Flames re-sign Mikkelson; sign Reinhart

The Calgary Flames on Thursday re-signed restricted free-agent defenseman Brendan Mikkelson to a one-year deal and inked 2010 third-round draft choice Max Reinhart to a three-year, entry-level contract.
 
"We are very pleased that Brendan has chosen to re-sign with the Flames and continue his professional development with our organization," Flames General Manager Jay Feaster said. "He has demonstrated that he is on the verge of cracking our line-up on a full-time basis, and he remained on our roster all year because we knew we would have lost him on waivers had we tried to send him to the AHL."
 
Mikkelson had 1 assist in 19 games with the Flames last season after the club claimed him off waivers from the Anaheim Ducks in October. His two-way deal is worth $721,900. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound defenseman has 6 assists in 86 career NHL games since being drafted in the second round (No. 31 overall) by the Ducks in 2005.
 
"We had excellent discussions with Brendan during our exit meetings and reviewed the things he needs to do in order to break into the line-up," Feaster said. "He is a very valuable addition to our depth on the blue line, and we look forward to seeing his progress in camp this year."
 
Reinhart, a center, will average $900,000 per season. The son of former Calgary Flames All-Star defensemen Paul Reinhart had 34 goals and 45 assists in 71 games with the Western Hockey League champion Kootenay Ice in 2010-11. He excelled in the postseason, finishing with 15 goals and 27 points in 19 playoff games.
 
"Max is the prototypical player we want in our organization," said Feaster. "He has good size, skates very well, has excellent hockey sense on both sides of the puck, works extremely hard, competes and leads, and is an outstanding teammate."
 
The Vancouver native was Calgary's first pick (third round, 64th overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft since the club did not have selections in the opening two rounds.
 
"He not only posted a solid regular season campaign in Kootenay, but managed to elevate his play in the post-season in helping lead his team to the WHL title," Feaster said. "He then took his game to the CHL's largest stage in the Memorial Cup and played solid two-way hockey there as well. We are very pleased with his development and we are thrilled to have him under contract. We believe Max has a very bright future ahead of him with the Flames."