The Calgary Flames are coming off an improbable near-playoff run and enter the 2025 offseason with a significant focus on their restricted free agents (RFAs). Their goals are clear: solidify the roster but maintain flexibility within their salary cap.

Following the recent re-signing of forward Matthew Coronato, the Flames have nine pending RFAs under contract. The decisions made this off-season could significantly speed up the rebuild and change the team’s trajectory for years to come.

Here are four RFAs the Flames should highly consider presenting an offer sheet to this summer.

Morgan Frost, C

Frost finds himself in a do-or-die situation heading into the 2025-26 NHL season. A mid-season import to the Flames’ offensive line this past season, Frost will become a UFA at the end of next season, regardless of the contract terms presented to him this season. This makes him a relatively low-risk signing for the Flames at the centre position and gives Frost another opportunity to prove himself.

Frost has shown moments of promise during his tenure with the Philadelphia Flyers. He is capable of putting up consistent middle-six numbers despite what the records show in the latter half of the 2024-25 season. We can excuse that as a mid-season move that asked him to adapt to a new team.

S,o what should Flames’ General Manager Craig Conroy do? Frost could be the answer to the Flames’ need for a third or fourth line centre, so a one-year “prove yourself” contract at under the $1M mark will give the Flames another year to develop and evaluate him.

Sam Morton, C/LW

Coming in as an undrafted free agent from Minnesota State University, Sam Morton has made himself known in Calgary. He has made a name for himself at every level of play, most recently in his NHL debut in Los Angeles near the tail-end of Calgary’s season as he posted a goal in a 5-1 win over the Kings. Debuting with the Flames’ AHL farm team, Calgary Wranglers, Morton had an instant impact. Not only would he consistently post points, but he would consistently create opportunities all over the ice by being an absolute menace to opposing teams.

Now, Morton finds himself up for contract negotiations.

Have other teams taken notice of the young American college player? Will the Flames be willing to match any offers on the table? It’s certainly a possibility that other teams will be bidding to recruit him however, he seems to have fit into the Flames system well and has developed a chemistry with the other young Flames’ prospects that would keep him in Calgary long-term.

Connor Zary, C/LW

Arguably the most important RFA on the board, Zary has quickly made a name for himself as a reliable middle-six contributor. Despite two lower-body injuries, Zary recorded 13 goals and 27 points in 54 games. Over an 82-game pace, Zary was projected to hit 19 goals and 41 points.

It’s rumoured the Flames are looking to re-sign Zary on a bridge deal, likely influenced by injury concerns but also to keep a watchful eye on the 23-year-old’s development. According to Anthony Di Marco of The Daily Faceoff, Zary could be offered a two to three-year deal, averaging between $2.5 to $3 million per year.

Zary is the epitome of a Calgary Flames product. He has grown into himself under the Flames’ system and fits the Flames’ retooling project as a versatile two-way forward who’s capable of producing some offense. If the Flames can continue their experiment of adapting Zary’s game into the centre position, he could find himself in a prime position to get out of the pool of wingers.

Adam Klapka, RW/LW

Klapka was one of seven Flames representing their countries in Sweden at the 2025 IIHF World Championships. He has emerged as a shining diamond from the rough for Calgary. Not only is he a towering winger that would be tough to defend on an odd-man rush, but he also has the mobility, hands, and hockey sense of a goal scorer. At 6-foot-8, Klapka’s presence is immediately noticeable, but what makes him stand out is his ability to create scoring chances, disrupt defenders on the forecheck, and shield pucks effectively along the boards.

Klapka has shown himself to be a true diamond in the rough for the Flames. Not only is he a massive size advantage on the wing, but he also has the stick-handling to match that of a traditional winger, making him a literally huge offensive advantage for any offensive line.

With his unique combination of grit and skill, locking Klapka into a mid-term deal could help transition the Flames into a new era.

The Flames’ crop of RFAs this offseason represents a turning point in their ongoing retool. Players like Zary and Klapka signal a shift toward a younger, hungrier core, while providing bridge contracts to talents like Frost and Morton could set the Flames up for success in the future. With cap space at a premium, General Manager Craig Conroy’s decisions will shape the roster not just for next year, but for the long-term identity of the franchise.

If Calgary wants to stay competitive while developing its youth, this summer’s contract negotiations are the place to start.

Main Photo: Brett Holmes- Imagn Images