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Sharks’ Michael Misa Out Week-To-Week

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The San Jose Sharks will be without the ace up their sleeves for the next few games. Rookie winger Michael Misa is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury sustained during practice, head coach Ryan Warsofsky told Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News (subscription required). Warsofsky emphasized that the medical staff was confident Misa’s recovery will only take a few weeks. He also said that the Sharks will continue to use video coaching and light skates to focus on Misa’s development.

Misa, the 2025 second-overall pick, has been rotated in-and-out of the lineup through the start of his NHL career. He has one goal and three points in seven games. More importantly, he’s posted five blocked shots and a 52.6 faceoff percentage. Those are positive signs of Misa’s adjustment to the NHL, especially on a Sharks team that’s allowed the sixth-most goals this season.

Misa is a true star prospect, coming off a near goal-per-game season in the OHL last year. He finished the season with 62 goals and 134 points in 65 games, the second-most from a draft-year OHL player since 2000, behind Patrick Kane’s 145 points in 2006-07. San Jose’s lineup won’t be much affected by Misa’s absence, given his rotating role and Ryan Reaves’ return from injury, but making sure their latest top-pick stays on the track will remain top priority.

Working through a frustrating injury and returning to a strong role in the lineup could be enough to earn Misa a crack at minutes in the top-six, or on the powerplay. He has been held out of both groups so far, but created a dynamic fourth-line alongside fellow rookie Collin Graf and veteran Adam Gaudette. The trio spent 20 minutes of even-strength ice-time together across three games in mid-October and outscored their opponents three-to-zero. Misa recorded a point on all three goals, stretched across a brief three-game point streak. It has become clear that the Sharks want to make Misa earn his path to top minutes, but his success in a depth role is an encouraging sign of things to come. He’ll jump right back into that climb up the lineup on the other side of the first injury of his career.

Flyers Recall Carl Grundstrom

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The Philadelphia Flyers have recalled forward Carl Grundstrom from the AHL. This is Grundstrom’s first call-up in Philadelphia, after joining the organization via trade earlier this month. He was moved alongside defense prospect Artem Guryev in a deal that sent Ryan Ellis’ $6.25MM cap hit, and a 2026 sixth-round pick, to the San Jose Sharks.

The Flyers waived Grundstrom on the same day that they acquired him. That set the 27-year-old up for his first prolonged stint in the minor-leagues since 2020. He’s done well with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, recording three goals, six points, and a plus-four in 11 games.

Grundstrom previously won a Calder Cup Championship with the 2018 Toronto Marlies. He joined the ring-winning squad as only two games of the regular season, then torched the postseason for 14 points in 20 games. Grundstrom maintained the hot scoring through the next two AHL seasons, ultimately earning his NHL debut with the Los Angeles Kings in March of 2019. Since then, Grundstrom has totaled 43 goals and 76 points in 292 NHL games. His single-season best sits at 12 goals and 19 points, scored in 57 games of the Kings’ 2022-23 season.

Recalling Grundstrom will help the Flyers fill their extra-forward role after assigning Jacob Gaucher to the minors. Gaucher recently played in three games with Philadelphia, but managed no scoring and a minus-one in the efforts. Grundstrom’s recent AHL scoring streak – five points in his last three games – could bring a major spark over the minimal scoring offered by Gaucher and Rodrigo Abols, who has no scoring in nine games.

Sabres Recall Zac Jones

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The Sabres announced that they’ve recalled defenseman Zachary Jones from AHL Rochester. Jones will replace rearguard Rasmus Dahlin on the active roster as he heads to the non-roster list following today’s news of an indefinite leave of absence.

Jones, 25, has parts of five NHL seasons under his belt but hasn’t yet appeared for Buffalo this year. He was briefly rostered for a couple of days last month but didn’t get into a game. The lefty debuted with the Rangers back in 2020-21 and languished in a fringe press box/minor-league role for essentially his entire tenure. He never logged more than 46 appearances in a campaign, that career-high coming last season, and was finally non-tendered by the club last summer.

