Flames sign Michael Stone, Erik Gudbranson to 1-year deals

The Calgary Flames secured a pair of defensemen on one-year contracts in rapid succession Friday, agreeing to a deal with Erik Gudbranson for $1.95 million and then signing Michael Stone for $750,000.

Both players were unrestricted free agents.

Stone spent his last four-plus campaigns with Calgary, while Gudbranson finished last season with the Nashville Predators, posting a lone assist while averaging 17:15 of ice time over nine games.

The Ottawa Senators traded the 29-year-old to Nashville on deadline day after he played 36 contests with the Canadian club. Gudbranson will be suiting up for his seventh team in 11 years.

Erik Gudbranson (1 year deal with Calgary, somehow) is an exceptionally weak defender, especially defensively. pic.twitter.com/n3u2tYsGaJ

- Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) September 10, 2021

Stone was limited to 54 NHL games over the last two campaigns. He played through 2021 on a two-way deal, collecting a pair of goals and as many assists while averaging 16:05 of ice time across 21 matchups. Stone is now on a one-way pact. He's the older brother of Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone.

The Arizona Coyotes dealt the 31-year-old to the Flames in February 2017 after he played his first five-plus seasons with that franchise.

Calgary needed to address its blue line after the Seattle Kraken selected longtime Flames captain Mark Giordano during the expansion draft in July.

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