6 former Calgary Flames still looking for new teams in free agency

Nearly one week into August, there are several former Calgary Flames who are still looking to find a home on the free-agent market.

This is undoubtedly a stressful time for many players, who watched many other free agents find new homes over a month ago, while they still anxiously wait in hopes of finding work in the NHL for the 2025-26 season.

While seeing a few remaining players on the open market sign a short-term deal wouldn’t come as a surprise, many, including some former Flames, may have to settle for PTOs in order to participate in a training camp. With that said, here are six former Flames players still looking for work.

Kevin Rooney

• Most recent team: Calgary Flames
• Position: C
• 2024-25 stats: 70 GP, 5 G, 5 A, 10 PTS

It was no real surprise to see the Flames walk away from Kevin Rooney, who had spent the past three seasons in the organization. While one can appreciate the work ethic he brought on a nightly basis, he was a very borderline NHLer, at best.

To Rooney’s credit, he’s been able to carve out a 330-game NHL career to date, and that experience could prove valuable to some teams across the league. That said, his lack of offence and below-average abilities in the face-off dot make him a difficult player to insert into a lineup.

Tyson Barrie

• Most recent team: Calgary Flames
• Position: D
• 2024-25 stats: 13 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PTS

Having to wait things out in the offseason isn’t a new thing for Tyson Barrie, as he waited until early September before inking a PTO with the Flames last year. He wound up impressing enough in training camp to earn himself a one-year deal.

Unfortunately, things in Calgary didn’t work out as Barrie would have liked, as it was quite evident that he’s a shell of the player he once was. The 34-year-old spent the vast majority of the season in the press box as a healthy scratch, and even had a brief stint in the AHL.

T.J. Brodie

• Most recent team: Chicago Blackhawks
• Position: D
• 2024-25 stats: 54 GP, 2 G, 8 A, 10 PTS

Another player who has lost a serious step is T.J. Brodie. The 35-year-old, who starred on the Flames’ blueline for several seasons, had the final year of his contract bought out by the Chicago Blackhawks this June.

Brodie’s regression came in extremely quick fashion, as he was averaging nearly 22 minutes in ice time during the 2023-24 season with the Toronto Maple Leafs. That dropped down to just 15:38 with the Blackhawks, a team that had a very weak back end overall. As unlikely as it may be, it would be great to see Brodie get a one-year contract given that he’s just 38 games away from 1,000 in his career.

Trevor Lewis

• Most recent team: LA Kings
• Position: C
• 2024-25 stats: 60 GP, 6 G, 6 A, 12 PTS

You can’t help but feel good for Trevor Lewis, who was able to skate in the 1,000th game of his career this past season thanks to inking a one-year deal with the LA Kings. Now at the age of 38, however, that may be it for his professional hockey career.

Lewis has yet to retire, stating that he feels good and was looking forward to seeing what opportunities presented themselves come free agency. So far, it appears that few, if any, have surfaced. That said, his leadership and winning pedigree could intrigue some teams closer to training camp.

Oliver Kylington

• Most recent team: Anaheim Ducks
• Position: D
• 2024-25 stats: 19 GP, 1 G, 4 A, 5 PTS

Oliver Kylington would likely want a do-over of his decision as a free agent one year ago. Rather than signing the extension offered to him by the Flames, he opted to test the market and was forced to settle for a one-year, $1.05 million deal with the Colorado Avalanche.

Kylington’s time with the Avalanche was disastrous, as he appeared in just 13 games due to both injury and inconsistent play. He wound up being moved to the Anaheim Ducks at the trade deadline, where he continued to struggle to get into the lineup. This could be the end of the road for the smooth-skating 28-year-old, who at one time was a very intriguing prospect.

Travis Hamonic

• Most recent team: Ottawa Senators
• Position: D
• 2024-25 stats: 59 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 7 PTS

It’s been quite some time since Travis Hamonic was viewed as a legitimate top-four option on the back end. In fact, that may have come to an end once his time with the Flames concluded after the 2019-20 season. To his credit, however, he’s been able to remain in the league for several years afterward as a third-pairing option.

Hamonic was acquired by the Ottawa Senators from the Vancouver Canucks late in the 2021-22 season and has been with them ever since. The 34-year-old has largely struggled over the past two seasons, however, and may officially be done in the NHL.

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