The Calgary Flames have been busy over the past week, signing past and future members of the Abbotsford Heat to new contracts.
After inking defenceman Chris Breen, the Heat's all-time leader in regular season games played (204) to a one-year, two-way deal last Thursday, the Flames followed by announcing similar contracts for Heat alumni Mark Cundari, Lance Bouma and Paul Byron, along with the signing of draftee Patrick Sieloff.
Cundari, a blueliner acquired in a trade this past spring that saw Jay Bouwmeester head to the St. Louis Blues, inked a deal worth $600,000 at the NHL level and $100,000 in the AHL. He played two games in Abbotsford after the trade, registering three assists, and was recalled for a four-game stint with the Flames to end the season.
Bouma, a rambunctious left winger, has spent the past three seasons mainly with the Heat, but he was sidelined for the vast majority of 2012-13 after severely spraining the ACL and MCL in his right knee. He got into just three games prior to the injury, posting one goal. His new deal pays $577,500 in the NHL and $100,000 in the AHL.
Byron, a small (5'10"), speedy centre, also battled injuries last season, notching six goals and nine assists in 38 games with the Heat. His contract is for $643,500 in the NHL and $125,000 in the AHL.
Additionally, the Flames inked Sieloff, their second-round draft choice in 2012. The hard-hitting blueliner posted three goals and eight assists in 45 games last season with the OHL's Windsor Spitfires.
Sieloff's three-year, two-way entry-level contract is worth $832,500 / $70,000 per season with an annual signing bonus of $92,500.