Despite looking like he could at least be a reliable No. 7 option in New York, the market for Jones wasn’t very strong. He accepted a high-paying two-way deal from Buffalo ($950K NHL/$550K AHL) and cleared waivers at the beginning of the season. Aside from that two-day call-up in October, he’s spent the season in Rochester with mixed results. Jones has always been viewed as an offensively talented rearguard who was considered enough of a defensive liability to keep him out of an everyday role. Nothing he’s done in Rochester has changed that perception. He’s off to an electric start on the scoresheet with a league-leading 13 assists but has a -4 rating, tied for second-worst on the team.

That dichotomy will keep him from being an NHL regular, but he remains an intriguing call-up option if a team needs a puck-mover in sheltered minutes. With Buffalo’s offensive heartbeat on the blue line in Dahlin now unavailable, bringing up an offensive-minded name from the minors is a natural choice. Jones, a 2019 third-round pick, has a 4-24–28 scoring line in 115 career appearances while averaging 15:54 of ice time per game.

Wild Activate Mats Zuccarello

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The Wild announced they’ve activated winger Mats Zuccarello from injured reserve. The top-six fixture will make his season debut in a couple of hours against the Islanders. They’ve been operating with an open roster spot for quite some time, so no corresponding move is required.

Minnesota didn’t hold a morning skate before today’s game. That’s to be expected on the second half of a back-to-back with travel – they lost to the Hurricanes 4-3 in Carolina last night. As such, it’s unclear where Zuccarello will slot into the lineup, but it’s assumed he’ll reprise his familiar role on the top line with Kirill Kaprizov and Marco Rossi.

Zuccarello had a lower-body issue pop up in the closing weeks of the offseason and wasn’t cleared to participate at the beginning of training camp. The initial expectation was that he’d miss the start of the regular season, and that was confirmed when the Wild said in late September that he’d be out for a minimum of seven to eight weeks. That makes his recent progress and today’s activation around a week and a half ahead of schedule.

His return is of special note for a Wild club that’s been looking to add an impact scoring winger on the trade market. They’re off to a sluggish 5-7-3 start, due mostly to uncharacteristically poor defensive play. They’re bottom-five in the league or close to it in most metrics – 29th in goals against per game (3.67), 29th in penalty killing (68.8%), 26th in shots against per game (30.1), and 29th in expected goals against per game at 5-on-5 (2.47).

Zuccarello won’t have much of an impact there, but the Wild are hoping he can at least help them outscore their problems. Fellow aging veteran Marcus Johansson stepped into Zuccarello’s top-line home to start the year and performed admirably, rattling off six goals and seven assists for 13 points in 15 games. The Wild hope he can keep some semblance of that momentum up as he shifts down into a second-line job with Matt Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek – the former of whom is clicking at a point per game – to boost the depth output from their middle-six.

Now in his age-38 season, expectations for Zuccarello should start to be tempered. He’s still been a minutes-muncher for the Wild as he ages, averaging 19:39 per game last year, but he can’t keep that workload up forever. His 0.78 points per game last season were his lowest since 2019-20 and a 14% dropoff from the year prior. If that decline ends up being linear and Zuccarello only operates at around a 55-point pace this year, Minnesota’s search for another top-nine piece will only intensify.

Predators Place Cole Smith On Injured Reserve

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The Predators announced they’ve placed winger Cole Smith on injured reserve. The placement is retroactive to Nov. 1, his most recent appearance.

Smith left that night’s game against the Flames with an upper-body injury early and didn’t return. The next day, the team announced he’d be out for three to six weeks. That renders the minimum absence of the IR placement ineffective, as he’s technically eligible to return on Nov. 10 against the Rangers but won’t be available until later in the month at the earliest.

As such, today’s move has less to do with Smith’s injury and is more about opening up a roster spot. After recalling Zachary L’Heureux from AHL Milwaukee earlier in the week, the Preds didn’t have an open one. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Nashville use Smith’s spot to recall a defenseman. Adam Wilsby has missed the last five games due to a lower-body injury and is close to returning, according to Alex Daugherty of The Tennessean. However, with Wilsby still on the active roster and unavailable, the Predators don’t have an extra rearguard available.

Before his injury, Smith was having a good start in a fourth-line role alongside Michael McCarron and Ozzy Wiesblatt. The 30-year-old had three goals through 13 games while averaging 13:26 of ice time per game, including a spot on their top penalty killing unit. Despite a -2 rating, his underlying numbers with McCarron and Wiesblatt at 5-on-5 were excellent. The trio has controlled 64.3% of expected goals and 57.6% of shot attempts, which are spectacular numbers given their role as defensive specialists.

