Don’t expect the Calgary Flames to offer contract extensions to future free agents any time soon.
According to the Sportsnet network, the Alberta organization has suspended all negotiations. The club’s poor start to the season would explain this decision and the possibility of a partial reconstruction would have been mentioned.
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The Flames have maintained a poor record of 2-6-1 so far in the 2023-24 season. Before Tuesday night’s clashes in the National League, they were second to last in the Pacific Section. They have also lost their last five games and have only scored six goals in this losing streak.
The Calgary team has eight players who could become free agents without compensation at the end of the season. Among them are striker Elias Lindholm and defender Noah Hanifin.
The first is on a six-year contract that allows him to receive $4.85 million annually, while the second is on a six-year contract worth $4.95 million annually.
There’s also reason to question whether Flames players want to expand their relationship with the team. Last week, Lindholm made no secret of his frustration.
“I would have booed us too if I had seen how we played,” he said when asked about the behavior of the crowd at the Scotiabank Saddledome during last Thursday’s game against St. Louis.
The Flames will look to return to victory on Wednesday when they host the Dallas Stars.