Flames sign Jacob Battaglia to entry-level contract
The Calgary Flames announced Saturday that the club has signed right winger Jacob Battaglia to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Through 68 appearances this season with the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs, Battaglia finished tied for top spot in team scoring with 90 points counting 40 goals and 50 assists. In all, Battaglia has spent three seasons with the Frontenacs, totaling 78 goals and 104 assists for 182 points in 201 career contests. Each year, Battaglia has witnessed an uptick in every leading offensive category, while the budding forward has also added six points in as many games in the OHL postseason.
“Last year, he often shied away from the physical game despite being quite strong. This year, he’s battling in the trenches more and making himself more difficult to win battles against along the boards,” Daily Faceoff prospect analyst Steven Ellis said earlier this season. “I do think Battaglia’s skating is still a work in progress, but his first few steps are quicker than they were to close out the 2023-24 season.”
A 19-year-old native of Mississauga, Ont., Battaglia was originally chosen 62nd overall by the Flames in the 2024 NHL Draft.
In all, Battaglia is the second player to sign an entry-level contract with the Flames this week following Monday’s announcement that the club had inked goaltender Owen Say to a one-year, entry-level contract. Through 27 appearances this season with the NCAA’s Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the 23-year-old product of London, Ont., posted a 10-15-0 record coupled with a .920 save percentage and 2.82 goals-against average.
For the Flames, on the season the club sits 34-26-11 and six points back of the St. Louis Blues for the second wildcard seed in the Western Conference. Following a 5-2 home ice loss to the Dallas Stars on Thursday, the Flames will look to return to the win column when the squad retakes the ice Saturday against the Pacific Division rival Edmonton Oilers. The Flames have qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs once in the past four seasons.