Calgary Flames hire Brent Seabrook and cut ties with one player
The Calgary Flames are gearing up for free agency with a surprise hiring on the player development side of things.
With the free agent market set to open up in less than 24 hours, the Flames announced that they had hired longtime Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Brent Seabrook. Calgary specified in a release that he will be responsible for working with both the NHL team and AHL club, the Calgary Wranglers, and will help players hone their professional development.
“We are pleased to welcome Brent Seabrook to our development team,” said Flames GM Craig Conroy in a release. “Our young players will benefit from his years of experience in the NHL and his championship pedigree.”
Brent Seabrook has been added to the #Flames Player Development staff!
📄: https://t.co/7lvckJrc66 pic.twitter.com/p5jbxZcSau
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) June 30, 2025
Seabrook played over 1000 NHL games throughout 15 seasons, all with the Blackhawks. He retired from the sport back in 2021 and most recently worked as a development coach for the WHL’s Vancouver Giants during the 2022-23 season.
“I am really looking forward to getting started with the group of young, talented players in the Flames organization,” said Seabrook. “The future of the organization is very bright, and I am thankful to the Calgary Flames for allowing me to be a part of it.”
He will join a staff that also includes ex-NHLers Michael Stone and Martin Gelinas.
Flames offer QOs to six players, cut ties with one
Calgary was also busy sorting out its qualifying offers to various RFAs.
In total, six players were extended offers, those being the following:
- Morgan Frost
- Connor Zary
- Sam Morton
- Rory Kerins
- Yan Kuznetsov
- Jeremie Poirier
None of those should come as a surprise to Flames fans, as all six are important young pieces to the team’s future. However, one player was left off that list in Nikita Okhotyuk, who will now become a UFA on Tuesday.
Okhotyuk was acquired by the Flames in a trade with the San Jose Sharks at the 2024 NHL trade deadline. The Russian played just nine games with the Flames before jumping to the KHL last season.
Flames get minor signing done
Finally, the Flames also re-signed a player to a cheap one-year contract extension.
29-year-old centreman Clark Bishop will be back with the organization on a deal that carries a cap hit of $775,000.
BISH!
Clark Bishop has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with an AAV of $775,000!#Flames | @original16beer pic.twitter.com/e1qzJ1vvY3
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) June 30, 2025
Bishop appeared in just six games with the Flames last season, while playing 66 in the AHL with the Calgary Wranglers. He potted 19 goals and 38 points with the Wranglers.