[sureLoss]

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/an-u...ng/c-307268326

Lerby, who had 21 points (5G, 16A) in 47 games this year, will remain with the RedHawks for the upcoming season before his entry-level pact kicks in with the Flames in the fall of 2020.

"Our European staff, led by (Head European Pro Scout) Hakan Loob, (Director, Pro Personnel) Derek MacKinnon and (Assistant General Manager) Craig Conroy, identified this player early in the season and they stayed on top of his progression all year," said Senior VP of Hockey Operations, Don Maloney.

"He's a player that needs more development time; some time to thicken up and mature, physically.

"But we felt strongly that if we didn't act, now a year from now he would become one of, if not the, top European free-agent signings."

Lerby - like Heiskanen - is in the mold of the 'modern-day' defenceman we, the media, wax on about at length.

He's fast, moves the puck well, can operate a powerplay, and most of all, has an incredibly high hockey IQ that allows him to make plays under pressure.

A classic late-bloomer, who overcame all sorts of odds to get here

"What we saw this year and what we believe we'll continue to see again next year as he continues to develop, is a resounding 'yes.'

"We saw an opportunity strike while the iron was hot. If you have a chance to get ahead of it, get ahead of it."

Part of the attraction, Maloney says, in Lerby signing here was how Andersson - a fellow client of longtime agent Claude Lemieux - has developed under the Flames' watch.

"They saw how we developed Rasmus," Maloney said. "He spent some time in the minors, improved his game, came up and is now a very important player for us.

"That's the opportunity a lot of young players seek.

"And they want to be brought up the right way."

"There was a time, not long ago, when you wouldn't pay any attention to a player like this," Maloney said. "The guys that were big but couldn't skate all that well, would spend five years in the minors, and never really have a chance to play.

"Nowadays, you have to have certain qualities. You have to be able to skate, and you have to be able to think.

"(Lerby) has both.

"We also believe that we, as an organization, can have an influence on those qualities and help take them to the next level.