Follow me on Twitter @ToddCordell
The Calgary Flames have been quite active in the international free agent market over the last couple years.
They signed goaltender David Rittich. They signed forward Danial Pribyl.
They were in on Chicago defenseman Jan Rutta. Suffice to say, they're more than willing to take chances on some unknowns.
It appears they just might be ready to do so again as they're reportedly after 25-year-old winger Yasin Ehliz.
The 5'10' forward has spent the last seven seasons playing for Nuermberg of the DEL, where he has enjoyed different levels of success.
On a couple occasions he came very close to averaging a point per game (45 points, 48 games in 2014-15; 48 points, 51 games in 2016-17) while he's also had some disappointing years mixed in. This past season, for example, he tallied 31 points in 46 games and was easily out-produced by John Mitchell (32 in 37), who couldn't land an NHL job and was a low-impact player at the best of times.
So why would the Flames have interest in Ehliz? Likely due to familiarity. Geoff Ward spent the last three seasons with the New Jersey Devils but, prior to that, he coached in the DEL. He has also served as an assistant for Germany during the last few World Championships and, not so coincidentally, Ehliz has been a member of those teams.
He didn't exactly take the tournament by storm – Ehliz recorded eight points in 21 games – but perhaps Ward thought he deserved better or was impressed by his work ethic.
Whatever the case may be, his production in the DEL and at the Worlds suggests his NHL
ceiling is as a role player – if he can even be that.
Ehliz doesn't strike me as a guy worth signing but, luckily, no harm would be done by giving him a contract and a chance to prove himself. If not anything else, he'd probably be a useful guy to have in Stockton.
Recent posts:
Four potential targets from TSN's trade bait board
On Mike Hoffman
Flames Q&A: On the Ward hiring, Brodie, Hamilton, Roussel and more
Don Maloney hints at Flames' off-season plans
Revisiting my 2017-18 Western Conference predictions
The Flames should avoid Jay Beagle in free agency
Dynamite U21 seasons from Andersson + Kylington put them in good company
The Brodie - Hamonic pairing was a disaster in Year 1
The Flames should not trade Dougie Hamilton
The Flames should make a play for Ilya Kovalchuk
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»