Flames sign Kevin Rooney to an inexpensive contract extension
The Calgary Flames announced this afternoon that they have signed Kevin Rooney to a one-year, $1.3 million contract extension.
Kevin Rooney has been signed to a one-year contract extension!#Flames | @original16beer pic.twitter.com/ZSwOI6tnPV
ā Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) March 8, 2024
Rooney, 30, has played in 13 games this season, registering one goal. He missed a large chunk of the year due to a shoulder injury, and has played mainly in a fourth-line role while contributing on the penalty kill since returning.
Rooney joined the Flames prior to the 2022-23 season after signing a two-year, $2.6 million deal with them as a free agent. His first year in Calgary didn’t go as planned, as he wasn’t able to impress then head coach Darryl Sutter and was placed on waivers and assigned to the AHL after just 17 games. He wound up spending the remainder of the season with the Calgary Wranglers, logging 51 games in the regular season and an additional nine in the playoffs.
Given how last season played out, most expected that Rooney would once again spend the 2023-24 campaign in the AHL and find a new home this coming summer. Instead, he was able to grind his way back from an injury suffered in exhibition play and is now playing regular minutes for the Flames.
Though his offensive game will never impress anyone, Rooney is effective in other areas of the game. He is responsible defensively at even strength, is first among all Flames forwards with an average of 2:25 minutes per game on the penalty kill, and is solid in the faceoff dot. He will be a nice depth option for the organization to have going into the 2023-24 season.
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