Exhale.

The first key signing of the offseason has been wrapped up, as the team has extended general manager Brad Treliving.

Teams rarely release contract details of executives and non-player personnel, but at least we know it is a multi-year extension. The Flames’ GM was reportedly a big target of interest for the Buffalo Sabres, but has chosen to remain with the club that gave him his first big-name opportunity.

Under Treliving’s guidance, the team has reached the NHL postseason twice in three years. He’s added key pieces like Dougie Hamilton and Michael Frolik, and helped lock up others like Mikael Backlund, T.J. Brodie, Mark Giordano, Sean Monahan, and Johnny Gaudreau. His draft acumen has been widely praised too, picking current NHLers Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk, and adding promising pieces in Dillon Dube, Tyler Parsons, Adam Fox, Matthew Phillips, Oliver Kylington, etcetera (because there’s quite a few names).

He’s got quite the shopping list this offseason. The Flames need to sign a few RFAs and replace half of their defence and potentially two of their goalies. He’s made his slip-ups, but there’s not many other executives I would trust in for such a big task.

As of right now, there’s no word on whether or not other executives, such as assistant GM Craig Conroy, have been extended.