The Calgary Flames are expected to be largely inactive during NHL free agency, with general manager Craig Conroy indicating the team will focus on its current roster rather than pursuing external additions.
Flames GM Confirms Quiet Approach
Conroy told reporters over the weekend that fans can likely take July 1 off from monitoring transactions. 'You might be able to take that day off,' Conroy said. 'I do think with where we are, we have a lot of bodies right now, anyways. We're going to see how these guys do.'
The Flames did not extend qualifying offers to seven pending restricted free agents: John Beecher, Lucas Ciona, Parker Bell, Carter King, Artem Grushnikov, Gavin White, and Owen Say. All will be free to sign with other teams starting Wednesday.
Lomberg Not Returning
Conroy also confirmed the team will not re-sign forward Ryan Lomberg. Despite being a fan favorite, Lomberg's style does not align with the Flames' current direction of getting younger and providing opportunities for developing players.
'Again, there's always opportunities and we're always looking to do something but as you go, you just see rights are moved … guys are going to get signed and I really don't know how many guys are going to be available to us who make sense, where the fits are what we're looking for,' Conroy said.
Strategic Shift After Trades
The Flames traded away veterans Nazem Kadri, Rasmus Andersson, and MacKenzie Weegar last season, signaling a rebuild. Conroy emphasized the team will not reverse course by signing established NHLers to win now. 'We have a lot of bodies right now,' he reiterated.
Potential Low-Risk Targets
While the Flames are unlikely to make significant moves, one name to watch is Cole Schwindt. Acquired in the Matthew Tkachuk trade, Schwindt played only four games for Calgary but later appeared in 42 games for the Vegas Golden Knights in 2024-25 and 29 for the Florida Panthers last season. At 25, he may have untapped potential. His previous contract carried an AAV of US$825,000.
Other potential fits are scarce, but the Flames may explore low-cost depth options if the market aligns with their long-term plan.
