Calgary Flames Shockingly Sign Depth Defenseman to Massive $32 Million Deal

Last off-season, the Calgary Flames made a deal with the New Jersey Devils for Jacob Markstrom, and while the first-round pick was a huge deal, getting Kevin Bahl back was a crucial factor for GM Craig Conroy.

In Bahl, the Flames saw an under-utilized 6-foot-6 physical defenseman, with the team bringing him in with the belief that he could play significant top-four minutes for them despite his struggles for consistent ice time with the Devils.

The 25-year old didn't disappoint, as he was one of the most consistent players on the team through 73 games played, posting career highs in goals and points with 3 and 20.

Now, he's officially been inked to a long-term deal, with PuckPedia breaking the news of a six-year, $5.35 million AAV deal, one that will keep him in Calgary until he's 31-years of age.

Sure, the offensive numbers aren't where the Flames would want them to be, but as a stay at home defenseman with great length and defensive instincts, Bahl is the perfect fit for Calgary, especially as he'll likely play with young star Zayne Parekh in 2025/26.

With the salary cap set to increase, this is a solid deal for Calgary, and if Bahl continues to be consistent the way he was this past season, he'll be a key piece of their top-four for a long time to come, with many seeing this as a necessary move for Calgary to lock down a piece of the future.