Latest news with #Saddledome
Calgary Herald
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Flames sign depth forward Dryden Hunt to two-year contract extension
Article content Calgary Flames depth forward Dryden Hunt is going to take a pass on unrestricted free agency. Article content He is instead sticking around the Saddledome on a two-year, two-way contract extension. Article content Article content Hunt's new deal, which was announced Friday afternoon, will carry a cap-hit of US$825,000 when he is on the big-league roster. Article content While this won't be a top-of-the-ticker transaction, Hunt can be a versatile call-up option and a valuable role model for the youngsters on the farm team. Article content Article content In fact, Matt Coronato has credited Hunt with helping to mentor him during his stint with the AHL's Wranglers. Perhaps he can have the same impact on up-and-coming forwards like Andrew Basha, Matvei Gridin, Sam Honzek or Rory Kerins, his linemate for a big chunk of this past season. Article content Article content Hunt appeared in five games with the Flames during the 2024-25 campaign, collecting three assists. The 29-year-old lefty was also a point-per-game guy in the minors, with 16 goals and 33 helpers in 49 appearances with the Wranglers. Article content Hunt was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on Canada Day. If he'd signed in another city, he likely would have been introducing himself to a seventh NHL organization. Article content
Edmonton Journal
a day ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Flames ‘continuing to plug away' on contract negotiations with Dan Vladar, says Conroy
Article content Second-string goalie Dan Vladar was emphatic in his end-of-season interview about his desire to stick around the Saddledome, while the Flames seemed similarly keen on continuing with their current twine-minding tandem. But two months later, and less than two weeks before Vladar would become an unrestricted free agent, there's been no news of a contract extension for the 27-year-old from the Czech Republic, raising the possibility that rising star Dustin Wolf might have a different sidekick when the puck drops on the 2025-26 campaign. Article content 'We're talking to his representation and seeing where his mindset is at,' Flames general manager Craig Conroy told Postmedia on Thursday when asked for an update on negotiations with Vladar. 'We're open, just like he was open to a contract. But both sides have to come to terms with that. We're just continuing to plug away at that one.' Vladar is at the tail-end of a two-year contract that carries an annual cap hit of US$2.2 million. Coming off the heaviest workload of his NHL career, and after finishing the season on a 6-1-1 run, it's safe to assume that he's looking for at least a slight raise. The Flames have plenty of salary-cap wiggle room, but teams are often hesitant to be allocating too much loot to their backup puck-stopper. Vladar and Wolf split starts last fall, but the youngster emerged through the winter as the obvious workhorse in Calgary. Wolf, en route to his runner-up finish in the Calder Trophy race, was tapped for 76 per cent of the crease time in the second half of the season. Article content In 30 appearances, Vladar posted a 12-11-6 record with a 2.80 goals-against average and .898 save percentage. It did not go unnoticed by teammates and staff that he was handed a lot of tough assignments, including the second half of any back-to-back sets. 'We talk about Wolfie a lot and the season he did have, but I think a big reason why he had such a good year was the way Dan was, too,' said Flames head coach Ryan Huska on locker clean-out day. 'We had a great tandem. You look at our team and that was probably the strength of our team this year — those two guys in net gave us a chance to win every night, and it was rare when one of them had an off-night. 'When you're planning ahead, you know you have one area covered. For me as a coach, I know we're going to be good in net.' The big question is, have those plans changed since mid-April, when their backup stressed he would 'love to be back' for a fifth season with the Flames? Article content Is Vladar, who really seemed to find his groove after the 4 Nations Face-Off and continued to roll with a sparkling .950 save percentage in his four appearances at the world championship tournament, now wondering if another organization might view him as a potential starter or a platoon possibility? Is he hoping for more playing time so he can showcase himself for a chance to represent his country at the 2026 Winter Olympics? Is it simply a matter of finding some middle ground on term and dollar figure? If Vladar does opt to test the market when free agency opens on July 1, he will be one of the most appealing options available, a guy who can offer a blend of experience and upside. If the Flames need