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Calgary Flames Recall Ilya Solovyov

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The Calgary Flames have announced that defenseman Ilya Solovyov has been recalled from the team’s AHL affiliate, the Calgary Wranglers. The move puts Solovyov, 23, in a position to potentially make his NHL debut.

Solovyov has been a nice developmental success story so far for the Flames, who selected the six-foot-three Belarusian defenseman 205th overall at the 2020 draft. Solovyov had gone undrafted the prior two seasons but after a 40-point performance in the OHL with the Saginaw Spirit he finally heard his name called at the NHL draft.

Solovyov then spent 2020-21 playing regular minutes for Dynamo Minsk in the KHL, before coming to North America in 2021-22. Solovyov has been a regular presence for the Stockton Heat and now Calgary Wranglers since that point, and by weathering heavy minutes he has shown his readiness for a shot at playing in the NHL.

The Flames have now lost three straight contests and surrendered a total of 12 goals in that span. With Rasmus Andersson still serving a suspension, the Flames were forced to rely on 26-year-old depth defenseman Dennis Gilbert to play a top-four role next to Chris Tanev. Perhaps with this recall, Solovyov will get a shot to handle that job instead.

In terms of creating the necessary cap space to facilitate this recall, no corresponding move was included in the Flames’ announcement.

But FlamesNation’s Ryan Pike writes on X that the Flames moving Kevin Rooney from standard injured reserve to long-term injured reserve would allow the Flames to exceed the cap by an additional $1.3MM, which would create the necessary space for this Solovyov recall.

NHL Upholds Rasmus Andersson’s Four-Game Suspension

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NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has upheld the four-game suspension assessed to Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson last weekend, according to a league release. The NHLPA filed an appeal on behalf of Andersson, which resulted in a meeting with Bettman on Monday. As a result, Andersson will remain ineligible to play for the remainder of the month and, notably, in this weekend’s Heritage Classic.

Andersson was assessed the suspension after charging Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine with just seconds remaining in the third period of last Friday’s game. He was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for elbowing on the play, which prompted a hearing with NHL Player Safety the following day. After serving the first game of his suspension in Sunday’s blowout loss against the Red Wings, Andersson will miss Calgary’s three remaining games this month, including tonight’s tilt against the Rangers.

Laine sustained an upper-body injury on the play and is currently on IR, guaranteed to miss at least the rest of this week. In his full ruling on the appeal, Bettman said that the NHLPA only appealed to reduce the suspension to three games, which would have allowed Andersson to participate in the outdoor Heritage Classic. He also said Andersson acknowledged the hit was “not perfect” and said Andersson took responsibility for the play but found the severity of the hit and its timing late in the game warranted the full four-game length.

That means Sunday’s contest against the Oilers, the first outdoor game on the 2023-24 schedule, will take place without Calgary’s number-one defenseman and, likely, without Oilers captain and superstar center Connor McDavid. It’s a tough break for a marquee early-season rivalry game under an already increased spotlight.

Flames, Noah Hanifin Making Progress On Extension

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Speaking during the Saturday Headlines segment during Sportsnet’s Hockey Night in Canada coverage, Elliotte Friedman reports things are trending in a positive direction between the Flames and defenseman Noah Hanifin, and an extension for the pending UFA defenseman is a realistic outcome.

This is a continuation of a lengthy positive swing in relations between the Flames’ front office and their slate of pending UFAs. It began with captain Mikael Backlund, who inked a pre-season extension (and was awarded the captaincy) despite previously stating he’d wait out to see how the team began their season before deciding whether or not to extend. The fact these talks are even occurring is another significant sign for the better. Hanifin reportedly made it known to GM Craig Conroy this summer that he wasn’t open to signing an extension with the team, but he reversed course once players reported to training camps in September.

Hanifin has gotten off to a strong start on the scoresheet, leading all Flames defenders in assists (and points) with four. He’s logged 22:49 per game, a touch higher than last season’s 22:39, which was already a career-high. His pairing with the now-suspended Rasmus Andersson has had the most defensive struggles out of all the Flames’ main units, however, controlling just 40% of expected goals at even strength, per MoneyPuck.

That being said, five games is an awfully small sample size, and Hanifin has a recent history of very strong possession play. He’s become a core piece of both the Flames’ power play and penalty kill units over the past three seasons as well, logging over 30 points in three of his five full seasons as a Flame.

