Former Arizona Coyotes defenseman Nicklas Grossmann is taking a professional tryout deal (PTO) with the Calgary Flames, according to Sportsnet’s Roger Millions.
The 31-year-old defenseman could bring some size to the Calgary blue line and a team that President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke said over the summer he wants to be a “black and blue” team.
Grossmann, a left-shot defender, played 58 games last season in his first and only season in Arizona. He was acquired over the summer from the Philadelphia Flyers in a trade that sent Sam Gagner and a draft pick to the City of Brotherly Love. He was in the final year of a four-year deal carrying an AAV of $3.5 million.
RELATED: The Hockey Writers’ 2016 PTO Tracker
With the Coyotes, he contributed three goals and four assists with a -4.03% adjusted CF%Rel on a thin blue line that incoming general manager John Chayka has padded with the acquisition of veteran Alex Goligoski. Outside of the in-season acquisition of Jyrki Jokipakka and departure of Kris Russell, the Calgary blue line remains largely unchanged.
Dustin Nelson is the News Editor for The Hockey Writers. He’s a contributor to Hockey Prospectus, Hockey Wilderness, and writes a column for Rotowire. He’s also written for Gone Puck Wild, Wild Xtra, InDigest, Electric Literature, The Rumpus, Tiny Mix Tapes, Prefix Magazine & other publications. Have a tip? Email him at dlukenelson[at]gmail[dot]com.