to go another route, the pickings are somewhat slim. Beyond Vladar, the list of soon-to-be UFAs in the crease is headlined by Jake Allen, Alexandar Georgiev, Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek, who just lifted the Stanley Cup as the No. 2 for the Florida Panthers. Article content The Flames have also been mentioned as potential suitor for Ivan Prosvetov, who is looking to return from the KHL. Also factoring in this conversation is whether there is internal belief that Devin Cooley can be part of the big-league plan. Cooley's contract upgrades to a one-way for this coming season, but there may be some second-guessing after his rollercoaster campaign with the Wranglers — a superb start that netted an invite to the AHL All-Star Classic and then a miserable finishing stretch. Cooley, who turned 28 last month, will certainly be among those keeping close tabs on Vladar's situation. While there's still time to get a deal done, the Flames might need a backup backup plan. Latest National Stories
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Peter Hanlon named Calgary Flames new assistant GM
A familiar face around the Saddledome has been named as the Calgary Flames new assistant general manager. Peter Hanlon, who has worked for the Flames since the beginning of the 1997-98 season and is the longtime vice president of communications at the club, will be making the move to the hockey operations department starting on July 1. He'll join a management team that's led by president of hockey operations Don Maloney, general manager Craig Conroy, assistant general managers Brad Pascall and Dave Nonis, and special advisor to the GM Jarome Iginla. 'Peter will be involved in all areas of hockey operations including player evaluation, player recruitment and strategic planning,' Conroy said in a press release. 'Together with Assistant General Managers Dave Nonis and Brad Pascall, Peter will help us pursue our goal of bringing the Stanley Cup back to Calgary.' Hanlon has worked in the hockey world for over 30 years, beginning his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs' AHL affiliate, who were playing in St. John's, Nfld, at the time. He was then recruited to work at the AHL head office before joining the Flames. He has considerable experience at the international level, too, having been a part of Team Canada at the 2002 Olympics, multiple world championships and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. That's experience the Flames clearly put a lot of stock in. 'Peter has worked in professional hockey for over 30 years,' Maloney said. 'His knowledge and experience are a welcomed addition to our staff.' daustin@
Calgary Herald
4 days ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Peter Hanlon named Calgary Flames new assistant GM
A familiar face around the Saddledome has been named as the Calgary Flames new assistant general manager. Article content Peter Hanlon, who has worked for the Flames since the beginning of the 1997-98 season and is the longtime vice president of communications at the club, will be making the move to the hockey operations department starting on July 1. Article content Article content He'll join a management team that's led by president of hockey operations Don Maloney, general manager Craig Conroy, assistant general managers Brad Pascall and Dave Nonis, and special advisor to the GM Jarome Iginla. Article content Article content 'Peter will be involved in all areas of hockey operations including player evaluation, player recruitment and strategic planning,' Conroy said in a press release. 'Together with Assistant General Managers Dave Nonis and Brad Pascall, Peter will help us pursue our goal of bringing the Stanley Cup back to Calgary.' Article content Article content Hanlon has worked in the hockey world for over 30 years, beginning his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs' AHL affiliate, who were playing in St. John's, Nfld, at the time. He was then recruited to work at the AHL head office before joining the Flames. Article content
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: Under-25 power rankings at right wing
There has, in recent years, been a shortage of right-shot regulars among the Calgary Flames' forward cast. That started to change this season, with Matt Coronato emerging as one of the go-to guys and Adam Klapka showing that he's also ready for a full-time role. The best part is that those two are both in their early 20s, fitting the age range that the Flames have targeted to build a future contender. Who could eventually join them on right wing? Examining the organizational depth chart, here is how we rank the under-25 options on that side of the sheet. Age: 22 How acquired: Selected in first round, No. 13 overall, of 2021 NHL Draft Working in his favour: He's a sharpshooter, plain and simple. Still working on it: There are no glaring weaknesses