The Calgary Flames have until 5 p.m. Eastern to sign 21-year-old defenseman Adam Ollas-Mattsson, a 6th round pick in 2014, or they lose his rights.
Apparently the Flames will walk away – at least temporarily – as GM Brad Treliving has decided not to give Ollas-Mattsson an NHL contract. An AHL only deal, which does not count towards the team's 50 contract limit, is still within the realm of possibility.
GM Treliving says the team won’t be extending a contract offer to 2014 sixth round pick Adam Ollas-Mattsson ahead of tomorrow’s deadline.
— Pat Steinberg (@Fan960Steinberg) May 31, 2018
Ollas-Mattsson will now become a free agent. Treliving hasn’t written off signing him to an AHL only deal, however. #Flames
It's been four years since the Flames drafted Ollas-Mattsson. From 2014-17, he appeared in 108 games for Djurgardens of the SHL and tallied just 10 points while playing a limited role – as most young players do.
Over the last year and change he was given a 23 game taste with Stockton. He tallied just two points but had a plus-6 goal differential at 5v5 while, again, playing a limited role. Prospect-Stats.com estimates he averaged a little under 10 minutes of 5v5 ice per game.
The odds of him ever becoming a full-time NHLer seem long at this point and the Flames do have a lot of defenders coming through the system. It wouldn't be surprising to see them walk away entirely.
In saying that, there's no harm in giving Ollas-Mattsson a minor league deal – if he's willing to take it – and seeing how he handles himself over a full season with more ice time.
Rasmus Andersson and Oliver Kylington will push for NHL spots sooner than later and AHL defenders Tyler Wotherspoon, Dalton Prout and Cody Goloubef are all without contracts for next season. I doubt the Flames let them all go but there could be a lot of minutes opening up and someone will need to take them.
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