The Calgary Flames are going to bring in a Stanley Cup champion, as Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic confirms they will sign Blake Coleman when free agency opens. Joe Smith of The Athletic reports the deal will be a six-year contract and will carry an average annual value of $4.9MM. The Athletic’s Hailey Salvian reports that the deal carries a full no-movement clause for the first three seasons and a modified no-trade clause for the final three.
Initially linked to the Dallas Stars, his hometown team, and the Boston Bruins, a rival of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Coleman will instead head about as far from Tampa as possible by joining the Flames. Calgary is a team that is trying to become tougher to play against and Coleman’s hard-nosed game will certainly help with that. Though limited to a third-line role with the Bolts, albeit a crucial one, Coleman will likely compete for top-six minutes with the Flames. The team is deep up front with the likes of Matthew Tkachuk, Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, Elias Lindholm, Mikael Backlund, Andrew Mangiapane, and Dillon Dube, but Coleman’s game is unlike any of these current top-nine options. He has the chance to be the piece that completes the puzzle for a Flames squad whose results have not matched their talent on paper.
Though unsurprising, Coleman’s official departure from Tampa means the team will be replacing their highly-valued third line in its entirety. Coleman, Yanni Gourde, and Barclay Goodrow will all be on new teams this season after playing a critical role the past two years, especially in the postseason.
Wow. Didn’t see that coming
A) Great deal.
B) Good thing the NHL eliminated the legal tampering period so agents and teams don’t start talking until noon.
already sounds like an overpay and we dont even have the $.
Yeah, Calgary is close to Texas, lol! :D
@Gbear – Lots of cowboy hats and boots in both places! Easy to mistake one for the other, too. Although, there used to be a restaurant in the Dallas area that offered “All-You-Can-Eat Prime Rib.” It was a killer afterward, but worth it! :)
It’s the Texas of Canada.
I guess a rodeo is a rodeo no matter where it’s at. :D
When it comes to going home or making the big bucks, home usually loses out. :)
@Gbear – Don’t tell that to the guy wearing the “C” in the GTA (yet)…
This was like one of (if not) the first transaction of the day. Treviling does his magic again with signing prowess, but he did it in UFA territory this time. At $4.9 AVV for even 6 years, looks pretty good for players today. Everybody comparable looks to be in the 5.5 range.
Good signing…
Thinking this GM/Coach marriage so far is looking promising.
(2 more cups from Lewis…)