The Calgary Flames have one less pending free agent to worry about. Adam Werner, who is set to become a Group VI unrestricted free agent this summer, has signed a new two-year contract with the Malmo Redhawks of the Swedish Hockey League.
Werner, 25, spent the entire 2021-22 season with the Stockton Heat, recording a .886 save percentage in 21 appearances. While sometimes minor league goaltending performances can be tricky to evaluate due to the ever-changing roster in front of them but in this case, Werner’s statistics are in stark contrast to starter Dustin Wolf, who posted a .924 and won an award as the league’s best goaltender.
With no clear path to NHL action, it always did seem as though Werner would be taking his talents elsewhere, though a return to Sweden is interesting after his previous success in North America. Selected in the fifth round in 2016, the netminder began his pro career on this side of the pond with the Colorado Avalanche organization and even appeared in two games for the club in 2019-20. Before this season he had posted strong numbers in the minors and has the frame–Werner stands 6’5″–that can represent huge NHL upside.
Still, a two-year term with Malmo doesn’t necessarily mean we’ve seen the last of Werner. Given his relatively young age, there is still plenty of time for him to sign with another NHL organization down the line.