The Calgary Flames have begun discussions with Dillon Dube’s camp on a new deal
By Ryan Pike
2 months agoBrought to you by odds site Betway!
On July 1, 2024, six prominent members of the Calgary Flames roster could become unrestricted free agents. We’ve discussed those six – Elias Lindholm, Mikael Backlund, Noah Hanifin, Nikita Zadorov, Chris Tanev and Oliver Kylington – at length. But one key member of the Flames could become a restricted free agent on that date: versatile forward Dillon Dube.
On Monday’s edition of The Big Show on Sportsnet 960, Flames general manager Craig Conroy confirmed that he’s begun discussions with Dube’s representation on a new contract.
Here’s Conroy, after being asked if talks have happened:
“Yeah, that has started. It’s funny. His agent sat with me during the first day of development camp. So that did come up. We’re going to continue to move forward. He’s got some ideas. I have some ideas. So hopefully we can get something done there with Dillon, too, because you know what, he’s just one of those guys that you win with. Every year, best shape guy in camp. What he does around the city. He loves the Calgary Flames as much as anybody, so hopefully we can get something done with Dillon sooner than later.”
Dube’s 24 and turns 25 later in July. Born in Golden, B.C. but raised for a good chunk of his life in scenic Cochrane, Alberta, Dube’s essentially a Calgary area product. (He stayed at his parents’ house during his first NHL camp, for example.) A second-round pick by the Flames in 2016, he played his junior hockey with the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets, won a pair of World Junior medals with Team Canada, and worked his way up through the Flames’ farm system. (He and new Flames head coach Ryan Huska briefly crossed paths in Kelowna and Stockton, but really worked together extensively once Dube became a full-time Flame early in the 2019-20 season.)
Because of position and age, Dube and new teammate Yegor Sharangovich are natural comparables. Dube’s production is slightly below Sharangovich’s 0.52 points-per-game both career-long (0.42 points per game) or looking at their past three seasons (0.47 points per game). But considering Dube’s positional versatility (he can play all three forward positions) and the departures of offensive-minded wingers in recent years such as Matthew Tkachuk, Johnny Gaudreau and Tyler Toffoli, it seems probable that Dube could become a bigger part of the Flames’ offensive attack. Sharangovich recently signed a two-year deal that pays him $3.1 million against the cap and walks him to free agency.
Put another way: Dube’s numbers are pretty decent as-is, and that was entering a Flames roster where he was playing a complimentary role and not slotting into the primary special teams units because of the club’s veteran depth. Take away that veteran depth and Dube has the opportunity to really carve out a niche, expand his role and, potentially, enhance his offensive numbers.
What do you think a fair deal for Dillon Dube looks like? Would you prefer a long-term deal or a bridge? Let us know in the comments!
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