Flames sign Adam Werner, Nick Desimone and Kevin Gravel to two-way deals

The Calgary Flames have added some organizational depth. The club has announced the signing of goaltender Adam Werner and defensemen Kevin Gravel and Nick Desimone to identical one year, two-way deals worth $750,000 at the NHL level.

Werner, 24, becomes the club’s de facto third-string goalie. He’s Swedish and previously played with the Colorado Avalanche organization, where he played two NHL games in 2019-20. He was a fifth round pick in 2016. He provides some nice depth and gives the Flames a bit of cushion at the AHL level, as otherwise the club only had WHL standout (and pro rookie) Dustin Wolf and Tyler Parsons (who’s coming off a few significant injuries) in their minor league pipeline.

Gravel, 29, is a left shot defender who was a Los Angeles draft pick way back in 2010. He’s played 109 NHL games split between the Kings, Oilers and Maple Leafs, but has largely been a steadying veteran presence in the AHL, where he’s played 214 games. He seems likely to wear a letter for Stockton, as he did last season for Bakersfield.

Desimone, 26, is a right shot defender who was an undrafted free agent signing by San Jose a few seasons back. He’s spent four seasons of pro in the Sharks organization, serving as depth but never getting a shot at the NHL. He had 46 points in 65 games two seasons ago, but was loaned to the Rochester Americans last season – an indication that he wasn’t in their long-term plans. Like Gravel, he gives them a veteran player that can help insulate the tough minutes for the club’s young blueliners.

Gravel and Desimone join a Stockton depth chart that likely includes Connor Mackey, Ilya Solovyov, Johannes Kinnvall, Colton Poolman and Yan Kuznetsov – a grouping that includes two seasons of North American pro between the five of them.