Report: Dan Vladar, Joel Hanley, Kevin Rooney likely to hit free agency

With NHL free agency just three weeks away, the clock is starting to tick for the Calgary Flames pending free agent class. Thus far, it’s been nothing but crickets on that front with none of their free agents signing new deals as of yet. In a Tuesday hit on FlamesTalk, Pat Steinberg offered up a little more clarity on some of the Flames major pending UFAs. Needless to say, don’t expect to see many back in Calgary next year.

Dan Vladar will likely test the market

Among the Flames 2025 free agent class, Dan Vladar seemed like the most likely to return. He’s been with the organization for four years and has played 100 games in that span. He’s carved out a nice little role for himself in Calgary as one of the more called-upon backup goalies. With that said, it appears that the Flames may be in the market for a new backup for the first time since the 2020–21 season, according to Pat.

“The Flames are preparing for him to hit the open market. The Flames have put offers on the table to Dan Vladar, and nothing has been agreed upon as of yet. By no means is the door closed on Dan Vladar returning… but I think the Flames are now starting to at the very least realize some of their contingency plans will have to be put in place.

The Flames have to be prepared that he doesn’t come back… they have probably put one- and two-year deals on the table, and the Flames believe what they have put on the table is quite fair.”

This one comes as a bit of a surprise. Vladar was really solid down the stretch last season and helped the Flames stay in the playoff race. However, with Dustin Wolf locked in as the Flames starter for the considerable future, Vladar likely wants to get a chance to earn more playing time in a different situation. With Wolf on the roster, it just doesn’t make sense to pay up for a backup goalie anymore and it sounds like Vladar is looking for a contract on the higher end for a backup.

The Flames don’t have any other NHL-level goalies in their system at the moment, so Vladar walking would require the Flames to go goalie shopping this summer. It’s worth mentioning that the Flames have already been linked to former Colorado Avalanche goalie Ivan Prosvetov, with Pat mentioning they are one of the team’s in the mix to sign him.

Mutual interest in Justin Kirkland returning

It’s easy to forget Justin Kirkland’s breakout season last year thanks to a season-ending injury in November. The career AHLer found a home on the Flames fourth line, operating as a serviceable and cheap depth option. After recovering from his injury, it sounds like there is mutual interest in running it back next season to give him another shot.

“He wants to be here… however my understanding is there are plenty of teams interested in Kirkland if something doesn’t happen [in Calgary]. I think Kirkland will have options, I don’t think he’s going to take an NHL minimum, two-way deal to stay in Calgary.

Craig Conroy has talked in length about guys who want to be a member of the Calgary Flames, I can tell you Kirkland wants to be a member of the Flames. The Flames would like to keep him as well.”

Based on Pat’s comments, Kirkland wants to remain in Calgary and the Flames want him back. It all depends on what the team is willing to offer. It sounds like Kirkland’s surprise season has put him on a few teams’ radars across the NHL, and he’ll be looking for an NHL-only one-way deal.

I don’t see any reason why the Flames wouldn’t be willing to give Kirkland what he wants. Considering he’ll command an AAV under $1.5M, there’s no reason not to give Kirkland a one- or two-year one-way deal to remain a Flame. There’s zero risk involved and he was clearly a good fit last year.

Kevin Rooney is headed to free agency

The Flames fourth line centre for the past three years, it sounds like Kevin Rooney’s time in Calgary is very likely coming to an end. Here’s what Pat had to say on Rooney’s future as a Flame.

“I think Kevin Rooney is going to walk. That one seems the most cut and dry so far, Rooney will be hitting the free agent market and the Flames will be looking for another number-four centre.”

Pat doesn’t exactly mince words here. It sounds like there’s almost no chance Rooney is back next season, with the Flames looking elsewhere to fill their number four centre spot. The decision to cut Rooney loose makes total sense. Even at his absolute best, he’s an average number-four centre, and the Flames have plenty of options in the minors or by signing Justin Kirkland to fill Rooney’s role with a more offensively inclined player.

Joel Hanley is likely moving on

Just a couple of months ago, the Flames reportedly turned teams away who were interested in acquiring the 33-year-old veteran Joel Hanley at the trade deadline. A curious decision for a depth defenceman found for free on waivers. Now it sounds like the Flames may not even be bringing Hanley back for next season, instead letting him walk for nothing in free agency.

It’s worth noting Pat did say he doesn’t have a great read on Hanley’s situation, but suggested what he thinks could happen given Hanley’s value on the market right now.

He’s never had more leverage than now as an unrestricted free agent, I think he can get a multi-year deal from another team. I feel like a 33-year-old defenceman, probably you can shake his hand and say hey thanks for everything… good luck wherever you go we hope you get a big contract, we want to leave the door open for Kuznetsov, or Solovyov or Grushnikov or maybe look at acquiring another left side defenceman who is a little younger.”

Based on Pat’s comments, he believes the organization should let Hanley walk and give his spot to one of their many young defenders in the AHL. It stings a bit to hold onto him at the deadline and then lose him for nothing, but at the end of the day, there’s no world in which the Flames should be handing out multi-year deals to a depth defender who will be 34 for the next season. Sounds like it’d be quite a surprise if Hanley is back as his cost has likely surpassed what Calgary will want to pay for him.

Slow movement in Calgary

It’s not surprising that there’s been little news on how the Flames will proceed with their free agents this offseason, but this glimpse from Steinberg does shed a little more light on Calgary’s plans. We’ll see what ends up happening soon enough.