[Signing] Flames Sign Dustin Wolf (7 years, 7.5M aav)

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

He's much, much better than Stuart Skinner.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by troutman

Hopefully signed under the Full Blood Moon.

The Flames definitely should come out with a Full Moon Wolf t-shirt.

[BigBCalgary]

Now some music editing genius needs to create a clip including:
"Clap for the wolf man" from the song by the guess who..
just the "Awooo" from werewolves in London by Warren Zevon and
"Hungry like the wolf" from the Duran Duran song to be played at the dome for every big save etc...

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

He is so good at breaking up plays. I don't think it's crazy to say he [Bahl] is best defensive defenseman on the team and his best years are still ahead of him. Even in the offensive zone, he is never going to put up a lot of points, but he uses his reach and holds the zone well so that the forwards can do their thing. He replaces a lot of what Tanev brought to the team IMO.

I have no issue with his contract. I will if he takes a step back, but given his age, I'm not worried.

Weegar.

AINEC.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by memphusk

I dig this contract. Its refreshing to see the young guys get paid and not giving out huge contracts to the dinosaurs. Now just get your hands on a young Center and roll out.

I have told you this before...you cant just roll up to #1 center's homes and throw them in your trunk and drive them to Calgary, no matter how much you want to.

Unless they're living in America and are foreign in which case it is perfectly acceptable to abduct them by throwing them in the back of a van.

"No Occifer, this isn't Nathan McKinnon this is....Gord McNewf!...yes....yes, that'll do."

[Goriders]

Soooo. Razzy Andy is the last remaining loose end. I still think he’ll get moved at the trade deadline so the young gun D get a chance to work themselves into to lineup.

[Hockey_Ninja]

I'm late to the party but excellent work by Conroy. This contract is gonna be a steal

[Vinny01]

I would have gone as far as 9.5x8 with Wolf. Wish they got the extra year but also very happy with the cap hit so this is overall a huge win.

[heep223]

This is all shaping up very very nicely for the season the new Dome opens.

[CFO]

I'd be okay with Conroy last major move this year (up to trade deadline) is moving Ras for a 1st in 2027 or 2028 and whatever else. Just at least get a 1st and be done with it.

[BigThief]

Now to get Wolf in home red or away white

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by kehatch

I really like Bahl as a player. But he and Andersson struggled a bit last season playing top 4, and he doesn't put up much offensively. He is a great 5D that can move up when needed, but he is getting top 4 money. His contract won't look great when the Flames have the depth to slot him appropriately.

I am not a fan of Sharangovich. He is inconsistent, and he is a liability 5 on 5. Yes, if he can return to 2023/24 offensive numbers the contract looks okay, but he is still not a strong 5v5 player. This one was a whiff by Conroy. Sharangovich had a history of inconsistent play. Signing him to a long term deal a year before he had to was a mistake.

I appreciate these aren't terrible contracts. But if your giving term you got to get it right. 5 million extra for Huberdeau. 1 million for Bahl. 2 million for Sharangovich. That adds up to a very good player you can't afford to sign.

But value contracts like the Wolf one helps to narrow the defecit.

I do agree that things are looking very good by the 28/29 season. Parekh is a RFA that year and there could be a few more. But I could also see a situation where only Parekh gets huge money. Time will tell and maybe Zary will get paid too

I don't agree on Bahl, he might be overpaid right now, not by then.

I expect that Kadri will be gone by 28/29 as his contract is still a very good deal right now.

I think Wolf, Coronato, Weegar will all have contracts in the discussion for the best in the league by then.

Huberdeau will pull himself out of the discussion of worst contracts in the league by next year and it will be tradeable soon, maybe even next summer if he is willing to waive nis NMC

[3thirty]

I like how he said he's "able to stay in the hometown here for the next 7 years on top of this one".

Already thinks of himself as a Calgarian.

[kehatch]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

I do agree that things are looking very good by the 28/29 season. Parekh is a RFA that year and there could be a few more. But I could also see a situation where only Parekh gets huge money. Time will tell and maybe Zary will get paid too

I don't agree on Bahl, he might be overpaid right now, not by then.

I expect that Kadri will be gone by 28/29 as his contract is still a very good deal right now.

I think Wolf, Coronato, Weegar will all have contracts in the discussion for the best in the league by then.

Huberdeau will pull himself out of the discussion of worst contracts in the league by next year and it will be tradeable soon, maybe even next summer if he is willing to waive nis NMC

I really hope they are handing out some big contracts somewhere between 2028 and 2030. That includes this years draft class, next years draft class, Parekh, Zary, and maybe a surprise prospect.

I agree that Coronato, Weegar, and Wolf are likely going to be value contracts.

Huberdeau will never be a good contract. He isnt getting back to being a 90 point forward and age/term are a killer.

I hope to be wrong on Bahl. But he had one season playing top 4 and was just okay. If he regresses with Andersson gone it could be a rough contract. Even if he stays thr same, his minutes should go down as the Flames get better. He needs to take a step forward, and I am skeptical. But maybe he pulls a Giordano and the contract is gold.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by kehatch

I really hope they are handing out some big contracts somewhere between 2028 and 2030. That includes this years draft class, next years draft class, Parekh, Zary, and maybe a surprise prospect.

