For several weeks last fall, Justin Kirkland was arguably the NHL’s best-feel good story.
The 28-year-old shootout ace will now have an opportunity to write another chapter with the Calgary Flames.
Kirkland, who was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on Canada Day, has inked a one-year extension with the Flames.
The deal, announced Monday morning, carries a cap hit of US$900,000. It marks a career milestone for the hard-working forward from Camrose, Alta. — his first one-way contract, which he described as “something I’m extremely grateful for and proud of.”
“He’s earned it. He really has,” said Flames general manager Craig Conroy. “He’s a huge asset to the team and to have him back next year and hopefully healthy all year long … He just makes us better, he really does. He helps us, gives us that depth that we need.”
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After mostly plugging away in the minors for the previous eight seasons, including three winters in the Flames’ system with the Stockton Heat, Kirkland appeared in 21 games for Calgary in 2024-25. ‘Costco’ had contributed eight points, sniped on three of four shootout attempts and was emerging as a fan favourite at the Saddledome when his breakout campaign was cut short due to an ACL injury.
He is now six-plus months into his recovery from surgery and reported Monday that “the knee is doing fantastic.” In fact, he resumed skating about three weeks ago.
“This a very exciting day for myself, my wife and my family. We’re pumped up,” Kirkland beamed after putting pen to paper. “This organization has been so good to me in the two stints that I’ve had, when I was with Stockton and last season.
“My No. 1 goal, from Day 1, was to sign an extension with the Flames. So to be able to officially do that, it really does mean the world to me.”
Justin Kirkland #58 of the Calgary Flames celebrates his first career NHL goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period of the game at Rogers Place on Oct. 13, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
The Flames are clearly confident that Kirkland can pick up where he left off before he was injured in late November.
He is the early frontrunner to replace Kevin Rooney as Calgary’s fourth-line centre. (Rooney will look to latch on elsewhere as a free agent.)
If Kirkland doesn’t win that job, with youngsters like Sam Morton and Rory Kerins also in the mix, he has the versatility to work either wing.
His case for an every-night role is bolstered by the fact that he is an effective forechecker, a trustworthy penalty-killer and a no-brainer for the breakaway competition.
Despite suiting up for only 21 of 82 games, Kirkland led the Flames in shootout strikes last season. His go-to move is a thing of a beauty.
“He just brings a real energy, and he was physical whenever he was in the lineup,” said Conroy, whose squad finished ninth in the Western Conference standings this past season, missing the playoffs due to the tiebreaker. “He did an amazing job in the shootouts, too. When you look back, with how big every point is, if we win one more shootout along the way, it makes a huge difference. And then just with his personality, and the way he is with the guys, he’s just a really good fit with our group.”
Kirkland is thrilled to remain a part of that group.
His one-way contract doesn’t cinch a spot on the big-league roster, although it does ensure that he’ll collect his NHL salary even if he is demoted to the minors.
Calgary Flames forward Justin Kirkland scores the game-winning shootout goal against Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Alex Nedeljkovic at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024. The Flames won the game 4-3.
If the worst-case scenario is that he’d require some time with the Wranglers to either knock off the rust or regain his speed, it’s still unlikely the Flames would regret Monday’s move. The up-and-comers in the organization could learn a lot from his resilience — a guy who refused to give up on his dreams, even after a serious vehicle accident in 2023.
Kirkland’s inspiring backstory was spotlighted when he buried his first big-league goal last October, and again when he was announced as Calgary’s team nominee for the Masterton Trophy.
Monday delivered another milestone.
“There’s been a lot of years battling the two-way contracts,” said Kirkland, who has totalled 30 appearances in the NHL spotlight. “At the end of the day, it doesn’t guarantee anything and I don’t expect it to. I know I have to come in and earn a spot, and that’s what I’m ready to do. But to have the trust and faith from the organization, from Craig Conroy, to bring me back on that one-way deal, it means the world to me. They trust that I’m putting the work in to make sure that my knee is going to be at 100 per cent, so it’s very, very special.
“It was a great stint I had last season, but I know I still have a lot to prove. I want to continue to prove that I belong in the NHL and continue to make an impact and just do whatever I can to help the Calgary Flames win games. I can’t wait for next season to get started already.”