The Calgary Flames started the day by re-signing goaltender Karri Ramo to a one year deal with a $3.8 million cap hit, and then made a big splash by signing right winger Michael Frolik to a five year contract with a $4.3 million cap hit.
The Flames weren’t finished there, as they made a minor trade by sending Max Reinhart to the Nashville Predators for a conditional fourth round draft pick.
Reinhart was a third round pick by the Flames, going 64th overall in the 2010 NHL Draft. The 23 year old center comes from a strong pedigree as his father, Paul had a lengthy NHL career, and his brothers Griffin and Sam were both selected in the top four of the NHL Draft.
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Reinhart played most of last season in the American Hockey League with the Adirondack Flames. He scored 15 goals and 39 points in 69 AHL games, while being held scoreless in four games in Calgary. One year ago, Reinhart had a very strong season with the Abbotsford Heat of the AHL, leading the team with 63 points in 66 games.
Max fell out of favour this season, with other young forwards such as Josh Jooris, Paul Byron, Drew Shore and Michael Ferland have passed him on the depth chart. With former first round picks Emile Poirier and Morgan Klimchuk on the way, there just isn’t enough room for all of these young forwards, and Reinhart becomes the odd man out.
Reinhart is currently a restricted free agent, and the Flames gave him a qualifying offer last week, but didn’t sign him to an extension. The 4th round pick coming back in the trade from Nashville is conditional, and my guess is it depends on whether or not the Predators get him signed to a new contract before they commit to sending a pick in next year’s draft to Calgary.
Reinhart was once a very promising prospect, but he had a disappointing season last year. He could easily bounce back with the Predators, but there are just too many similar aged forwards in Calgary right now, which made him expendable.
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