Flames Add to Goaltending Depth With Free Agent Signing

An interesting signing for the Calgary Flames, as they've looked to the international market to sign top free agent Finnish goaltender Waltteri Ignatjew.

Welcome to #yyc, Waltteri!

We have signed goaltender Waltteri Ignatjew to a one-year two-way contract with an AAV of $870,000.#Flames | @original16beer pic.twitter.com/5y95LT3PHM
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) April 15, 2024

It's a one-year, two-way deal for the 24-year-old, worth $870,000. He posted a 26-18-0 mark with a .918 save percentage and a 2.34 goals-against average along with four shutouts for Mora IK of Sweden’s Allsvenskan League.

That performance was good enough to win Ignatjew the HockeyAllsvenskan Goalie of the Year Award for the 2023-24 season. He made a league-leading 1,142 saves and led all goaltenders in ice time with 2,615 minutes played.

The 6'3", 200-pounder is expected to play in North America next season.

This all makes a lot of sense, if one extrapolates from the rumors that starter Jacob Markstrom and his $6 million cap hit for two more seasons are on their way out the door. That would mean that premium goaltending prospect Dustin Wolf will finally get a full-time run at the crease in Calgary, leaving some netminding chores open with the Flames' AHL affiliate, the Calgary Wranglers.