Flames sign Lucas Ciona to three-year entry-level deal

The Calgary Flames have signed one of their most intriguing prospects. Forward Lucas Ciona has signed a three-year entry-level deal, the club announced on Sunday morning.

Ciona, 19, was a sixth round selection of the Flames in the 2021 NHL Draft. The left shot winger is listed at 6’3″ and 210 pounds, and plays a power forward game at the Western Hockey League level with the Seattle Thunderbirds. He’s the first 2021 draft selection to sign a deal with the Flames.

Ciona had a superb playoff performance for Seattle last spring, using his size around the net to generate 14 points in 24 games as Seattle went to the WHL championship series (losing to the Edmonton Oil Kings). He’s followed that up with another superb start to the season, with 17 points in his first nine games.

Will Ciona be a high-end pro? Time will tell. He has a lot of attributes that give him a resemblance of Micheal Ferland’s style of game. If he can avoid the horrid injury luck that did Ferland in, Ciona’s size and smarts should give him a fighting chance to be a physical depth player – perhaps akin to Brett Ritchie.

Ciona’s entry-level deal will kick in for the 2023-24 season.