All The Members Of the Calgary Flames In Need Of A Contract For 2022-23
By Jim Lynch
The Calgary Flames were the top team in the Pacific Division this past season, but they still went home after two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Winning in the playoffs is hard, but it seems like this team is just about ready to turn the corner to success, that is if they can keep a lot of their free agents around.
The Calgary Flames have 11 players from their active roster without contracts for next season. Only a few of them are going to be RFAs this offseason with a lot of players available to hit the open market.
This is basically a moment for the Flames to decide what they want to do for the future of their franchise. They get to pick which players to build around and which players to let go of.
With three of the Flames’ four top point-getters from this past season all without contracts, this definitely is going to be an interesting offseason in Calgary. Let’s go through the upcoming free agents the Flames have to worry about this offseason.
The Forwards:
Andrew Mangiapane
Mangiapane played in all 82 games this past season putting up 35 goals and 20 assists during that time. He was a critical top-six forward for this team and even had six points during the postseason. The former 2015 6th-round pick has spent his entire career in Calgary and definitely is someone the Flames should re-sign.
Matthew Tkachuk
What else needs to be said about Matthew Tkachuk? He is one of the brightest stars this team has. He put up 42 goals this season and over 100 points. He plays physically and is always making an impact on the ice. Tkachuk is going to be the face of this franchise for as long as he chooses, it will just be interesting to see whether or not he values term on his next contract or continues to roll with a shorter deal to stay in control of his future.
Johnny Gaudreau
Johnny Gaudreau is a player who needs no introduction. The Flames great has been with the team his entire career since being drafted in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL Draft. He is someone this team has counted on this past season to lead and he did not disappoint having a career year putting up 115 points in 82 games. With Gaudreau, Tkachuk and Mangiapane all without contracts for next season, that makes up three of the top four point-getters this team has. Trying to bring back all three definitely should be a priority this upcoming offseason.