The Calgary Flames have extended qualifying offers to eight players, including forwards Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett and netminder David Rittich, the club announced Tuesday.
Forwards Andrew Mangiapane, Spencer Foo, Ryan Lomberg and Alan Quine, along with defender Rinat Valiev, were also extended offers.
Tkachuk figures to earn the largest deal of the team’s RFAs, with the 21-year-old emerging as a key force among Calgary’s top six in 2018-19, posting 77 points in his third campaign while donning an “A” for the club.
Bennett, who became the highest draft pick in Flames history when the club took him fourth overall in 2014, is coming off a two-year, $3.9-million deal signed with the team in 2017. Rittich, affectionately known as “Big Save Dave” to the Flames faithful, suited up for a career-high 45 games at the NHL last season, taking over the starting role in Calgary before finishing with a .911 save percentage and a 2.61 goals-against average.
Five impending Flames RFAs did not receive offers, including former Ottawa Senator Curtis Lazar, goaltender Mason McDonald, defenceman Josh Healey, as well as forwards Brett Pollock and Kerby Rychel.
While Lazar, who’s been with the Flames for three seasons following a trade from Ottawa, was not extended an offer, he could still return to the club, according to GM Brad Treliving.
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