[Signing] Flames sign college free agent Tyson Gross to 2 year ELC

[Calgary4LIfe]

Great signing. We all figured that the Flames were at the top of the list for Gross. Nice to have something fall into the Flames' laps for a change.


Signing a big bodied center for the bottom 6 is another significant add to the team's depth. The competition is building, which is good to see. I think it is tough to have an elite 4th line if you don't have an elite 4th line center, and these guys are so valuable in the playoffs. Not saying that Gross' ceiling is that of a 4th line center, but it is nice to have that competition so that you end up with good centers in your bottom 6. Guys that get pushed out get converted to the wing and then have to compete against the wingers, which is also great. If they push out a winger, then it helps having wingers who are natural centers for taking draws, or simply as injury replacements that shift back to the middle.


Lots of depth now in the 'middle six' and 'bottom six', and the Flames are obviously going to be targeting a top-line center next year (as this draft class arguably doesn't have any top-line Cs). This depth being built is really outstanding, however. Really good to see.

[Leeman4Gilmour]

Originally Posted by #-3

After todays signing they have 20 spots open.

Add to this, must be signed this year to retain the prospect:

• Jamieson
• Laing
• Mews
• Misa

I would guess the Flames want to enter the season with 3-4 spots open to flexibility.

And I would guess they will save 2-3 spots for a couple of guys who might decide to turn pro early (I would primarily target guys like Reshny, Castagna....)


So I would guess they only have space to sign about 10 of the 18 guys you listed.

Flames have used up 48 out of 50 contracts. Did you mean 2 spots or are you looking at something different? Also, Mews and Misa are good until 2028.

If any of the top college guys want to sign for next year, they will have to not qualify a couple of the upcoming RFA'sI'm retracting that. There's enough UFA's coming off that they shouldn't have to worry about the RFA's too much.

[Canada 02]

he's on with Steinberg on 960 now

[Winsor_Pilates]

Always cool to see undrafted guys get a chance.
Hope we turns it into an NHL career and obviously hope so for the team's benefit as well.

Amazes me that Edmonton thinks they're in on this after the amount of young prospects that have limited the growth of recently. That would be throwing in your shot at the big leagues before even getting started.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by #-3

After todays signing they have 20 spots open.

Add to this, must be signed this year to retain the prospect:

• Jamieson
• Laing
• Mews
• Misa

Isn't that only if they choose to leave college this year?

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Great signing. We all figured that the Flames were at the top of the list for Gross. Nice to have something fall into the Flames' laps for a change.


Signing a big bodied center for the bottom 6 is another significant add to the team's depth. The competition is building, which is good to see. I think it is tough to have an elite 4th line if you don't have an elite 4th line center, and these guys are so valuable in the playoffs. Not saying that Gross' ceiling is that of a 4th line center, but it is nice to have that competition so that you end up with good centers in your bottom 6. Guys that get pushed out get converted to the wing and then have to compete against the wingers, which is also great. If they push out a winger, then it helps having wingers who are natural centers for taking draws, or simply as injury replacements that shift back to the middle.


Lots of depth now in the 'middle six' and 'bottom six', and the Flames are obviously going to be targeting a top-line center next year (as this draft class arguably doesn't have any top-line Cs). This depth being built is really outstanding, however. Really good to see.

These kinds of additions raise the organization's prospect floor, allowing them to take bigger gambles on high celing players/low floor players.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by D as in David

Isn't that only if they choose to leave college this year?

Yeah, I think Laing is the only one that needs to be signed. His junior team will quite possibly be playing in the playoffs still when the Flames season is over, so if the Flames sign him, the contract probably won't start until the 2026/2027 season.

[Ba'alzamon]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Yeah, I think Liang is the only one that needs to be signed. His junior team will quite possibly be still playing in the playoffs when the Flames season is over, so if the Flames sign him, the contract probably won't start until the 2026/2027 season.

I still think Laing goes the college route next year, like Lipinski did.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by D as in David

Or, he'd like to captain the Flames into the new arena and move at the following TDL in the last year of his upcoming contract.

I highly doubt it. His game is starting to fall off as it is, you think anybody is bringing in a 39 year old Backlund to shore up their roster? He is running out of time, it's going to be now or never.

[Roko]

Adding Coleman and backlund as a package would be interesting for a team this summer

[Roko]

Back on topic, gross can rip it:

https://youtu.be/-XQubVr9bk4?si=BcH-BMgL53q2-Y8F

[Lewis_D]

https://twitter.com/user/status/2032187474970128867

Based on this photo, I think the kid might need to bulk up a little bit.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Lewis_D

https://twitter.com/user/status/2032187474970128867

Based on this photo, I think the kid might need to bulk up a little bit.

Not convinced the 6.2 is correct here.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Nice to have some Calgary kids... even if they top out as Wranglers.

[Matty81]

Always nice to see one of us live the dream. Hopefully he breaks through and can be a part of the next contending team as one of the centers, couldn't ask for better timing for a chance to seize it

[FiveSeven]

Please please please let one of these free signings actually turn out to be a good quality player for once. Boy that would be incredible.

[#-3]

Originally Posted by Leeman4Gilmour

Flames have used up 48 out of 50 contracts. Did you mean 2 spots or are you looking at something different? Also, Mews and Misa are good until 2028.

If any of the top college guys want to sign for next year, they will have to not qualify a couple of the upcoming RFA'sI'm retracting that. There's enough UFA's coming off that they shouldn't have to worry about the RFA's too much.

I was talking for next season, they have 30 contracts on the books for next season now.

Also I'm not certain how a CHL draftee who goes to college works? This is the first year, so maybe things changed?

[wired]

Originally Posted by YYC in LAX

How sought after? Did we beat multiple teams? How big of a signing/win is this?

Apparently there were many teams calling him. Hope this works out for bothe player and team.

[paley01]

Originally Posted by Robbob

Giggity. Like a free 2nd round pick.

According to chatgpt, the #3 ranked unsigned free agent NCAA player has about the same chance as a late first rounder (18-25) of becoming a first line player (15-20%) or NHL regular (40-50%).

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I highly doubt it. His game is starting to fall off as it is, you think anybody is bringing in a 39 year old Backlund to shore up their roster? He is running out of time, it's going to be now or never.

And whatever team picks up next year would have 39-year-old Backlund, too.