but, as Coronato continues to gain experience, he should be even more reliable in his own zone and even more effective on the power play. As Calgary's best righty faceoff option, he's also determined to boost his success rate in the circle. Big-league potential: Blake Coleman has predicted that Coronato will be one of those guys who snipes 30 goals a season and we're not about to disagree. Coronato recently signed a seven-year contract extension, formalizing what was already clear: He's a huge part of the long-range plan at the Saddledome/Scotia Place. Because he finished third on the team charts with 24 goals and because he was so often trusted to play the final moments of close games, it's easy to forget that he was the youngest regular on the roster this season. He'll only get better. Age: 24 How acquired: Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022 Working in his favour: At 6-foot-8 and 235 pounds, he is among the biggest dudes in the NHL. What makes him such a unique package is that he's also a slick skater and has soft mitts. Still working on it: The two keys for Klapka are being consistent with his hard-to-play-against identity and being careful not to cough up the puck. Big-league potential: Although many thought he'd top out as a depth piece, he finished this season on the first line. This skyscraper-on-skates made a major impact during the Flames' wild-card chase, scoring several clutch goals over the final month of the campaign. In doing so, he should have cemented his spot as a full-time NHLer. While he has been on a bit of a yo-yo over the past couple of campaigns, Klapka now requires waivers to be reassigned to the Wranglers. If the Flames tried to sneak him through, they'd lose him. Age: 19 How acquired: Selected in first round, No. 28 overall, of 2024 NHL Draft Working in his favour: He has oodles of offensive skill and could be the fastest skater in the Flames' pipeline. Sounds like a heck of a combo, doesn't it? Still working on it: Gridin has a familiar checklist for a high-scoring prospect, including an emphasis on his away-from-the-puck details and defensive-zone duties. Big-league potential: This could be a future first-liner. This Russian has a lefty curve on his stick, but he has been working the right wing as a junior and it's hard to argue with the results. On the heels of his USHL scoring crown, Gridin racked up 36 goals and 43 assists in 56 appearances this season with the Shawinigan Cataractes, ranking fifth in the QMJHL with an average of 1.41 points per game. He's now poised to turn pro and plans to put on a show come fall. As he told Postmedia: 'Sam Honzek is a great example for me — what he did last year at the main camp. What's the problem for me to do the same thing?' Age: 21 How acquired: Selected in fourth round, No. 106 overall, of 2024 NHL Draft Working in his favour: When Hoskin has the puck on his stick, good things tend to happen. He has a deadly release. Still working on it: As he continues his climb, the challenge is to prove that the offence will translate. Big-league potential: With a late bloomer like Hoskin, a guy who twice passed through the NHL Draft, it feels like it's too soon to even try to predict. While the stats are mighty encouraging, there is some mystery surrounding this rising righty because he has primarily played at lower levels. Hoskin was named MVP of the Canadian Junior Hockey League in 2023-24 and then was saluted this season as the top freshman in what is typically considered the weakest conference in the NCAA's Division 1 ranks. This speedster just transferred to Merrimack, where it will be illuminating to see how he stacks up against some of the powerhouse programs in Hockey East. FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: Emergence of two right-handers provides hope on wing FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: Matvei Gridin has highlight-reel potential on right wing Age: 20 How acquired: Selected in seventh round, No. 219 overall, of 2022 NHL Draft Working in his favour: At 6-foot-3 and 216 pounds, Littler is already built like a big-leaguer. Puck protection is a strength. Still working on it: Flames skating coach Danielle Fujita is hoping to add Littler to her list of success stories and he already has made improvements to his footwork. Big-league potential: For a seventh-round long-shot, any NHL appearances count as a win. We considered putting Hunter Laing in this spot — he made a compelling case with 25 goals in the WHL this winter — but Littler caught our attention with his late-season surge at the University of North Dakota. Although he scored only seven times as a freshman with the Fighting Hawks, he tallied three of those in a hat-trick of playoff appearances. Could that be a hint that he's primed for a breakthrough as a sophomore? He's also a trusted penalty-killer at North Dakota, where they pump out future pros. wgilbertson@
