Stone keeps his Calgary address
Defenceman signs 3-year contract with Flames
Brad Treliving was asked Friday morning if, perhaps, he’d use the National Hockey League free agent market on Saturday to find another quality defenceman, one of the Calgary Flames’ biggest needs that was still left on the table.
“Potentially,” was the general manager’s answer.
Well ... Treliving technically wasn’t lying.
A few hours later, the Flames hammered out a deal to bring back blueliner Michael Stone for three more seasons at US$3.5 million per year.
And it was exactly what the 27-year-old wanted.
Stone’s wife, Michelle, is originally from Calgary, and even before he was traded to the Flames before last year’s NHL trade deadline, the couple and their ninemonth-old twins were planning on making their permanent home in the city.
“It’s where me and my family wanted to be,” Stone said. “The fact that it’s worked out the way it has is very exciting.”
The timing of the deal was a relief, considering the former Calgary Hitmen blueliner had never tested free agency in his NHL career. Drafted in the third round (69th overall) of the 2008 NHL draft by the Arizona Coyotes, Stone played 324 of his 343 regular-season NHL games with one team.
The Flames, in need of a top-four defenceman last season, struck a deal to acquire the 6- foot- 3, 210- pounder from the Desert Dogs in exchange for a thirdround pick in the ’17 NHL draft (Stuart Skinner) and — because the Flames re-signed him before July 1 — a fifth-round pick in ’18.
“For me, it was a little nerveracking because I’ve never experienced the (free-agency) process before,” Stone said. “You have an agent for that reason, and they try to do the best job they can for you … I’m excited about the team we have here.”
In 19 games, Stone had two goals and four assists along with 20 penalty minutes but helped solidify a second-pairing with TJ Brodie. In a four-game sweep at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks in playoffs, he had one goal.
Stone rejoins a Flames’ defensive corps that includes Mark Giordano, Dougie Hamilton, Brodie and the recently acquired Travis Hamonic.