It could be a rather rich proposition to keep Hanifin in Alberta, however. Evolving Hockey projects an extension for the 26-year-old to boast an eight-year term with a $7.5MM cap hit, certainly expected value for a pending UFA top-pairing blueliner given the recent market. But whether or not the Flames can afford that plus a hypothetical extension for Elias Lindholm in the $8MM-$9MM range remains to be seen. Both player’s current cap hits are a fraction of their projected extension costs – Lindholm at $4.85MM and Hanifin at $4.95MM. It will be difficult to shoulder such a significant increase for a team already dealing with a significant cap crunch early into the 2023-24 season.

Without Andersson in the lineup, five of the Flames’ six defenders, including Hanifin are destined for free agency next summer. MacKenzie Weegar, locked up through 2031, is the only exception.

Rasmus Andersson's Suspension Could Create Cap Crunch

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It seems Rasmus Andersson’s four-game suspension could have a negative domino effect on the Flames. Aside from missing one of their top defenders (if not their top defender) for the rest of the month, a semi-long-term suspension creates some salary cap issues for a strapped Calgary squad.

Since players suspended by the league still count against the salary cap, Andersson’s $4.55MM cap hit will remain on the books until his return next month. The team has exactly $0 in space left with defenseman Oliver Kylington on LTIR, and they have just six healthy defensemen on the roster, with Jordan Oesterle now set to slide into a bottom-pairing role for the next quartet of games. If another defender is sidelined due to injury, the team may have trouble making a corresponding roster move to dress a full roster. One potential solution would be sliding forward Kevin Rooney from IR to LTIR retroactive to the beginning of the season, but that assumes he will be out for at least the next five games. That’s certainly a distinct possibility, as he carries an unknown return timeline following offseason shoulder surgery. The only other option for the Flames would be to waive forward Dryden Hunt and replace him with a defense call-up from AHL Calgary, but their options would be limited to defenders with a league-minimum cap hit of $775K, the same as Hunt’s.

Rasmus Andersson Suspended Four Games, Flames Will Appeal

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6:12 p.m.: Andersson has been suspended four games as a result of the play, NHL Player Safety confirms. Andersson will be eligible to return on November 1 against the Stars. Charging was the official designation on the play. Sportsnet’s Eric Francis later reported the Flames are planning to appeal the suspension, although a significant reduction in length is unlikely to happen in time based on past precedent.

10:19 a.m.: Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson delivered an elbow to the head of Blue Jackets winger Patrik Laine in the dying seconds of last night’s contest, earning himself a major penalty in the process.  The clip of the play can be viewed here.  It has also earned him a discussion with the league as the Department of Player Safety announced (Twitter link) that he’ll have a hearing today.  Aaron Portzline of The Athletic adds (Twitter link) that it’s a phone hearing which means the maximum suspension would be for five games.

Laine did not travel with the Blue Jackets following the game for their game today against Minnesota, the team announced (Twitter link).  He is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury.  Laine has changed positions this season and has lined up as a center in the early going.  Not surprisingly, he has struggled a bit at the faceoff dot, winning just 41% of his draws while he has a goal and an assist in four games so far this season.

As for Andersson, he has once again logged heavy minutes for Calgary in the early going, averaging just shy of 24 minutes per game while chipping in with three points in their first five contests.  The Flames are one of just two teams that aren’t in action tonight with their next contest coming tomorrow against Detroit.  That means while the hearing will take place today, it’s possible that any supplemental discipline may be announced on Sunday.

Salary Cap Deep Dive: Calgary Flames

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Navigating the salary cap is one of the more important tasks for any GM.  Teams that can avoid total cap chaos by walking the tightrope of inking players to deals that match their value (or compensate for future value without breaking the bank) remain successful.  Those that don’t see struggles and front office changes.

PHR will look at every NHL team and give a thorough look at their cap situation for the 2023-24 season.  This will focus more on players who are regulars on the roster versus those who may find themselves shuttling between the AHL and NHL.  All cap figures are courtesy of CapFriendly.

