The Calgary Wranglers are bringing back their captain for the 2025-26 season.

On Monday afternoon, the Calgary Flames announced they’ve re-signed forward Clark Bishop to a one year deal worth $775,000 at the NHL level. Per PuckPedia, he’ll be getting $350,000 at the AHL level and a guaranteed salary of $375,000.

The 29-year-old Bishop is a product of St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, and was one of just four players from that province to play NHL games in 2024-25 – the others were Dawson Mercer, Alex Newhook and Ryan Greene.

A veteran of the QMJHL’s Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, he was originally selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the fifth round of the 2014 NHL Draft. Since then he’s put together a really nice pro career. He’s played 53 NHL games split between Carolina, Ottawa and Calgary. He’s also played 431 AHL games, split between Charlotte, Belleville and the Wranglers.

Bishop joined the Flames organization during the 2022 off-season via free agency, and he’s become a really important piece of that team. He was named captain prior to last season. He had a goal in five games with the Flames, and 19 goals and 38 points in 66 games with the Wranglers.

The Flames’ farm system is full of exciting young players, but don’t discount the importance of veterans like Bishop and Dryden Hunt in helping new head coach Brett Sutter mould all these fresh-faced youngsters into effective AHLers and, eventually, strong NHL players. The vast majority of NHLers start out playing in the American League, and having the right veterans can be the difference between key prospects making the jump… or not.

Bishop’s signing gives the Flames 38 players with NHL contracts for 2025-26. They have pending six restricted free agents and 10 unrestricted free agents. We’ll see if any other more pending free agents are locked up with new deals to return to the Flames, or if they find new homes for the coming season.

Free agency opens at 10 a.m. MT on July 1.