Calgary GM Brad Treliving made another big move on Wednesday, signing versatile forward Michael Frolik to a five-year, $21.5 million deal on the first day of free agency.
The deal carries a $4.3 million average annual cap hit, up from the $3.3M Frolik made last year with Winnipeg. The Czech winger been with the Jets for each of the last two seasons and has enjoyed good success, first setting a career high in points in 2013-14 (with 42), then matching that total last year.
Frolik also averaged a career-best 17:20 TOI per night last year, playing on both the penalty kill and power play.
Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff acknowledged prior to the draft that Winnipeg wanted to keep Frolik, but that the lure of big money in free agency made it difficult.
“It’s just a matter of whether there is going to be a fit on the contractual side of things,” Cheveldayoff said. “He’s been with us, he’s part of our family, he knows what we bring to the table, we know what he brings to the table.”
With Calgary, Frolik will join a talented top-six forward group that includes Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, Jiri Hudler, Mikael Backlund and Sam Bennett. The Frolik deal also comes just 24 hours after Treliving inked Dougie Hamilton -- Calgary’s big pickup at the draft -- to a six-year, $34.5 million contract extension.