Calgary Flames

Current Cap Hit: $85,943,500 (over the $83.5MM Upper Limit)

Entry-Level Contracts

F Matthew Coronato (two years, $925K)
F Jakob Pelletier (one year, $863K/$406K SOIR charge)

Potential Bonuses
Coronato: $850K

Coronato turned pro after a strong college season last year, burning the first year of his entry-level deal in the process even though he only played in one game.  That makes assessing his second contract next to impossible at this point but it’s fair to say they’re counting on him playing an important role before too long.  His four bonuses are of the ‘A’ variety so if he’s able to stay in a top-six role, it’s possible that one or two of those could be hit.

As for Pelletier, he was up for close to half of last season which is what makes his season-opening IR charge harder than most.  Until he’s cleared to play, that will stay there.  At that time, he can be set to the roster, making the full cap charge come into effect or he can be sent down, taking it off entirely.  With the way things went last season where his playing time was limited and now with his shoulder injury, it’s reasonable to think a low-cost bridge deal is heading his way.

Signed Through 2023-24, Non-Entry-Level

F Dillon Dube ($2.3MM, RFA)
D Dennis Gilbert ($762.5K, UFA)
F A.J. Greer ($762.5K, UFA)
D Noah Hanifin ($4.95MM, UFA)
D Oliver Kylington ($2.5MM, UFA)
F Elias Lindholm ($4.85MM, UFA)
D Jordan Oesterle ($925K, UFA)
F Kevin Rooney ($1.3MM, UFA)
F Adam Ruzicka ($762.5K, RFA)
D Chris Tanev ($4.5MM, UFA)
D Nikita Zadorov ($3.75MM, UFA)

Lindholm’s future with the team (or lack thereof) has been a discussion point for several months now.  At one point, it looked like he might not have much interest in staying.  That doesn’t appear to be the case now but the two sides still aren’t believed to be close on a new deal.  While a repeat of his 42-goal performance in 2021-22 isn’t likely, Lindholm is still a top center in terms of all-around usage and someone is going to pay him accordingly.  At the moment, he’s one of the top middlemen that will be set to hit the open market and recent contracts handed out likely peg the low end of his price around the $8.5MM while the high end will start with a nine on a max-term deal or close to it.

Dube has shown steady improvement throughout his young career and is coming off a career year that saw him put up 45 points.  Another season like that will have him well-positioned to earn a fair bit more than the $2.4MM qualifier he’s owed; a long-term deal would push past the $4MM mark.  Rooney spent most of last in the minors but since he has a one-way contract, he’s counting in full against Calgary’s cap for the time being.  He’s likely looking at a deal close to the minimum next summer.  Greer did alright on Boston’s fourth line last year, resulting in a preseason waiver claim by Calgary.  That said, that role in the lineup is usually filled by someone making the minimum or close to it.  Ruzicka has shown some offensive promise but his NHL minutes have been limited.  As things stand, a deal just past the $1MM mark is doable but with a bigger role this season, there’s room for him to beat that.

While there is a bit of optimism with Lindholm, there still isn’t a ton when it comes to Hanifin even though he said last month that he’s open to the idea.  As a number two defender, he’s in line for a considerable increase on a long-term deal regardless of who gives it to him.  He’ll be 27 next summer so a max-term contract surpassing the $7MM mark should be heading his way.  Tanev is a throwback shutdown defenseman, the type of player that isn’t seen as frequently now as it was a few years ago.  However, he has managed to stay relatively healthy with Calgary which will help his value.  It’d be a bit surprising if he beat this on his next deal but with his reputation, it could be possible.

Zadorov had a surprisingly strong season last year from a goal perspective, notching 14 after his prior career high was seven.  His size and physicality have allowed him to get some decent-sized contracts thus far despite being more of a fourth or fifth defender but a repeat of that performance offensively could really boost his market next summer.  If he reverts back to his usual level of production though, he still could push for something in the $4.5MM range.  Kylington missed all of last season for personal reasons and after vowing to be ready for this year, is back on LTIR for personal reasons once again.  At this point, it’s hard to pinpoint what his next deal might look like until he’s actually back in uniform.

Oesterle came to Calgary in free agency after spending the past two years in Detroit.  Until he can lock down an every-game role, he’s likely to stay below the $1MM mark.  As for Gilbert, he has yet to play a full NHL season and is therefore also likely to be below $1MM on his next deal.  The fact he has an AAV below the league minimum might help his chances of sticking at the top level, however.

