SportsHockeyFlames

5 free agents who could make sense for Calgary Flames to sign to a PTO

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
|
Aug 5 2026, 4:46 pm
5 free agents who could make sense for Calgary Flames to sign to a PTO
Stephen R. Sylvanie/Imagn Images

Calgary Flames GM Craig Conroy made it clear he wouldn’t be dipping into free agency this offseason, and he’s held true to that.

While the Flames have made some changes to their NHL roster this offseason, they’ve come strictly through trades. The few signings they did make on the opening day of free agency were simply depth moves that will help the Wranglers after what was a difficult 2025-26 season.

The reason for the Flames staying away from free agency is simple. They are a rebuilding team that prefers leaving plenty of cap space available to use as leverage. This also allows them to give some of their younger assets real opportunity at the NHL level.

While that was the approach, however, you can’t help but wonder if Conroy and his staff are beginning to reconsider things, even slightly.

There are still several impactful players who remain free agents. It may not make sense for the Flames to offer any contracts, though they could opt to give one or two a look on a PTO. At the very least, it adds more competition for training camp.

Should a player of their choosing come in on a PTO and really impress, Conroy could then look to sign that individual to a one-year contract and flip him at or ahead of the trade deadline for even more future assets. It’s worth considering at the very least, as these six players that remain up for grabs are very intriguing.

Vladimir Tarasenko

  • Position: RW
  • 2025-26 stats: 75 GP, 23 G, 24 A, 47 PTS

A near 50-point scorer wouldn’t possibly agree to a PTO, would they? You certainly wouldn’t think so, though it’s becoming quite interesting to see that Vladimir Tarasenko still hasn’t been able to find a new home.

flames-tarasenko

Matt Krohn/Imagn Images

Should Tarasenko continue to remain without a contract into September, it’s worth checking into for the Flames. He would help their offence out significantly, and would be given plenty of opportunity at 5v5 as well as the power play. That could drive up his value and help the Flames get a good return for him in the new year.

Michael Bunting

  • Position: LW/RW
  • 2025-26 stats: 74 GP, 14 G, 19 A, 33 PTS

It’s equally surprising to see that Michael Bunting remains unsigned into August. While the 30-year-old pesky winger didn’t have his best season in 2025-26, he’s provided good secondary offence throughout his 418-game career.

Bunting also has a great knack for getting under opponents’ skin and drawing penalties as a result. Like Tarasenko, he’d be given plenty of opportunity to produce in Calgary, which could garner interest from many playoff-bound teams near the trade deadline.

Eeli Tolvanen

  • Position: RW
  • 2025-26 stats: 78 GP, 12 G, 24 A, 36 PTS

Being claimed on waivers by the Seattle Kraken during the 2022-23 season did wonders for Eeli Tolvanen’s career. Or at least, so we thought.

The 27-year-old is very good defensively and proved that he can put up numbers as well, scoring 23 goals with the Kraken in 2024-25. That total was nearly cut in half in 2025-26, which may result in him having to settle for a PTO.

Patrik Laine

  • Position: LW
  • 2025-26 stats: 5 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PT

It’s hard to fathom how quickly Patrik Laine’s career has fallen off. Once viewed as one of the best young goal scorers in the NHL, the 28-year-old is now at the point where it appears as though he’ll have to accept a PTO if he wants another opportunity.

Laine-Flames

David Kirouac/Imagn Images

Despite Laine’s major fall from grace, he’s still managed three 20-goal campaigns since 2021-22, despite not reaching the 60-game mark in any of those seasons. While expecting him to get back to his early career form is unlikely, offering him a PTO to see what he still has in the tank doesn’t hurt.

Philipp Kurashev

  • Position: C
  • 2025-26 stats: 43 GP, 7 G, 13 A, 20 PTS

The past two seasons have been difficult for Philipp Kurashev, though the 54 points he put up in 2023-24 are hard to ignore. The 26-year-old clearly has talent — the question is: can he find it again?

It wouldn’t be the worst for the Flames to take a look for themselves. Not only is he still quite young, but he can play both down the middle and on the wing.

ADVERTISEMENT