With the 2025 NHL Draft now in the rearview mirror, attention will immediately turn to the annual free-agent frenzy.

While the Calgary Flames have gobs of salary-cap space, we don’t expect them to be especially busy on Canada Day. They still have some more retooling to do before Craig Conroy is likely to be reeling in any big fish.

With Dan Vladar set to test the market, Conroy is certainly shopping for a backup goaltender. His wish-list should also include a left-shot defenceman and perhaps a right-shot forward.    

Postmedia Calgary’s beat writers, Danny Austin and Wes Gilbertson, scanned the list of 100-and-some unrestricted free agents to offer up eight potential targets for the Flames …

Ryan Lindgren, D

Age: 27

Current employer: Colorado Avalanche

Current cap-hit: US$4.5 million

Standout stat: Plus/minus can sometimes be misleading, but a career count of plus-99 seems pretty darn good

Why I’m intrigued: Lindgren, who spent parts of seven seasons in the Big Apple before being traded to Colorado in March, would address Calgary’s need for another steady, dependable presence on the left side of their defence crew. The reason that he’d be my top target is that during his run with the Rangers, Lindgren played the vast majority of his minutes alongside Adam Fox. Since that was such a nice fit, could he be the ideal complement to help guide Zayne Parekh — like Fox, an offensive whiz — through his transition to the NHL? Lindgren, who is also an effective penalty-killer, should have several suitors so some term will be required.

— Wes Gilbertson

DENVER, COLORADO – APRIL 10: Pius Suter #24 of the Vancouver Canucks skates with the puck against the Colorado Avalanche during the first period at Ball Arena on April 10, 2025 in Denver, Colorado.

DENVER, COLORADO – APRIL 10: Pius Suter #24 of the Vancouver Canucks skates with the puck against the Colorado Avalanche during the first period at Ball Arena on April 10, 2025 in Denver, Colorado.

Pius Suter, C 

Age: 29

Current employer: Vancouver Canucks

Current cap-hit: US$1.6 million

Standout stat: Suter put up 46 points last season. Only four Flames players had more

Why I’m intrigued: This largely comes down to the Flames not having a tonne of centres, but with the Pacific Division looking like it’s going to get more competitive next year, why not weaken a rival? Suter isn’t going to come in and be a star who transforms the Flames, but he’s a legitimate centre who could give you cover if Mikael Backlund moves on after the final season of his contract or you look to trade Nazem Kadri. He’d be an affordable option and the Flames aren’t at the point in their retool process where they should be looking to spend big.

— Danny Austin

Jack Roslovic, C

Age: 28

Current employer: Carolina Hurricanes

Current cap-hit: US$2.8 million

Standout stat: Roslovic won 54.1 percent of his draws this past season

Why I’m intrigued: It’s no secret the Flames have been shopping for a right-shot centre, and Roslovic might immediately become their most trusted faceoff man. They also have a history of targeting dudes who’ve provided some offensive pop at even-strength but haven’t logged a whole lot of power-play time. Roslovic scored 22 goals with the Hurricanes this past season, and that count included just one man-advantage marker. The Flames’ pitch would undoubtedly include an expanded role on special teams.       

— Gilbertson

Goalie Ivan Prosvetov #50 of the Colorado Avalanche saves a shot on goal by Connor Zary #47 of the Calgary Flames in the first period at Ball Arena on November 25, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Goalie Ivan Prosvetov #50 of the Colorado Avalanche saves a shot on goal by Connor Zary #47 of the Calgary Flames in the first period at Ball Arena on November 25, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Ivan Prosvetov, G

Age: 26

Current employer: CSKA Moscow

Current cap-hit: N/A

Standout stat: Posted a .920 save percentage in the KHL this season

Why I’m intrigued: The Flames were recently rumoured to be among the frontrunners for Prosvetov’s services, and if we’re being honest about it, the market for backup goaltenders is pretty barren right now. You could do worse than landing a 26-year-old who played 11 games for the Colorado Avalanche in 2023-24, posting a 3.16 goals-against average and an .895 save percentage. If Vladar is heading out the door, as seems to be the case, bringing in Prosvetov would provide at least some low-cost cover.

— Austin

Michael DiPietro, G

Age: 25

Current employer: Boston Bruins

Current cap-hit: US$775,000

Standout stat(s): DiPietro ranked among AHL leaders this season in wins (28), goals-against average (2.05) and save percentage (.927)

Why I’m intrigued: With the way Dustin Wolf performed as a rookie, do the Flames suddenly feel less pressure to find an experienced backup? If the answer is yes, could they offer DiPietro his big break? Turning 26 next month, he has so far logged just two NHL starts — and the numbers aren’t especially pretty — but he was hailed this season as winner of the Aldege ‘Baz’ Bastien Memorial Award, which is the AHL’s version of the Vezina Trophy. If Prosvetov doesn’t sign in Calgary, DiPietro could battle Devin Cooley for second spot on the goaltending depth chart.

— Gilbertson

Aaron Ekblad, D

Age: 29

Current employer: Florida Panthers

Current cap-hit: US$7.5 million

Standout stat: Ekblad contributed 13 points in the 2025 playoffs, third-most among blue-liners.

Why I’m intrigued: OK, I’ll admit upfront that this is sort of an olive branch to the fans who want the Flames to compete next year. They’re not short on right-shot defencemen, so signing Ekblad when they’re actively trying to trade away Rasmus Andersson seems counterintuitive. On the other hand, Ekblad was MacKenzie Weegar’s on-ice partner in Florida and would instantly make the Flames better, so why not take a shot at a guy who played top-pairing minutes for the Stanley Cup champions?

— Austin

Edmonton Oilers Darnell Nurse (25) battles for the puck with New Jersey Devils Nathan Bastian (14) during second period NHL action on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023 in Edmonton. Greg Southam-Postmedia

Edmonton Oilers Darnell Nurse (25) battles for the puck with New Jersey Devils Nathan Bastian (14) during second period NHL action on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023 in Edmonton. Greg Southam-Postmedia

Nathan Bastian, RW

Age: 27

Current employer: New Jersey Devils

Current cap-hit: US$1.35 million

Standout stat: At 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, he’d bring some beef to the Flames’ forward cast

Why I’m intrigued: An apology may be necessary right off the hop. Bastian doesn’t exactly have fond memories of his most recent trip to the Saddledome. He suffered a broken jaw that night as the result of a flurry of punches from Ryan Lomberg. Could those two make nice and then join forces on the sort of hard-working and hard-to-play-against fourth line that Ryan Huska likes? The Flames don’t necessarily need to add on the wings but if they do, it should be a right-shot like Bastian.

— Gilbertson

Parker Wotherspoon, D

Age: 27

Current Employer: Boston Bruins

Current cap-hit: US$800,000

Standout stat: Younger brother of Tyler Wotherspoon, a Flames’ second-round pick in 2011

Why I’m intrigued: Wotherspoon is a depth defenceman and would project to play either on the Flames’ third pairing or even as a seventh option. Given the construction of the current roster, though, that’s something they could probably use. This lefty only scored once and added six assists in 55 games for the Bruins, but given how disastrously their season went, maybe being in a better situation could bring out a little more. He won’t be expensive, either, and he’s probably available on a shorter-term deal.

— Austin