Signed Through 2024-25

F Walker Duehr ($825K, UFA)
F Dryden Hunt ($775K, UFA)
F Andrew Mangiapane ($5.8MM, UFA)
F Yegor Sharangovich ($3.1MM, UFA)
G Daniel Vladar ($2.2MM, UFA)

Mangiapane wasn’t quite able to live up to his 35-goal breakout year in 2021-22, scoring instead at a second-line level.  That’s not a poor performance but from a value perspective, they’re paying him to be one of their go-to scorers, not a secondary piece.  Sharangovich was acquired in the Tyler Toffoli trade this summer, basically buying themselves an extra year of control with this contract that they quickly gave him.  The 2021-22 version is worth a bigger deal than this one on the open market while the one from last year wouldn’t be likely to get much more than this.  We’ll see which version he is for Calgary.

Duehr spent more time in the minors than the NHL last season but still managed to earn a one-way deal for his troubles.  Now, it’s about establishing himself as an every-game player and if that happens, he could land a deal a bit better than this one.  If his seven goals over 27 games translates to full-season production at that level though, then the $2MM mark is achievable.  Hunt bounced around the league last season, twice claimed on waivers before being traded at the deadline.  He’s a player on the fringes right now and those ones usually stay pretty close to the minimum.

Vladar has been in trade speculation dating back to the summer with Dustin Wolf showing that he’s ready for some NHL action.  However, they likely don’t want Wolf playing just once a week so how willing they are to move Vladar at this point is far from a certainty.  He’s still relatively inexperienced with one good and one not-so-good year under his belt.  More of the former could push him toward the $3MM mark but more years like last season will likely result in a dip on his next deal.

Signed Through 2025-26

D Rasmus Andersson ($4.55MM, UFA)
F Mikael Backlund ($5.35MM in 2023-24, $4.5MM in 2024-25 and 2025-26)
G Jacob Markstrom ($6MM, UFA)

Backlund was originally planning to wait things out before deciding about possibly extending but had a change of heart and was immediately named captain thereafter.  He had a career year last season and if he stays at that level, this deal would be a team-friendly one quickly.  That’s not realistic but if he goes back to his career averages, this is a fair-value contract that will carry him through 18 seasons with the Flames.

Andersson started out his career in more of a supporting role but former GM Brad Treliving thought that the blueliner had another level to get to, handing him this six-year deal.  He was certainly proven right.  The 26-year-old had a 50-point showing in 2021-22 (his previous benchmark was 22) and followed it up with a 49-point effort last season while pushing his ATOI past the 24-minute mark.  Those are basically number one defenseman numbers for a player who is being paid like a third or fourth option.  Lots can happen over the next three seasons that could change things but if Andersson has three more years like the last two, he has a chance to push for double his current price tag in 2026.

Markstrom is coming off a down season but remains one of the more consistently reliable goalies across the NHL which helped land him this contract back in 2020 at a time when the cap was just starting to tighten.  It’s a deal that puts him in the top ten for cap hits among NHL netminders (including those that will be on LTIR for the entire year) but when he’s on his game, he’s worth the premium.

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Snapshots: Norris, Vladar, Dvorsky

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Bruce Garrioch of The Ottawa Sun has reported that the Ottawa Senators are hopeful centerman Joshua Norris can make his season debut in their Wednesday night game. Norris has been absent for the entirety of the early season and much of training camp, continuing to nurse a shoulder injury that was initially suffered roughly one year ago.

The injury held Norris out of all but eight games in the 2022-23 season, cutting short what would have been his third NHL season. Norris played 66 games in the 2021-22 campaign, scoring a dazzling 35 goals and 55 points. His 35-goal mark was, at the time, the most scored by a Senator in a decade, although Brady Tkachuk tied it and Tim Stutzle topped it with 39 goals last year. Norris showed similar goal-scoring capabilities in his rookie season of 2020-21, netting 17 goals in 56 games, tied for third on the Ottawa roster.

Norris returned to practice centering the Senators’ third line, between Drake Batherson and Dominik Kubalik. Batherson has been one of Norris’ most common linemates throughout his first two NHL seasons, with the duo accounting for 75 goals for and 44 goals against through a combined 1042 minutes of ice time together.

