Sam Morton has one goal on his NHL resume — and one big goal for the coming season.
The 25-year-old centre is aiming to prove that he’s ready to be a full-timer with the Calgary Flames.
Morton signed a one-year, two-way contract Wednesday as general manager Craig Conroy continued to whittle down his list of restricted free agents. This deal carries at cap-hit of US$775,000.
Unless the Flames add another established pivot through trade or free agency, Morton will arrive at training camp in the fall as one of the top candidates for the fourth-line centre job.
Justin Kirkland is considered the frontrunner, but if Morton makes a convincing case, ‘Costco’ could be shifted to the wing.
While he turns 26 later this month, Morton just finished his first full campaign of pro hockey. He was third on Calgary Wranglers team charts with 20 goals — including four game-winners — and fifth with 45 points in his 70 games. He was a regular on both the power-play and penalty-kill units for the farm club.
This lefty from Lafayette, Colo., was called up to debut in the Flames season finale and notched his first NHL goal, heading to the net on an offensive rush and polishing off a pass from Ryan Lomberg. He also won 57.1% of his faceoffs that night in an impressive audition.
ICE CHIPS
Cullen Potter, one of the Flames’ two first-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft, will suit up for Team USA at the world junior summer showcase. Potter, a speedy centre who is preparing for his sophomore season with the Arizona State Sun Devils, was one of 42 players invited Wednesday to audition for the Americans at the four-team tournament. Canada has yet to reveal its roster, but fellow Flames first-rounder Cole Reschny should be on that list.