Flames re-sign David Rittich (one year, one-way, $800k)

The Calgary Flames have avoided another arbitration hearing. Just days before his hearing, the Flames have re-signed goaltender David Rittich to a one-year, one-way deal worth $800,000. Rittich’s hearing was scheduled for July 28, so both sides were to have filed their arguments by this morning.

Rittich, 25, took over the backup job behind Mike Smith early last season when the club pulled the parachute on the Eddie Lack experiment. He ended up being very good as the backup, but faltered during the month-long stretch when Smith was injured and he had to be leaned on as an NHL starter without much experience in that role.

Rittich’s situation differs from Jon Gillies’, also re-signed this summer, in a handful of ways.

All of these factors give Rittich an inside track on winning the backup job this season, but it’s not a done deal quite yet.

The Flames have three restricted free agents left to sign: Noah Hanifin, Garnet Hathaway and Hunter Shinkaruk. Hathaway’s arbitration hearing is scheduled for July 30.