West Notes: Patera, Blackwell, Kärki

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The Vancouver Canucks announced today that netminder Jiri Patera has been recalled on an emergency basis from their AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks. Patera, 26, has played each of the last two seasons exclusively at the AHL level, though an injury did cost him a chance to earn NHL games last season, as he was limited to just seven games played. He’s already up to five games played so far this season, posting a .894 save percentage, 3.10 goals-against average, and 1-2-2 record.

CHEK TV’s Rick Dhaliwal reported on this recall in some additional detail, noting that while netminder Kevin Lankinen is not currently injured, Thatcher Demko “may need a maintenance day.” And since the Canucks have back-to-back games to play on Saturday and Sunday, recalling Patera allows the team to be cautious and give head coach Adam Foote an additional goaltender to work with in case Demko is not able to play in one of the team’s two upcoming games. Dhaliwal did also note that Demko “is not hurt.” While he hasn’t yet played for the Canucks, Patera does have some NHL experience. The 26-year-old played in eight games across two seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights, posting a .902 save percentage.

Other notes from the Western Conference:

  • The Dallas Stars might have to deal with the loss of Colin Blackwell due to an injury, reports Stars Thoughts’ Robert Tiffin. Per Tiffin, Blackwell “took a heavy shot last night in the leg/foot” and did not practice today. While there has not been any official update from the Stars, it appears entirely possible that Blackwell will miss some time due to injury. The 32-year-old veteran of over 300 NHL games isn’t much of an offensive producer (he has one point through 14 games) but has been a key contributor on the penalty kill. He leads all Stars forwards in short-handed ice time per game so far this season, and ranked second in 2024-25, just behind Sam Steel.
  • Vegas Golden Knights prospect Arttu Kärki, who ranked No. 13 in the team’s system by Elite Prospects in August, has signed a contract to transfer to Jukurit in Finland’s Liiga. The deal runs through next season, and should give the 20-year-old blueliner a more consistent place to play moving forward. The 2023 third-round pick was drafted by Vegas out of Finland’s U20 circuit, but spent the following season in the OHL. He split last season between Tappara and Assat, and now will play for his fourth Liiga team in two years. Kärki has only played in one game so far this year, a Sept. 9 victory for HIFK Helsinki over Jukurit of all teams, and Kärki scored a goal and played in just under 18 minutes of ice time. The Golden Knights maintain the exclusive rights to sign Kärki to an entry-level deal until June 1, 2027, and Elite Prospects scout Lassi Alanen wrote in August that “if everything breaks right” Kärki could “end up as a No. 5 NHL defenceman.”

Metro Notes: Panarin, Gostisbehere, Hamilton

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The New York Rangers had a difficult first month of the 2025-26 season, and the primary reason has been the team’s inability to consistently put the puck in the net. They rank last in the NHL in goals scored per game with just 2.21, and a notable reason for their struggles has been the performance of star winger Artemi Panarin. Panarin is usually the Rangers’ offensive engine, but he has just seven points in 14 games this season, with four of them coming in a single game. The Athletic’s Vince Z. Mercogliano reported on Panarin’s struggles in more detail, with Panarin telling the reporter his struggles have “really kind of snowballed.” He said “I missed training camp, had a couple (injury) issues. I wasn’t feeling right from a conditioning standpoint in the first couple games. I started getting frustrated right away, and then it kind of goes into the contract and all that stuff in my head.”

As Panarin himself noted, his contract status as a pending unrestricted free agent looms large over his 2025-26 season. Mercogliano reported that “there have been brief negotiations” between Panarin’s camp, led by Paul Theofanous, and the Rangers, but that those talks have “stalled” lately. It’s been reported previously that the Rangers are “in no rush” to make a commitment to Panarin, who at 34 years old is staring down the possibility that this could be the last big contract of his NHL career. In order for him to maximize that deal, he’ll need to step up his production. Panarin ended the 2023-24 season with 120 points, so he’s shown recently that he can be among the top scorers in the NHL. For him to position himself best for his next contract, he’ll need to find a way to rediscover that form.

