Will The Flames Dip Into The Free Agent Pool?

A few weeks ago, Calgary Flames general manager Craig Conroy told Eric Francis of Sportsnet that the Flames likely wouldn’t be dipping into free agency, and that he didn’t expect many players to be available to Calgary who would make sense for what they’re trying to do. The Flames do have a group of young players hoping to break through to the NHL. At the same time, the team has many needs, which raises the question of whether it could plug some holes with any of the remaining free agents.

The Flames have been busy this summer on the backend, trading for and extending Simon Nemec and acquiring Jacob Middleton from the Minnesota Wild. The moves add to an already intriguing group of defensive options and could open the door for the team to move a defenseman in their pursuit of secondary scoring or perhaps even a top-six forward.

However, after investing heavily in the defense, Conroy might not want to give up much of that to better balance the forwards. That is where a potential free-agent addition could come into play. Signing a free agent would allow Calgary to bring in a proven NHL commodity to help stabilize their forward group and give guidance to younger players.

At the moment, the Flames would likely have to move some inexperienced forwards into leveraged roles. That isn’t ideal for the team’s chances of winning this season or for their younger players’ development. All of this makes the case for looking at the free-agent market, should a reasonably priced opportunity arise. It appears it might.

Then there is the issue of internal competition that could arise if the Flames were to add depth to their forward unit. Relying on younger players to step into roles could become a much bigger concern if injuries occur, especially since some may be slotting into roles they aren’t ready for. There is also concern that younger forwards need more development time, which they might not get if they are playing higher in the hierarchy than they should be. The Flames don’t really need a star to create depth, just a dependable NHL forward or two.

The most sensible fit for the Flames is forward Eeli Tolvanen. He is coming off a decent season with the Seattle Kraken, where he tallied 12 goals and 24 assists. Tolvanen is the best long-term fit available on the market for Calgary, as he is just 27 years old and should remain in the prime of his career as the Flames exit their rebuild.

Tolvanen would check a pile of boxes for Calgary, giving them a reliable two-way winger who could add depth scoring and perhaps play on a second power-play unit. Tolvanen isn’t a defensive stalwart, but he is a player who can be trusted in a variety of situations, which might give the Flames’ young prospects someone to compete with for playing time and perhaps serve as a mentor. Another plus for Calgary, if they were thinking of signing Tolvanen, is that they could likely sign him to a low-risk, short-term contract, given that he remains available over a week into free agency.

Another option, who is a bit older but could make sense, is Michael Bunting. The 30-year-old has bounced around the league since signing a three-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2023, having been traded to Pittsburgh, Nashville and Dallas. Despite the carousel he’s been on, Bunting is a competitor and wouldn’t mind serving as an agitator and a net-front presence.

Bunting won’t light up the score sheet, but he’s a consistent threat to fall into the 40–50-point range. Bunting would also bring some energy to the group, which might serve the Flames well as they try to find good pros to influence their younger players.

Bunting’s age doesn’t make him an ideal candidate for the Flames’ timeline, but if they signed him to a two- or three-year deal, he’d be a low-risk addition who may still be a gamer by the time the Flames are ready to compete for the playoffs.

The Flames have done well to build up their defense, but it’s no secret they need a lot of work on their forward group, both in the interim and for the future. The trade market has been a seller’s market thus far, which might give the Flames pause about acquiring young forwards that way. That’s not to say they shouldn’t pursue a trade, but signing one of Bunting or Tolvanen gives them options and would allow them to wait until the season to try to acquire additional forward help. The free-agent market isn’t exactly a deep pool of talent, but there are some quality middle-six forwards still available, and the Flames could be in a position to sign one of them to help immediately.