The final part of Brad Treliving’s grand off-season plan is complete.
With the start of the regular season just days away, the Calgary Flames put the finishing touches on their remarkable roster revamp on Friday, agreeing to terms with defenseman MacKenzie Weegar on an eight-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $6.25 million.
The deal, which now ties Weegar to Calgary through the 2030-31 season, matches the length of the deal teammate Jonathan Huberdeau, who came over from the Florida Panthers with Weegar in the Matthew Tkachuk trade back in July, signed and ensures that both players will be pillars of the Flames roster for the foreseeable future.
What an incredible series of events.
After all appeared to be lost when both Tkachuk and fellow superstar Johnny Gaudreau departed Calgary over the summer, the Flames have since pulled a complete 180-degree turn, plowing a new path ahead by adding Weegar, Huberdeau, and Nazem Kadri to a roster that, just last season, captured the Pacific Division crown.
Weegar’s decision to remain in Calgary throughout what could be the remainder of his career is particularly important.
The 28-year-old is a remarkable talent – a coveted right-shot defender who is capable of blending offensive and defensive skill to terrific effect; equally comfortable anchoring a top power-play unit and defending the rush.
For a mere $6.25 million cap hit? This is a bona fide steal. Sure, Weegar is rapidly approaching his 30s and will be earning some pretty big paychecks throughout what could be his least productive years in the middle of the deal. But for a player of his ilk, the aging curve isn’t expected to hit too hard right away, and Weegar’s commitment to the organization ensures that the Flames will have a quality veteran staple around whom to build their blueline for the foreseeable future.
Buckle up, Flames fans. It’s going to be a very interesting season.