Other notes from the Metropolitan Division:

  • The Carolina Hurricanes announced today that defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere has been placed on injured reserve, and that the IR placement is retroactive to Oct. 28. Gostisbehere was injured in the team’s Oct. 28 game against the Vegas Golden Knights, and hasn’t played since. The veteran was off to a strong start to the season before his injury, scoring seven points in six games. There remains no firm timeline for Gostisbehere to return, and without Gostisbehere to run the team’s top power-play unit, the team has had to rely on veteran Sean Walker, who has five points through 13 games.
  • New Jersey Devils star blueliner Dougie Hamilton left last night’s victory over the Montreal Canadiens with an injury, and no further update on Hamilton’s status was provided. Today, Devils team reporter Amanda Stein relayed word from head coach Sheldon Keefe that Hamilton remains under evaluation today, and there is at this point no additional detail on the player’s status. Hamilton is a key contributor to what has been a strong Devils team so far this season. He ranks No. 2 among Devils defensemen in ice time, just behind Luke Hughes, and is tied with Hughes for second on the team in defensive scoring with seven points in 14 games. The 32-year-old is playing out a $9MM AAV contract that runs through the 2027-28 season.

Toronto Maple Leafs Place Cayden Primeau On Waivers

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have placed netminder Cayden Primeau on waivers, according to The Athletic’s Chris Johnston. Primeau, 26, was originally claimed off of waivers by the Maple Leafs on Oct. 6, as expected tandem goalie Joseph Woll had stepped away from the team to take a leave of absence on Sept. 23. Now, Woll has returned to the team and is nearing a full return to the NHL, a development that will, as expected, push Primeau off of the Maple Leafs’ NHL roster.

TSN’s Mark Masters reported today that Woll is going to play an AHL conditioning stint this weekend, meaning that while Primeau has been waived today, he may remain on the Maple Leafs’ NHL roster for a few more days while Woll is on his conditioning stint, assuming Primeau clears, of course.

Complicating his chances of clearing waivers is the fact that he was originally acquired by the Maple Leafs via waivers – meaning if the Carolina Hurricanes are the only team to claim Primeau, they would be free to claim him and then assign him to their AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves.

While Primeau does come with a relatively hefty AHL price tag attached (he’s playing on a one-way, $775k deal), the Hurricanes could use some veteran support in their crease in Chicago. Their two incumbent goalies, Nikita Quapp and Amir Miftakhov,each have very little North American pro experience, so the addition of Primeau could go a long way in stabilizing that team’s goaltending situation. The Hurricanes also traded a draft pick (a 2026 seventh-rounder) to the Montreal Canadiens to acquire Primeau, so the Hurricanes may be motivated by that cost to re-add Primeau now that he’s available on waivers once again.

That’s not to say there’s no chance Primeau gets claimed by another team. While he has struggled at the NHL level in limited ice time this season (.838 save percentage in 3 games), he did post a solid .910 save percentage in 23 games in 2023-24 and looked like he was on track to become a solid backup goaltender, especially considering his track record in the AHL and in the NCAA. Another team in need of an additional goaltender could look at today’s waiver placement as an opportunity to add a goalie with some experience to their NHL roster.

Rasmus Dahlin Taking Leave Of Absence

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Buffalo Sabres captain and star defenseman Rasmus Dahlin is taking a leave of absence from the team, head coach Lindy Ruff announced today. There is currently no timetable on how long Dahlin will be away from the team. The Athletic’s Matthew Fairburn noted that the absence is for Dahlin to return to Sweden, his home country, to be with fiancée, Carolina Matovac.

In September, Dahlin and Matovac jointly announced that Matovac had undergone a heart transplant over the summer following a traumatic health scare while travelling in Europe. In the letter, Dahlin said “this has undoubtedly been the most challenging chapter of our lives” and expressed gratitude for those who supported them at the time.

Per The Buffalo News’ Mike Harrington, Ruff told the media that “things are going well” at the moment with Matovac, but also that it was important to let Dahlin step away at this time. He added that Dahlin has “got the support of everyone on this” and that “this is bigger than hockey.”