More notes from around the league:

  • The latest episode of the ’Big Show with Rusic and Rose’ shared that Calgary is reengaging in preliminary trade talks for goaltender Daniel Vladar. They also shared that Calgary shopped Vladar this summer, but the cost was too high for interested teams. It’s unsure whether the Flames have changed their asking price now that the season has begun. Vladar has an expensive $2.2MM cap hit but could be a hot commodity for teams looking to bolster their goaltending room.
  • 2023 NHL Draft Top 10 pick Dalibor Dvorsky has mutually terminated his contract with IK Oskarshamn. Dvorsky was loaned to the Swedish club at the start of the year but has gone without a point through their first 10 games of the season. Dvorsky is expected to join the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL.

Flames And Lindholm Not Making Much Progress In Extension Talks

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There has been some optimism about the Flames and pending UFA center Elias Lindholm working out an extension after the veteran indicated a desire to get a deal done.  However, the two sides aren’t close to an agreement, Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic reported in TSN’s latest Insider Trading segment (video link).  Calgary could point to the extension that Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele just signed, a seven-year deal that carries a cap hit of $8.5MM as a possible comparable, if not a bit lower given that Lindholm’s career numbers aren’t as high as Scheifele’s.  However, if the Flames want to get a deal done early, their offer might have to get closer to the $9MM range on a max-term agreement or close to it.

Evening Notes: Couture, Motte, Nylander

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Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News is reporting that San Jose Sharks center Logan Couture will miss the team’s home opener on October 12th against the Vegas Golden Knights. Couture remains week-to-week currently but has started some light skating over the last few days. Couture suffered a lower-body injury prior to the start of training camp and failed his physical which has kept him out of pre-season action. This will be the first time Couture starts a season on the IR.

The Sharks are likely to use Tomas Hertl in Couture’s usual spot centering their first line. While Hertl can play on the team’s top unit, it does create a domino effect on an already thin forward group. Mikael Granlund appears likely to center the team’s second unit which could be problematic given how much he struggled last season.

The Sharks appear poised to finish the season near the bottom of the standings and seem prepared to take their time with Couture’s injury. Couture is only halfway through his eight-year contract and could become a tradeable asset for the Sharks if he is able to get healthy and contribute this season.

In other evening notes:

  • Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times tweeted that Tampa Bay Lightning forward Tyler Motte left the game in the second period of their 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators. The 28-year-old took a puck in the hand with just under six minutes left in the middle frame and did not return to the game. Lightning Head Coach Jon Cooper told reporters that the team will know more about Motte’s condition at some point tomorrow. Motte signed a one-year deal in the offseason after setting a career-high with 19 points last season in 62 games.
  • Pierre LeBrun reported on TSN Insider Trading that the Toronto Maple Leafs and pending unrestricted free agent forward William Nylander are continuing contract extension discussions into the season with both sides remaining tight-lipped on the proceedings. LeBrun added that Maple Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving had a face-to-face discussion with Nylander at training camp as the sides try and work towards a resolution. LeBrun finishes by saying that it appears from the outside that all parties are on the same page as far as getting the deal done.

Flames Claim A.J. Greer Off Waivers From Bruins

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The Calgary Flames claimed winger A.J. Greer off waivers from the Boston Bruins on Monday, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports.

Boston had initially acquired Greer, 26, by signing him to a two-year, $1.525MM contract in free agency during the summer of 2022. Eyebrows raised when it was announced Greer received a one-way deal after spending most of his pro career in the minors, but he managed to crack the record-breaking Bruins out of camp and never looked back. The gritty winger avoided AHL assignment for the first time in his career and notched five goals, seven assists, and 12 points in 61 contests with Boston – as well as 114 penalty minutes. After the team’s trade deadline moves, however, he was mostly a healthy scratch and did not play during their first-round playoff loss to the Florida Panthers.

With younger players like Jakub Lauko and Matthew Poitras taking strides in their development, Greer lost his roster spot and was waived yesterday. He heads to a team in need of forward depth in Calgary, who is down two initially projected regulars for this season after Jakob Pelletier and Kevin Rooney sustained long-term injuries during training camp. Greer will challenge other depth forwards like Walker Duehr and Dryden Hunt for ice time on the Flames’ fourth line to begin the season.

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