Kevin Bahl signed a six-year, $32.1 million contract with the Calgary Flames on Saturday. It has an average annual value of $5.35 million.
The defenseman had an NHL career-high 20 points (three goals, 17 assists) in 73 games for the Flames this season and was third on the team with 116 blocked shots.
“I’m extremely excited,” Bahl said. “It’s a great, tight-knit community, getting to know your neighbors and things like that. It’s good for your family. It’s something I can really appreciate, being close to your neighbors.
“I think it’s awesome to have that kind of confidence from the organization. I think for me personally, being part of the system and atmosphere and culture where you want to get better. … I think this team is going to excel and keep on getting better. We’re going to get some younger pieces coming in, and I think we can keep on pushing.”
Bahl, who turned 25 on Friday, could have become a restricted free agent on July 1.
“You’re talking all the time, but you don’t know how close it actually is,” Calgary general manager Craig Conroy said. “It kind of came together — even though we were busy with the draft – we kind of came to terms right before Friday, and then it was just to get it signed and get the paperwork in. It was nice to get that done prior to the draft and release it today.
“We’re excited to have Kevin for six more years. He’s a big part of this team moving forward. He came in and did an amazing job for us. We’re looking for him to take another step in his growth.”
Selected by the Arizona Coyotes in the second round (No. 55) of the 2018 NHL Draft, Bahl has 45 points (seven goals, 38 assists) in 221 regular-season games for the New Jersey Devils and Flames, and one assist in 11 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
“When you watch the games this year, when he wasn’t in our lineup, you’re missing that big, heavy, long defender,” Conroy said. “He moves well. It’s hard to beat him. I thought his puck play got much better as the season went along, and he was more physical as the season went along, too. I did see that progression, and I do think he’s going to keep taking steps. He’s only [25] years old. I think the sky’s the limit, so to have him locked up and be a big part of this moving forward is big.”
NHL.com independent correspondent Aaron Vickers contributed to this report
