.
Is there any chance that they’ll dip into the market and try to add some depth by signing one of the guys who still hasn’t found employment for next season? The answer probably is no.
You could make the argument that a right-shot centre like Jack Roslovic, who scored 22 goals last season, could be helpful for a team that struggled to fill the net.
On the other hand, the Flames do have options in the middle and may want to give Zary a longer look there.
It has been quiet, it has stayed quiet and it’s extremely unlikely that it’s suddenly going to get noisy between now and the start of training camp.
5. PTOs
Since taking over as GM in 2023, Conroy hasn’t been nearly as keen as his predecessor, Brad Treliving, when it comes to bringing in veterans on professional tryout contracts at training camp.
The Flames want there to be places for young players to earn playing time, so at this point in their development cycle PTOs just don’t make a ton of sense.
They did bring in Tyson Barrie last year and then signed him to a contract, but that went poorly, to put it plainly.
There aren’t a lot of holes on the Flames roster that couldn’t be filled with young players who are champing at the bit for opportunities next season, so the safe bet is on the Flames staying out of the PTO market.
www.twitter.com/DannyAustin_9
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.