Calgary Flames' Unconventional Salary Retention Strategy

It's March 11th for the Calgary Flames.

Let's get into it.

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The Calgary Flames have bucked a common hockey trend by retaining salary in six trades overall

with five of those happening under General Manager, Craig Conroy.

Teens usually avoid this to keep cash available for their own roster, but Conroy has maxed out

the league's three retention slots twice during his time in charge.

It was started back in 2021 when they sent goalie David Ridich to Toronto, retaining

half his cap hit for just 27 days.

That move netted a third round pick they later flipped for Nikita's adorov.

Fast forward to 2024, and Conroy used two slots before the deadline on defenseman Chris

Tonev to Dallas and Noah Hanuffin to Vegas, grabbing picks and prospects in return.

Those deals helped clear space but came at a short-term cap cost of around $550,000 each.

Meanwhile, they saved their last slot that summer for goalie Jacob Markstrom's trade

to New Jersey, retaining over 30% for two full seasons, and picking up Kevin Ball plus

a first-rounder.

This year, Conroy filled all three slots again with the fenceman Rasmus Anderson to Vegas

for Zach White Cloud, a first-round pick, and more.

Then came Sinner, Nazem Kadri, to Colorado, retaining 20% through the end of this season

and three more years.

Overall, these moves have locked in millions and retained cap hits, like nearly 4.5 million

for Kadri alone, as the flames reshape there.

Line up for the long haul.

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