The Flames have re-upped restricted free agent forward Sam Morton on a two-way contract, the team announced. It carries an NHL salary of $775K, but his minor-league salary wasn’t disclosed.
Morton, who turns 26 later this month, is coming off his first full professional season. Calgary signed the 6’0″ center to an entry-level contract last year as an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State.
The Colorado native made a smooth adjustment to the pros, recording 20 goals and 25 assists for 45 points in 70 games for the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers last season after finishing 2023-24 with seven points in 13 games for them on a tryout. He finished third on the team in goals and was rewarded with his NHL debut in the Flames’ final game of the regular season, scoring a goal in 12:25 of ice time in a 5-1 win over the Kings.
His development curve doesn’t suggest he’ll top out as anything more than a bottom-six piece if he ever secures a full-time NHL role, but he’s at least solidified himself as valuable organizational depth from the get-go. Morton’s qualifying offer was worth $813,750 at the NHL level; he takes less than that here to secure what will presumably be a higher AHL salary in the six-figure range. He made $82,500 in AHL salary last season after his $95K signing bonus.
Morton will be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights again next summer before he’s eligible to test the open market in 2027. The Flames still have a few RFAs to sign in Connor Zary, Rory Kerins, Yan Kuznetsov, and Jeremie Poirier.