Flames Sign Weegar to $50-Million Extension

The wait is over. Extending defenceman MacKenzie Weegar to an eight-year, $50 million contract, the Calgary Flames have wrapped up the loose ends from the Matthew Tkachuk trade.

Weegar joined the Flames along with Jonathan Huberdeau and prospect Cole Schwindt in the deal that sent Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers this summer.

The 28-year-old didn’t want to negotiate once the season started. But both sides clearly cashed in. Weegar got the full eight-year term and the Flames got a reasonable AAV with a $50-million deal. The Calgary Flames have now locked both Weegar and Huberdeau up for the next nine seasons.

Weegar had eight goals and 44 points last season, which landed him in the NHL’s top 30 defenders. His plus-40 rating ranked sixth.

Based on the preseason, he is expected to skate on the top pairing with Chris Tanev to start the season,

Huberdeau signed an eight-year, $84-million extension two weeks after the trade.