Fit and opportunity.

Those are what tipped the scales for Spencer Foo.

"First of all, it's an absolute blessing to be in the position I am,'' conceded the Union Dutchmen right winger, after making a much-awaited decision on his NHL organization of choice.

"It's tough comparing teams.

"I know it's most kids' dreams to play for their hometown team, the one they grew up cheering for. That was certainly a consideration with me. All four of the organizations I was talked to at the end were great, great people, top to bottom. That made this really difficult.

"But in the end, I thought the best fit for me was Calgary."

The Calgary Flames announced today that free agent right wing Spencer Foo of Union College (ECAC) has committed to the Flames. As per CBA regulations, the standard player's contract will be finalized and made official on July 1^st.

Foo, a native of Edmonton, Alberta, just completed his junior year at Union College where he put up 26 goals and 36 assists for 62 points in 38 games and was a finalist for the 2016-17 Hobey Baker Memorial Award. He topped the 100 career points mark this season and had a program-record 21-game point streak in addition to tying for the ECAC scoring title; while leading the league in assists (25), multi-point games (14) and plus-minus (+20).

SPENCER FOO - RIGHT WING

BORN: Edmonton, AB DATE: May 19, 1994

HEIGHT: 6'0" WEIGHT: 185 lbs.

SHOOTS: Right

SIGNED: Signed as a free agent on June 27, 2017

CHICAGO - The echoes, the aftershocks still resonate for Travis Hamonic.

Sixteen years ago, he lost his father Gerald to a heart attack. In a split second, the family's world had been turned upside down.

They sold their farm in St. Malo, Manitoba.

For a 10-year-old boy deprived of the love, mentorship and support of a parent, hockey helped at least cope with the inexplicable loss.

For new digs, the whole setting seemed happily, comfortably familiar.

"I spent a lot of time during my junior career with Moose Jaw and Brandon coming through here,'' Travis Hamonic was reminiscing Monday.

The beard's in place, although not the snow white of technicolour movie legend. No staff to be seen, strolling into the Ed Whalen Media Lounge for the first time. 

No stone tablets to tote.

The only commandment being: Thy must stop the puck.

Mike Smith doesn't plan on taking on the role of Moses.

But he can be that guy to lead the people out of the wilderness, if need be.

The Calgary Flames announced today that the following nine players have received qualifying offers from the club:

Sam Bennett (C)

Micheal Ferland (RW)

Jon Gillies (G)

Garnet Hathaway (RW)

Brett Kulak (D)

Curtis Lazar (C)

David Rittich (G)

Linden Vey (C)

Tyler Wotherspoon (D)

The following players did not receive qualifying offers:

Alex Chiasson (RW)

Ryan Culkin (D)

Kenney Morrison (D)

This isn't like being asked to parachute into somewhere totally foreign.

"We have a bunch of crazy connections with Calgary,'' says Brigitte Smith.

"My sister (Lise-Marie) actually lives in Canmore. She has two kids, we have the four. I never get to see her. Now they get to see their cousins. My sister's husband Chris used to be the doctor for the Flames.

"I used to be a downhill skier, so I spent a ton of time in Calgary, training. So it's almost like it's this is a home-away-from-home.

"I feel like I'm doing a full 180.

"Our kids are super excited. They get to spend Canadian winters. We'll miss our friends in Scottsdale who've become family.

"But this is hockey. This is life right now, so you go with it."

Whew ... what a busy seven days in the NHL! The week kicked off with the NHL Awards and NHL Expansion Draft in Las Vegas and ended with the NHL Draft in Chicago! This week's Social Buzz has all of that covered in addition to a few summer updates!

First up, the NHL Awards! Congrats to Johnny on winning this year's Lady Byng Award!

Tweet from @johngaudreau03: Thanks to @johnvarvatos for dressing me for the @NHL awards #nhlawards #jvstyle pic.twitter.com/sgyGQb3s3e

With their sixth round pick, 171st overall, in the 2017 NHL Draft, the Flames took forward D'Artagnan Joly from the Baie-Comeau Drakkar in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Last year, the Gatineau product scored 16 goals and 48 points through 66 regular season games and scored one goal in four postseason skates.

"Halfway through the year, we weren't very sure of him," Flames director of amateur scouting Tod Button admitted. "But as the year went on and the playoffs went on, our scouts in Quebec - our three scouts - they really liked him and they really pushed for him."

Here are snippets of what independent scouting agencies had to say about Joly:

With their fourth round selection, 109th overall, in the 2017 NHL Draft, the Flames took hulking forward Adam Ruzicka from the Sarnia Sting.

In his rookie season in the Ontario Hockey League, Ruzicka scored 25 goals and put up 46 points through 61 regular season games. He struggled in the early portion of the 2016-17 campaign, adjusting to a new league and country, but took big steps forward in the second half of the year.

"We think he's got some upside, some untapped potential," Flames director of amateur scouting Tod Button assessed. "He's a big kid, he's strong, captained the under-18 team in the Under-18 World Championship, he played on (Slovakia's) World Junior Championship team as a 17-year-old.

"In Sarnia, he had a really good coach in Derian Hatcher. We think there's a lot of ceiling there to continue to improve and be more consistent with his play as far as getting involved in the games offensively. He's a very conscientious player defensively but we think he's got more ability to do more offensively."

Here are snippets of what independent scouting agencies had to say about Ruzicka: