Flames sign Michael Stone (one year, two-way, $700K)

More signing news from the Calgary Flames, and it’s another minor one. The club has announced the signing of defender Michael Stone to a one year, two-way deal worth $700,000 at the NHL level. He was placed on waivers, as well.

Brett Ritchie, signed and waived on Sunday, has cleared waivers.

Stone, 30, is technically on his third go-around with the Flames. He was acquired via trade in 2017 and signed to a three year deal that summer. The Flames bought him out with a year remaining, then signed him (again) to a league minimum one-way deal to be a depth defender on the NHL roster. He joined the Flames on a professional try-out deal for this year’s camp and is signed to a league minimum two-way deal to be a depth defender, probably on their taxi squad.

Stone is a right shot defender, but he’s not exceptionally great at anything and is likely at (or slightly below) replacement level at this point in his career. His signing is insurance in case a couple bodies get hurt on the back end this season, and gives the Flames some options instead of having to throw Alex Petrovic or Alexander Yelesin in the deep end.