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5 former Calgary Flames still looking for a contract in free agency

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
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Jul 17 2026, 7:46 pm
5 former Calgary Flames still looking for a contract in free agency
Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images

Free agency began well over two weeks ago, but there are still plenty of players hoping to land new contracts.

While names such as Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko are garnering the most attention, there are several others, including a number of former Calgary Flames, who are being forced to remain patient.

Here are five former Flames who are still hoping to put pen to paper on a new contract in order to continue their NHL careers:

1. Cam Talbot

  • Age: 39
  • Position: G
  • Most recent team: Detroit Red Wings
  • 2025-26 stats: 34 GP, 3.19 GAA, 883 SV%

A poor 2025-26 season has made finding a new home difficult for Cam Talbot. The 567-game veteran doesn’t have a lot of time left in the NHL, but doesn’t appear ready to call it quits just yet.

Despite his rough season, Talbot has been a very dependable NHL goalie for quite some time. Teams in desperate need of help in the crease could reach out to him later in the summer.

2. Jake Bean

  • Age: 28
  • Position: D
  • Most recent team: Calgary Flames
  • 2025-26 stats: 16 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 2 PTS

Jake Bean’s tenure with the Flames was a rather forgettable one. He struggled during the 2024-25 season and wound up being limited to just 16 games in 2025-26 after undergoing surgery for an undisclosed injury in December.

flames-bean

Sergei Belski/Imagn Images

Bean hasn’t lived up to his potential after being selected 13th overall in 2016, and is unlikely to ever get there at the age of 28. That said, he can play in a bottom-pairing role, which may be of use for teams looking to shore up their depth on the back end.

3. Travis Hamonic

  • Age: 35
  • Position: D
  • Most recent team: Detroit Red Wings
  • 2025-26 stats: 26 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 2 PTS

It’s been quite some time since Travis Hamonic was regarded as a solid top-four defenceman, but to his credit, he’s been able to continue finding NHL roles. That may no longer be the case after suiting up for just 26 games this past season.

Hamonic hasn’t announced his retirement, and it may be due to a major milestone he’s closing in on. The 35-year-old is just 74 games away from 1,000 in his career. We’ll see if he can find one more contract in an attempt to hit that mark.

4. Curtis Lazar

  • Age: 31
  • Position: C/RW
  • Most recent team: Edmonton Oilers
  • 2025-26 stats: 45 GP, 4 G, 2 A, 6 PTS

Curtis Lazar never became the big-time goal scorer many had envisioned, but he’s managed to carve out an impressive NHL career in a bottom-six role. He served as a solid depth presence for the Edmonton Oilers this past season.

oilers-lazar

Kevin Ng/Imagn Images

Lazar is great in the face-off circle and can kill penalties, making him a useful option for many teams. However, his limited offensive contributions may make it difficult for him to sign another NHL contract.

5. Derek Forbort

  • Age: 34
  • Position: D
  • Most recent team: Vancouver Canucks
  • 2025-26 stats: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PTS

The 2025-26 season was cruel to Derek Forbort, who attempted to battle through lingering hip issues before undergoing season-ending surgery. The 34-year-old did make it clear at his season-ending media availability that he hopes to continue his NHL career.

When at his best, Forbort is a bottom-pairing, shut-down defenceman. Whether he can return to that level of play after undergoing a significant surgery remains to be seen.

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