The Calgary Flames traded Jacob Markstrom to the New Jersey Devils last summer. In return, they received a first-round pick in 2025 and defenseman Kevin Bahl. Some panned this trade at the time, but Calgary is undoubtedly pleased with how it turned out.
Bahl emerged as an important part of Calgary’s blueline. He skated in 73 games, scoring a career high 20 points. Moroever, he finished third on this team with 116 blocked shots. He certainly was an integral part of the team’s push for a postseason spot in 2025.
The Flames recently rewarded Bahl for his performance. Calgary has signed the defenseman to a six-year, $32.1 million contract. This deal carries a $5.35 million cap hit, and he will receive modified no-trade protection from 2027-28 to 2030-31.
Bahl spoke to the media for the first time on Saturday following this deal. He emphatically expressed his excitement for the years to come in Calgary.
“I’m extremely excited,” Bahl said, via NHL.com. “It’s a great, tight-knit community, getting to know your neighbors and things like that. It’s good for your family, it’s something I can really appreciate, being close to your neighbors.
“I think it’s awesome to have that kind of confidence from the organization. I think for me personally, being part of the system and atmosphere and culture where you want to get better. … I think this team is going to excel and keep on getting better. We’re going to get some younger pieces coming in, and I think we can keep on pushing.”
Flames Excited to See What’s to Come For Kevin Bahl
Bruce Bennett/Getty ImagesKevin Bahl emerged as a top-four defenseman with the Calgary Flames in 2024-25.
Bahl is not the only one who’s excited about signing this contract. Flames general manager Craig Conroy is also looking forward to what’s next. He shared a very high opinion of the 25-year-old after the 2025 NHL Draft on Saturday.
“I thought his puck play got much better as the season went along, and he was more physical as the season went along, too. I did see that progression, and I do think he’s going to keep taking steps. He’s only [25] years old. I think the sky’s the limit, so to have him locked up and be a big part of this moving forward is big,” Conroy said, via NHL.com.
Calgary nearly made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2025. They hope they can take the next step in 2026. Having Bahl locked up is certainly vital toward their continued progress on the ice in the years to come.
How Calgary, Bahl Agreed to Terms
Bahl and the Flames were talking contract through the offseason. It can be hard to gague where contract discussions stand at any one point. This situation is no different, as it seemed to pull itself together around the draft.
“You’re talking all the time, but you don’t know how close it actually is,” Conroy said, via NHL.com. “It kind of came together — even though we were busy with the draft – we kind of came to terms right before Friday, and then it was just to get it signed and get the paperwork in. It was nice to get that done prior to the draft and release it today.”
Signing Bahl certainly gives the Flames one less thing to worry about over the summer. They have a little under $20 million to work with for the remainder of the offseason. With NHL Free Agency beginning on Tuesday, it will be intriguing to see if Calgary makes a splash move to further reinforce its roster for the 2025-26 season.
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