Frolik says deal with Jets ‘very close’, Flames win bid in last minute decision

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This article was published 03/10/2015 (3687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CALGARY — Michael Frolik gave nothing away today when asked about the free-agent process that saw him leave the Winnipeg Jets in July.

The 27-year-old Czech Republic-born right-winger was an unrestricted free agent after last season and chose to sign a five-year, $21.5-year (all figures U.S.) deal with the Calgary Flames, the Jets’ opponents tonight in the final pre-season contest for both teams.

It’s an 8 p.m. CT start at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Frolik made $3.3 million on a one-year, bridge-deal last season with the Jets and more than a year worth of negotiation for a long-term contract was fruitless.

Frolik got a hefty raise for his first Calgary season, to $5.5 million but the $4.3 million average annual value deal slides to a $3-million salary in the fifth year.

Frolik said he had 10 minutes to decide what to do on July 1 and that he left the ordeal with no bad feelings about the Jets.

“I think it’s a part of the hockey business,” Frolik said after this morning’s game-day skate. “It is how it is. We were very close with them and it was just a couple of different numbers. In the end, that’s the hockey business and you can’t really do anything about it.”

Apart from the business, Frolik said he liked playing for the Jets.

“I’m really happy what they did for me,” he said. “The two years there were great.  They were good to me. The organization was great, too. I got the opportunity there to play more and have more icetime and I would have to be thankful to them.”

He said he found the free-agent process — something new to him — maybe a little unsettling.

“It was kind of interesting, the period of the week before the free agency,” he said. “So I got a chance to be in Florida (at the draft) and met with a few teams there. That was a kind of a cool experience to be in. It’s always a difficult decision in the end.

“You have to take the fun part of it. It happened and I’m here.”

He said there was stress.

“I’m a guy who’s thinking a lot. I’m kind of hard on myself,” he said. “It was a difficult decision. You’ve got just a couple of minutes to decide. You don’t have much time there on the bottom of the line. You’ve got to make a decision quick. When I had the meeting with Calgary, I had a good feeling coming out of the meeting and I ended up here.”

Flames coach Bob Hartley said again today that Frolik has been a major addition and was more than impressed that the forward topped the team’s fitness testing to start camp.

“Great person, fun to work with,” Hartley said. “He’s adding to our depth. Defensive responsibilities. Offensive responsibilities. He’s probably one of the most under-rated two-way players in this league.

“Huge addition for us.

“Just watching him in camp, he’s happy to be here. He’s happy to play hockey and that is contagious. He fit in real well in our group and in our chemistry.”

Frolik was asked what he’s learned about Hartley and the Flames since the start of camp.

“Always I knew that the coach is pretty hard and I didn’t mistake myself there,” he laughed. “That’s true. Here there are a couple of rules. You have to wear shot-blockers (on skates) and a couple of rules like that. That’s kind of new for me. But it’s similar like everywhere else.”

Tonight, Frolik will skate on a line with Lance Bouma and Mikael Backlund, looking for a fit he’s yet to find in the Flames’ lineup.

“I’m trying to find a little bit of chemistry,” Frolik said. “Over the (pre-season) games I’ve played always with somebody else.

“Hopefully tonight the line’s going to be good and we’ll try to build some chemistry.”

He expects to hear a few voices in tonight’s games, some from his old teammates.

“I’ll try to chirp a little bit to Pav if he’s going to be in the net,” Frolik smiled. “We’re good buddies. They didn’t come last night so I didn’t see them. It’ll be nice to see the boys.”

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca