Flames sign Brouwer to 4-year deal
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) The Calgary Flames quickly filled a couple of needs Friday by signing winger Troy Brouwer to a four-year deal worth a reported $4.5 million annually and giving a one-year deal to goaltender Chad Johnson for a reported $1.7 million.
The six-foot-three, 213-pound Brouwer is a candidate to play on the top line with Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau after the Flames dealt Jiri Hudler to Florida in February. Brouwer, 30, won a Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010. The Vancouver native had 18 goals and 21 assists in 82 games, plus eight goals and five assists in 20 playoff games, for the St. Louis Blues in 2015-16.
Brouwer spent three seasons in Chicago and four in Washington before one season in St. Louis.
''I think he wanted to remain here, but he didn't have the ties to the community,'' Blues GM Doug Armstrong said. ''The offers were going to have to equal out for him to stay, and we were a little bit shy of that offer.''
Brouwer has compiled 150 goals and 144 assists in 613 career NHL games.
After bouncing unsuccessfully between four goaltenders in 2015-16, the Flames have picked up two new ones in as many weeks. Brian Elliott, acquired at the NHL draft from St. Louis for a second-round pick and a conditional draft pick, has a year remaining on contract that counts $2.5 million against the salary cap. Johnson appeared in a career-high 45 games for the Buffalo Sabres this past season.
Calgary did not announce new contracts for star forwards and restricted free agents Monahan and Gaudreau, who were extended qualifying offers Monday.
Calgary finished out of the playoffs this past season at 35-40-7. The Flames fired head coach Bob Hartley and replaced him with Glenn Gulutzan.