Earlier today, Flames GM Brad Treliving told reporters, including Sportsnet 960’s Pat Steinberg (Twitter link) that the team was waiting for the finalization of a new transfer agreement before they could confirm the signing of a Swedish free agent. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman relays (via Twitter) that the player that Treliving was referencing was Swedish defenseman Johannes Kinnvall.
The 22-year-old is coming off of a breakout season in the SHL where he finished second in league scoring after collecting 11 goals and 29 assists in 51 games with HV71. He was already on Calgary’s radar before this season though as he attended their development camp last summer.
Kinnvall is already signed for next season which is why the extension of the current transfer agreement between the NHL and the Swedish Federation is required. Friedman notes that there were rumblings earlier in the week about the NHL wanting to do one-year extensions on their current agreements so that will be something to watch for in the days to come.
Assuming a deal eventually is finalized, Kinnvall will receive a two-year, entry-level deal and join a Flames back end that has several youngsters that are already established in the NHL. However, with both Travis Hamonic and T.J. Brodie eligible for unrestricted free agency this offseason, there could be an opening or two on their back end and with the year that Kinnvall just had, he could certainly push for a spot sooner than later.