Calgary Flames interested in re-signing Mike Cammalleri?
By Cory Buck
Calgary Flames GM Brad Treliving has a lot to worry about right now. His squad is one of several rumored to be interested in the top pick of next week’s NHL draft.
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The rest of his roster is almost as young as those incoming draftees will be. The Flames are one of the foremost rebuilders in the NHL right now, which means negotiations with current veterans whose contracts expire aren’t expected to be very fruitful. So credit Treliving for keeping talks alive with the team’s best veteran forward, Mike Cammalleri, even if it isn’t likely going to result in much.
“The only things we’re unable to agree on are term and price — other than that we have a deal,” quipped GM Treliving to the Calgary Sun when discussing Cammalleri’s contract talks.
It’s hard to believe the Flames could be even that optimistic given that their team is going in a direction that wouldn’t interest any forward who will draw interest on the free agent market the way Cammalleri will. Mike Cammalleri is a former 80-point forward who put up his best numbers in Calgary before being traded to Montreal, then back to Calgary.
It’s hard to believe Cammalleri would take any kind of a hometown discount to play on a team that almost certainly won’t make the playoffs in 2015, with or without him. The Flames will likely have to pay more than the $5M a club official reportedly estimated as being the team’s comfort level with the winger’s salary.
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Look for the Calgary Flames to make their big moves in the draft and save the free agent fireworks for a few years down the road. Also look for Mike Cammalleri to find a new address this summer.