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Jay Feaster was very active on the first day of free agency, but not in the way most people expected.
Rather than throwing big money at top free agents, Feaster elected to retain some of his own players.
Most notably, Feaster signed Karri Ramo and Corban Knight, gave a one-year contract extension to Chris Butler, and traded for Kris Russell, who signed a one-year contract worth $1.5 million.
While Feaster didn't bring in any help at center, an area he's consistently said he'd like to improve, on day one, there is potential he does so today or later on in free agency.
Several quality centers still remain on the market. That list includes 29-year-old Mikhail Grabovski and 30-year-old Derek Roy, among others.
Both of those players will come cheaper than the likes of Stephen Weiss, Mike Ribeiro and company, all of whom signed multi-year contracts worth at least $5 million per season.
Whether Feaster can bring in one of those guys or acquire some help at center via trade remains to be seen, but he's going to try.
It'll be interesting to see what the Flames do, if anything, on day two of free agency.
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Quick hits:
- Feaster told the media yesterday that he doesn't expect Miikka Kiprusoff to return, but he'd welcome it if he decides to.
- Ramo's two-year contract is worth $2.75 million per season. He's got the leg up in the competition for the Flames starting job.
- Contract negotiations with TJ Brodie and Mikael Backlund have now begun.
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My thoughts on the trade that brought TJ Galiardi to Calgary.
Why the Flames should target Jonathan Blum.
I examine how Jay Feaster and the Flames fared in this year's draft.
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