It appears the Calgary Flames are parting ways with veteran defender Michael Stone.
The Flames have placed Stone on waivers for the purpose of buying him out, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
Stone has one year remaining on the three-year, $10.5-million deal he signed with Calgary back in 2017.
After posting a career-high 36 points with the Arizona Coyotes in 2015-16, Stone was traded to the Flames during the 2016-17 campaign in exchange for a 2017 third-round pick and a 2018 fifth-round pick. In his first full season as a Flame, 2017-18, Stone posted 10 points and skated an average of 16:45 minutes per night.
He suited up for just 14 games at the NHL level last season, along with three appearances for AHL Stockton. The 29-year-old’s current deal would have him carry a $3.5-million cap hit next season — seemingly a hefty price to pay considering the club’s top four is locked in with Mark Giordano, T.J. Brodie, Noah Hanifin and Travis Hamonic in the fold, while promising prospects like Rasmus Andersson, Juuso Valimaki and Oliver Kylington challenge for spots as well.
Calgary currently has roughly $4.7 million in cap space prior to a potential Stone buyout, with star restricted free agent Matthew Tkachuk still in need of a new contract for 2019-20. Promising prospect Andrew Mangiapane, also an RFA, needs a new deal for the coming season as well.
The Flames are also currently paying out forward Troy Brouwer’s contract, which they bought out in 2018. The club will pay $1.5 million for the veteran winger’s contract for the next three seasons.
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