[Signing] Flames sign UFA d-man Carl-Johan Lerby to 2 yr ELC. Will play 19/20 in Sweden.

[sureLoss]

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/flam...?tid=282300716

The Calgary Flames announced today that they have signed defenceman Carl-Johan Lerby to a two-year entry-level contract.

Lerby, a native of Sweden, completed his fourth season as a member of the Malmo Redhawks. The 21-year-old scored five goals and added 16 assists for 21 points and 20 penalty minutes in 47 games this season and added three assists in five playoff games with the Malmo Redhawks of the Swedish Elite League. Lerby will stay with Malmo for the 2019-20 season before joining the Calgary Flames organization for the 2020-21 season.

BORN: Sweden DATE: July 7, 1997

HEIGHT: 6'0" WEIGHT: 182 lbs.

SHOOTS: Left

ACQUIRED: Signed as a free agent on May 7, 2019

Full stats:
https://www.eliteprospects.com/playe...rl-johan-lerby

[dissentowner]

https://www.eprinkside.com/2019/2/1/...t-to-nhl-teams

[devo22]

nice. Really like these Euro depth signings - low risk, high reward.

[sureLoss]

Looks like Lerby had a breakout season in the SHL:

http://www.hockeysverige.se/2019/01/...r-nhl-i-sikte/

Translation by google:

It has become a recurring theme in SHL this season. The 21-year-old from Trelleborg has been one of the great and happy surprises in Malmö Redhawks. But Lerby's gameplay and nice matching games have grown into one of the team's leading slopes. He cuts more than 20 minutes of game time per match in the team's first back pair and has 16 points (3 + 13) in 35 games.
- I have gained better self-confidence, he says to hockeysverige.se.
- I got more playing time in the beginning of the season and got into the PP right early. Then it has just flown on from there. It feels like I have good flow and that it works well. Then it feels stable with "Jensa" as back pole.

"Jensa" is Jens Olsson , one of Malmö's elders with his 34 years that he formed back couples with virtually the whole season.

You could be described as "a modern back", a player who might not have been viable over there a few years ago, but who is attractive today. Do you think it has increased your chances?
- Yes, so it may be. I am not huge and looking at it, there are several smaller players that dominate in the NHL. But I have a long way to go ...

Do you have any role models that you are inspired by that way?
- There are many there. I have looked a lot at Drew Doughty , Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson . You usually like to check out players who make many points.

[cznTiburon]

give us all the swedish d-men. And also one finnish guy to round them out

[agulati]

Good to see Tre fill the ranks with such signings (Europe or otherwise) constantly. Some of them can definitely pan out, and even if they don't, no real loss.

[ComixZone]

We depleted our organizational depth at D with all the promotions that players earned, so we definitely need players to come in and compete for that 7th d-man spot and top AHL minutes.

Yelesin, now Lerby - and it wouldn't surprise me to see the Flames sign more players and perhaps get Adam Ollas Mattsson on a full contract at some point.

[TheIronMaiden]

If anything this looks good for the AHL. Last year, the Heat's D-Core was lacking.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Glad we won the Lerby Derby.

[sureLoss]

Per the Flames press release. Lerby is staying in Sweden for the 19/20 season.

He is coming over in 20/21 to North America.

[dammage79]

3 year ELC? And this has to be a Hakan Loob effect.

[1991 Canadian]

For defenceman 21 or younger, he had the highest point per game last year in the top Swedish mens league. 21 points. 12 from the powerplay. 6 percent shooting percentage. +1 on an above average team. Highest scoring dman on his team.

Seems like a good depth signing to me. I am always a sucker for these “free” assets, especially ones that put up decent numbers. You never know when you’ll find the next Mark Giordano.

Although from the players perspective, I find this is a bit of an odd NHL team choice. The Flames have Giordano, Hanafin, Valimaki and Kylington on the LHD side. 2 are established NHLers with lengthy contracts. 2 are both highly skilled prospects that don’t look out of place at the NHL level. I’m a bit surprised he’d go with the Flames (assuming he had other offers).

[TheScorpion]

yes, the Flames have all these guys locked into contracts at the NHL level next year:

- Mark Giordano
- TJ Brodie
- Travis Hamonic
- Noah Hanifin
- Rasmus Andersson
- Michael Stone
- Juuso Valimaki
- Oliver Kylington

however, before today, the Flames had the following non-NHL d-men locked into contracts for next year:

- Andrew Nielsen

so this is an excellent move, especially with Healey, Valiev, Taormina, and Hogstrom on expiring deals. For next year, I suspect they'll re-up Valiev, make the rumoured Yelesin signing official, and add a couple more bodies on the back-end, maybe even making AOM one of them.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by 1991 Canadian

For defenceman 21 or younger, he had the highest point per game last year in the top Swedish mens league. 21 points. 12 from the powerplay. 6 percent shooting percentage. +1 on an above average team. Highest scoring dman on his team.

Seems like a good depth signing to me. I am always a sucker for these “free” assets, especially ones that put up decent numbers. You never know when you’ll find the next Mark Giordano.

Although from the players perspective, I find this is a bit of an odd NHL team choice. The Flames have Giordano, Hanafin, Valimaki and Kylington on the LHD side. 2 are established NHLers with lengthy contracts. 2 are both highly skilled prospects that don’t look out of place at the NHL level. I’m a bit surprised he’d go with the Flames (assuming he had other offers).

I'm kind of assuming they feel like Valimaki and Kylington will be with the Flames pretty much full time and they are going to need farm depth. And if he pans out to more than that it's a bonus.

[sureLoss]

Again, this really has nothing to do with next season's depth. Flames say he is staying in Sweden for the 19/20 season.

And staying in Sweden should use up the first year of his ELC.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Again, this really has nothing to do with next season's depth. Flames say he is staying in Sweden for the 19/20 season.

And staying in Sweden should use up the first year of his ELC.

Right. Either way I suspect we'll see quite the influx of UFA d-men as the Flames try to replenish that pool on the farm.

Interesting that this Lerby guy is only 21... he's got a ton of room to grow.

[guzzy]

what are the rules for protecting Dmen for expansion next year? Don't they have to have played a minimum number of NHL games before they are eligible for expansion draft? I know we can only protect 3.

[TheRealPepman]

Can we sign depth goal scorers for once?

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by TheRealPepman

Can we sign depth goal scorers for once?

It'd be nice but those guys usually end up signing somewhere like Chicago or New Yrok.

[Reggie Dunlop]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1125809802964115456