Dahlin is one of the Sabres’ most important players, and has been since he was made the number-one overall pick at the 2018 draft by the team. He’s their captain, their number-one defenseman, and leading defensive scorer. Taking a moment to consider the hockey implications of this announcement, it appears likely that both Bowen Byram and Owen Power will be leaned on more heavily by Ruff while Dahlin is away.

Summer Synopsis: Calgary Flames

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With the regular season now upon us, the bulk of the heavy lifting has been done from a roster perspective.  Most unrestricted free agents have found new homes, the arbitration period has come and gone, and the trade market has cooled.  Accordingly, it’s a good time to take a look at what each team accomplished over the offseason.  Next up is a look at the Calgary Flames.

The Flames remain in a rebuilding phase and have seen early signs of progress through young, rising players making an NHL impact. Their prospect pool is mid-ranked due to several players graduating, but they still have some promising prospects likely to impact the NHL very soon. Calgary finds itself in a peculiar position: it isn’t tearing everything down completely, but as its competitive window begins to open, it lacks the depth of prospects to support its NHL roster fully. General manager Craig Conroy faces a challenging task, but the Flames have some skilled young players to develop around.

Draft                                                  

1-18 – C Cole Reschny, Victoria (WHL)
1-32 – C Cullen Potter, U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP)
2-54 – C Theo Stockselius, Djurgårdens IF J20 (J20 Nationell)
3-80 – D Mace’o Phillips, U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP)
5-144 – LW Ethan Wyttenbach, Sioux Falls (USHL)
6-176 – RW Aidan Lane, St. Andrew’s College (U18 AAA)
7-208 – D Jakob Leander, HV71 J20 (J20 Nationell)
7-211 – LW Yan Matveiko, CSKA Jr. (MHL)

With their first pick in the NHL Entry Draft, the Flames chose a two-way center in Reschny, who is considered comparable to Winnipeg Jets forward Cole Perfetti. Reschny isn’t very tall, but he’s an explosive skater who isn’t afraid to stickhandle through traffic, even if bigger players might bump him off the puck. He’s creative with the puck and possesses a high hockey IQ. The Flames hope Reschny develops into a top-six playmaker, capable of playing a responsible defensive game as well.

With their second first-round pick, the Flames chose another center in Potter, who has a similar build to Reschny and is also a two-way player. That’s where many of the similarities between Potter and Reschny end, as Potter is more of a blue-collar guy and tends to outwork his opponents. He’s a skilled faceoff guy, can kill penalties, and is reportedly a good team guy in the dressing room. The Flames are probably hoping Potter develops into a top-nine center, which makes sense since he’s not a high-end scorer and has a ceiling in the middle six.

With their second-round pick, Calgary chose Stockselius from Sweden. Once again, the Flames selected a center, and in Stockselius’s case, he was picked primarily for his skill and passing ability. His skating isn’t exceptional, and he isn’t huge, but he’s a clever player who can work through traffic and make passes in tight spaces.

For their third-round pick, Calgary selected defenseman Phillips, a mobile two-way defender who already appears NHL-ready. Phillips isn’t outstanding with the puck and often makes too many turnovers under pressure, which can lead him to force breakout passes or dump pucks into areas where his teammates can’t retrieve them. Despite struggles with puck handling, Phillips is an excellent defender who can close gaps quickly with his strong skating and isn’t shy about battling in the corners and in front of his net.

Trade Acquisitions

None

UFA Signings

F Mikael Backlund (two years, $6.5MM)^ (extension)
C Clark Bishop (one year, $775K)*^
D Nick Cicek (one year, $775K)*
D Joel Hanley (two years, $3.5MM)^
D Dryden Hunt (two years, $1.65MM)*^
C Justin Kirkland (one year, $900K)^
G Ivan Prosvetov (one year, $950K)

*-denotes two-way contract
^-denotes re-signing

The Flames had a quiet summer on the UFA market, opting to sign a few veterans on short-term deals. The most notable move was signing Backlund to a two-year contract worth $3.25MM per season. The 36-year-old doesn’t score many goals and isn’t the playmaker he once was, but he remains a reliable depth scorer who can play solid defense, create plays, and handle tough deployments. He is also a strong leader, having served as the Flames’ captain since September 2023, and appears happy to finish his career in Alberta, having signed for two more seasons that will see him through to the end of a 20-year tenure in Calgary.

