Calgary Flames retains backup goalie Henrik Karlsson, sign to 2 year deal –NHL Offseason Update
Calgary Flames kept their backup goalie safe from entering the free agency beginning on the first of July as it signed Henrik Karlsson to a two-year fresh contract worth US$1.725 million which the franchise announced on Monday.
"Last season he demonstrated that he is more than capable as a dependable backup goalie to Kipper who can win games for us when needed and get us valuable points in the standings", Calgary Flames’ general manager, Jay Feaster, said in a press release about
Karlsson.
The 27-year-old from Tumba, Sweden, played for the first time in the NHL during the past 2010-2011 season and is now confirmed in the team, rather than just a testing player like he was before.
Karlsson played 17 games and maintained a .908 saves percentage and 2.58 goals against average record.
Flames certainly has high hopes vested in Karlsson, who was acquired by San Jose Sharks in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft in place of a sixth round pick, and plans on using him much more in the upcoming season.
“He still has some this he has to work on in his game, but we believe that he does have that potential to be the No. 1”, Feaster said. “I know Brent has already talked with Clint about getting that out of him this season”.
There have been rumours that Mikka Kiprusoff, the 34-year-old, has three more seasons left in his six-year contract, he might just retire during the last year since he will be making only $1.5 million and can manage without it.
This time frame would allow Karlsson to learn and come up for Flames when it needs a main goalie to replace Kiprusoff.
Calgary has not been able to reach the Stanley Cup Finals since 2004 when it lost against Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games. It was not even able to make it to the playoffs this time around, even though it had a sudden boom of energy, that at one time put
them in fifth place of the Western Conference.
The Canadian franchise is taking this offseason to plan out well and keeping Karlsson reflects on its long-term plans and strategies.
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