Calgary Flames sign Martin Frk to one year, two-way contract ($775,000)

The Calgary Flames have added some forward depth in free agency. Per multiple reports, and subsequently announced by the club, they’ve signed forward Martin Frk to a one year, two-way deal worth $775,000 at the NHL level.

Frk is a 30-year-old right shot winger from Pelhrimov, Czechia. He was originally a second-round pick by the Detroit Red Wings back in 2012, and he’s bounced around hockey a little bit in recent years – he spent the past season with SC Bern and SC Rapperswil-Jona in Switzerland’s National League, posting 16 points over 33 games.

In his pro career, Frk has played 124 NHL games with Detroit, Carolina and Los Angles and 403 AHL games with Grand Rapids, Ontario and Springfield. He was over a point-per-game player with Halifax in the QMJHL during junior, helping the team win a QMJHL championship and a Memorial Cup back in the day – he was teammates with MacKenzie Weegar with the Mooseheads. As a pro, he’s scored 0.33 points per game in the NHL and o.79 points per game in the AHL. He hasn’t been a world-beater as a pro, but he’s emerged as a really effective role player and somebody who has a heck of a shot.

He helped Grand Rapids capture a Calder Cup championship in 2016-17. With the Flames getting a lot of exciting young players in their farm system this year – and beyond – having a veteran pro like Frk in the system can help in a few ways. First, his presence as a potential call-up insulates them from being pushed into the bigs too early. Second, he’s a savvy veteran player that can help his younger teammates learn and progress towards becoming NHLers in their own rights.