The Flames also signed veteran defenseman Hanley to a two-year deal. The 34-year-old joined Calgary via a waiver claim in March 2024 after six seasons with Dallas, and he performed well in 53 games this past year to earn an extension. The $1.75MM AAV is the biggest payday of Hanley’s career by a wide margin and was a fitting reward for the best season of his career last year. Hanley isn’t flashy and is limited with the puck on his stick, but he protects the front of the net, battles hard for every puck, and is a reliable penalty killer. The Flames could do much worse than Hanley on their bottom pairing, as he offers a dependable, steady presence and should serve as a good leader for the team’s young players. However, given the state of the team’s defense, they may play him higher in the lineup for long stretches of the season.

Apart from retaining some veterans, the Flames didn’t do much to bring in new talent, mainly opting for AHL and depth players. Kirkland was their most significant signing, and given that he is 28 and has played only 30 NHL games before this season, he is unlikely to have a significant impact this year. Late bloomers do exist, and it’s possible Kirkland is one of them, but the most likely scenario is that Kirkland becomes a fringe player for the Flames and makes little impact at the NHL level.

RFA Re-Signings

D Kevin Bahl (six years, $32.1MM)
RW Matt Coronato (seven years, $45.5MM)
C Morgan Frost (two years, $8.75MM)
C Rory Kerins (one year, $775K)*
RW Adam Klapka (two years, $2.5MM)
D Yan Kuznetsov (two years, $1.625MM)*
C Sam Morton (one year, $775K)*
D Jeremie Poirier (one year, $775K)*
C Martin Pospisil (three years, $7.5MM)
G Dustin Wolf (seven years, $52.5MM)
C Connor Zary (three years, $11.325MM)

*-denotes two-way contract

The Flames made significant moves this summer to secure their core young players. Securing goaltender Wolf was a top priority, and the Flames managed to sign the 24-year-old to a deal that will keep him into his 30s. Wolf was outstanding last season, playing in 53 games with a .910 save percentage and a 2.64 goals-against average. He was a strong Calder Trophy contender, finishing second in voting, and lived up to the expectations that came with his NHL debut. Wolf’s numbers in the AHL were exceptional, so his NHL start isn’t surprising to anyone. While the Flames believe they have their franchise goalie locked in, there’s always concern about goaltenders given their unpredictable performance. There’s no reason to think Wolf’s play will suddenly decline, but he is undersized, and due to the volatility of the position, nothing is guaranteed. On the bright side, Wolf’s $7.5MM extension could age very well if he continues to reach his potential, especially with the increase in the NHL salary cap.

Bahl was another defenseman signed long-term, agreeing to a six-year deal worth $5.35MM per season. Given the current state of the Flames’ roster and the fact that they haven’t drafted any left-handed defensemen at the top of the draft in a while, it seems likely that Bahl will be at the top of the Flames’ defensive core for the foreseeable future. Bahl brings very little offensively, but on the defensive side, he is highly effective, ranking in the 94th percentile in denying entries into Calgary’s defensive zone (as per JFresh). He was also in the 76th percentile for even-strength wins above replacement on defense. Bahl is an effective player, and should continue to be throughout the duration of his deal.

Coronato was another piece that the Flames extended long term, this time for seven years. The 22-year-old made a significant leap in his development last season, scoring 24 goals and providing 23 assists in 77 games. His 47 points marked a 38-point increase from the previous season, in which he had three goals and six assists in 34 games. There are no guarantees that Coronato becomes an elite sniper, but he at least appears to be a reliable secondary scorer who can be a nuisance on the forecheck. If he can do that, then the contract will be reasonable; if he evolves into a first-line sniper who scores 30-40 goals annually, it will be an incredible bargain in the long run.

With Zary, the Flames chose a more cautious approach, signing a three-year bridge deal. Zary took a step back last year after scoring 34 points as a rookie, finishing with just 27 points (13 goals and 14 assists) in 54 games this past season. The 24-year-old didn’t showcase the same puck-handling ability last season as he did the year before and sometimes struggled with turnovers. Like Coronato, Zary applies pressure on the forecheck and isn’t afraid to crash the net for rebounds, which should benefit him if he can build more strength. His bridge deal gives Zary the chance to prove to the Flames he is part of their core moving forward, and it could lead to a big payday if he develops into a consistent 25-30 goal scorer.

