Interesting that the Flames landed two defensemen at the same time. Usually, these free agents worry about competition and want the shortest path to the NHL.
When you also factor in the Flames have 3 left shot NHL defensemen 24 or under already on the roster, make it particularly intriguing that these two guys signed with the Flames.
Maybe the Flames are developing a reputation as a good place for young defensemen to develop?
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Calgary Flames, PLEASE GO TO THE NET! AND SHOOT THE PUCK! GENERATING OFFENSE IS NOT DIFFICULT! SKATE HARD, SHOOT HARD, CRASH THE NET HARD!
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When Connor Mackey sat back and mulled over the options, he didn't think twice.
Turns out, Calgary was always the frontrunner.
"Honestly, it goes back a long time," the former free-agent blueliner said Friday after signing a one-year entry-level contract with the Flames. "It was the right fit for so many reasons.
"The relationships I built with the organization over the past numbers of years made this an easy decision."
Mackey, a highly sought-after NCAA free agent, is now a member of the Flames organization after an exceptional three-year stint with Minnesota State University - Mankato.
But his contact with the Flames goes back at least that far, too.
"A couple summers ago, I was able to come to Calgary for development camp - had a great experience with the coaching staff, got to see the city a little bit, and I loved it," Mackey said. "I'd just finished up my season in the USHL and already had some conversations with the organization. There was interest in both sides, and I ended up getting the invite to camp. It was amazing - first-class, all the way.
"I learned so much, on and off the ice, and really built a connection with everyone there. We also did some really cool team-building stuff that showed off the city a little bit, and I thought it was amazing.
"I really thought it would be a good fit one day.
"And now, here we are."
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Lets be extremely happy there's an actual, local Flames hockey roster story today! Its been a long dry spell for anything hockey related (instead of "Operations" related).
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I could see Gio moving in the right situation. He still has value. But it wouldn’t help the expansion situation because I suspect he’d be unprotected anyway.
Interesting that the Flames landed two defensemen at the same time. Usually, these free agents worry about competition and want the shortest path to the NHL.
When you also factor in the Flames have 3 left shot NHL defensemen 24 or under already on the roster, make it particularly intriguing that these two guys signed with the Flames.
Maybe the Flames are developing a reputation as a good place for young defensemen to develop?
Maybe the Flames d-men depth and development isn't that great??
Only 4 solid NHL d-men signed. Gio , Hanifin and Anderssen and Valimaki
The #4 spot is Valimaki's and he missed an important season so has a bit of a question mark.
Kylington is the only RFA in the mix so there appears to be openings for 2 guys at the NHL level. How many other teams can offer a realistic shot at a 6 and 7 spot?
Kylington is the only RFA in the mix so there appears to be openings for 2 guys at the NHL level. How many other teams can offer a realistic shot at a 6 and 7 spot?
'Appears to be'. Next season is a long, long ways away. None of us have any idea what the Flames roster will look like by then.