I agree that Coronato, Weegar, and Wolf are likely going to be value contracts.

Huberdeau will never be a good contract. He isnt getting back to being a 90 point forward and age/term are a killer.

I hope to be wrong on Bahl. But he had one season playing top 4 and was just okay. If he regresses with Andersson gone it could be a rough contract. Even if he stays thr same, his minutes should go down as the Flames get better. He needs to take a step forward, and I am skeptical. But maybe he pulls a Giordano and the contract is gold.

I agree with everything except Bahl. Given Bahl's trajectory, age, and games played, I am very comfortable with this deal. I think once Andersson gets traded, the real test begins for Bahl. He has never been the 'anchor' on a pairing - the goto experienced guy. I think when he was hurt last season, the Flames noticeably missed him. He has improved every season, and I expect him to take at least one more step in his development. I am not worried about this contract at all - I think he has a chance to outperform the deal, but even if he doesn't, I don't think it will be thought of as a negative deal in the long run. I think he continues to improve. He just turned 25 in June, and has less than 300 games in the NHL - I think we can legitimately expect further development in his game, and depending on how much, it will either make his contract 'fine', or push it to 'bargain' territory. I think this is a huge season for him, at least after Rasmus gets dealt, and he ends up playing alongside Parekh.


One thing to note is how Conroy spoke about Parekh, and how he sees Bahl as a long-term fit as a partner. If that's the case, then I would assume that Conory views Bahl as a top-pairing defencemen in the long term. If that's correct, then Bahl's contract will be a bargain. I guess we will see, but at this point, I am really not worried about it.

[Enoch Root]

Suggesting Bahl is a bad contract is just nuts.

He is already worth $4M at least, and as a 25 YO with less than 300 games, a very positive growth curve, and unreplaceable size. The likelihood that he is a bad contract is very low, the likelihood that he is at least a decent contract is very high, and there is a pretty solid chance that he becomes an absolute bargain.

[calumniate]

Goalies are typically the biggest wild card. But there's something unique about Wolf that really stands out. He's a keeper

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by kehatch

I really hope they are handing out some big contracts somewhere between 2028 and 2030. That includes this years draft class, next years draft class, Parekh, Zary, and maybe a surprise prospect.

I agree that Coronato, Weegar, and Wolf are likely going to be value contracts.

Huberdeau will never be a good contract. He isnt getting back to being a 90 point forward and age/term are a killer.

I hope to be wrong on Bahl. But he had one season playing top 4 and was just okay. If he regresses with Andersson gone it could be a rough contract. Even if he stays thr same, his minutes should go down as the Flames get better. He needs to take a step forward, and I am skeptical. But maybe he pulls a Giordano and the contract is gold.

Huberdeau does not need to be a 90 point player to be a fair deal and tradeable. Cap escalation hasn't fully hit yet. There are a few big time RFAs that have not signed yet and there are a ton of big UFA and RFAs for summer 2026 that have not signed early.

McDavid
Eichel
Kaprizov
Panarin
K Connor
Necas


These 3 will reset the bar. Wild owner is already saying Kap will be north of Draisaitl. Eichel has not signed and no way I see him leaving Vegas. My guess is he wants to see what Kap and or McDavid get.

Bedard
Carlsson
Fantilli
Hutson
Harley
Cooley
Robertson

RFAs this season
McTavish
L Hughes

Most of these guys will be north of Huberdeau, some of the kids might be close to Huberdeau on a short term deal.

Everyone of these players can re-sign now, most probably will stay with their team too and yet none of signed. Numbers will be going way up once the first domino falls

Huberdeau sticks around 25-30 goals and gets 65-70 points and his contract is not bad in a $104M cap

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

Huberdeau sticks around 25-30 goals and gets 65-70 points and his contract is not bad in a $104M cap

Not as bad for sure.

But his contract is buyout proof, so that adds risk.

Sticks around 25-30 goals? His career average per 80 games is 23. His average with Calagry is 18.

He has averages 56 points with Calagry, with a high of 62 last year, when he shots a very career high above 18%.

He's at the age when most players start declining, and he's got 6 years left on that contract.

He was better last year for sure, but he's still quite a bit overpaid and a will likley start decling as he ages.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by kehatch

I really hope they are handing out some big contracts somewhere between 2028 and 2030. That includes this years draft class, next years draft class, Parekh, Zary, and maybe a surprise prospect.

I agree that Coronato, Weegar, and Wolf are likely going to be value contracts.

Huberdeau will never be a good contract. He isnt getting back to being a 90 point forward and age/term are a killer.

I hope to be wrong on Bahl. But he had one season playing top 4 and was just okay. If he regresses with Andersson gone it could be a rough contract. Even if he stays thr same, his minutes should go down as the Flames get better. He needs to take a step forward, and I am skeptical. But maybe he pulls a Giordano and the contract is gold.

The thing with where the cap is vs where it was even two years ago. Bahl making 5.3 next season is much like when Zadorov was making 3.75 when the Flames first acquired him. So within the confines of the current cap it's what others of his ilk will be paid.

The other thing is that the Flames likely won't be an attractive place for UFA's anytime soon. So if they tickle and dime a Bahl...the savings to add another player...is for a James Neal. So in that scenario...I'll overpay a Bahl and not sign the Neal.