Departures

D Jonathan Aspirot (signed with Boston, one year $775K)*
D Tyson Barrie (retired)
F Anthony Mantha (signed with Pittsburgh, one year $2.5MM)
F Kevin Rooney (signed with Utah, one year, $775K)*
D Ilya Solovyov (claimed off waivers by Colorado)
G Dan Vladar (signed with Philadelphia, two years $6.7MM)

*-denotes two-way contract

Calgary didn’t suffer any significant losses this summer, only losing a few depth veterans to unrestricted free agency. Arguably, their most crucial loss is Mantha, a player who barely dressed last season because of injury. The 31-year-old forward played just 13 games last season, scoring four goals and three assists in what was his only season with the Flames, and it seemed he could have been a good fit if it hadn’t been for an injury that kept him out for most of the year. Mantha signed with the Penguins in the off-season and has looked very good alongside Evgeni Malkin and Justin Brazeau, recording six goals and five assists in 12 games. If Mantha can maintain this pace, he could be looking at a healthy raise next summer.

The Flames also lost goaltender Vladar to the Philadelphia Flyers in free agency. With Wolf’s emergence, the Flyers probably saw a $3.35MM backup goalie as a luxury they couldn’t afford. Vladar’s stats were quite average during his four-year stint with Calgary, though his underlying numbers were less flattering as he tended to have a negative goals saved above expected. His size was always interesting, but considering his stats, Calgary probably made the right decision by letting the 28-year-old move on.

Barrie had a solid career as an offensive defenseman but hasn’t been effective in the NHL for quite some time. Last year with the Flames. Barrie struggled and recorded just a goal and two assists in 13 games. It wasn’t that long ago that the Toronto Maple Leafs traded Flames center Kadri for Barrie, hoping he would be a catalyst from their back end. However, he never lived up to those expectations and moved on to the Oilers before finishing with Nashville and finally Calgary. The Flames won’t miss the veteran, given his limited production, and are better suited to let a youngster fill in Barrie’s spot on the depth chart.

Salary Cap Outlook

Despite arguably possessing the worst contract in the NHL (Jonathan Huberdeau at $10.5MM annually), the Flames are currently $13.38MM under the salary cap (according to PuckPedia). This provides them with plenty of flexibility during the season and could keep them active, depending on how their campaign unfolds. If Calgary is in the hunt for a playoff spot, they might be cautious buyers or even aggressive ones, depending on their standings position. However, given the state of their roster, that seems unlikely. Still, if they decide to move out a pending UFA like Rasmus Andersson, they could retain salary since they have two retention spots remaining and ample cap space to facilitate a move.

Key Questions

Will the Flames trade Nazem Kadri?

Kadri remains a highly productive center in a league full of teams needing help down the middle. He has three years remaining on his contract at a reasonable $7MM per season and posted 67 points in 82 games last season. At 35, some teams may be deterred by his age, but his strong start to the year suggests his production is unlikely to decline soon. However, paying a player $7MM annually until he’s 39 is a significant gamble, even with the rising salary cap. Kadri probably doesn’t fit the Flames’ contention window, and the best time to get maximum value for him is likely over the next nine months.

Are they rebuilding or retooling?

I don’t have the answer here, and it’s not clear if the Flames do either. Calgary underwent a clear teardown just a few years ago when it traded away Noah Hanifin, Jacob Markstrom, and several other veterans. However, they still kept many of their older players, and this could be the season where they make their direction clear. With Andersson, Ryan Lomberg, and Jake Bean heading for free agency next summer, the plan should become evident before the season ends.

Are their young players good enough to build around?

The short answer is no —at least not yet. Calgary has some promising young players, but outside of Wolf, no one appears destined to become an elite-level talent, and there are reasons to doubt Wolf will be either. Obviously, the young players on the roster are very talented. Still, if the plan is to rebuild, there are many young teams ahead of them, and Calgary will need to embrace a complete teardown or find a way to accelerate the process quickly.

Photo by Brett Holmes-Imagn Images

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