Jarnkrok traded to Flames by Kraken

Calle Jarnkrok was traded to the Calgary Flames by the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday.

Seattle received a second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, and a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft for the forward. The 2022 pick originally belonged to the Florida Panthers.

"I know a couple of guys on the team already, been watching a lot of games this year, when Calgary's been playing, played against them a couple of times," Jarnkrok said. "Very good team, very hard to play against, so I'm just super excited to be a part of the Flames."

The 30-year-old is in the final season of a six-year, $12 million contract ($2 million average annual value) he signed with the Nashville Predators on July 27, 2016. Seattle agreed to retain 50 percent of his remaining salary.

"It's a good move for our club," Flames coach Darryl Sutter said. "Right-hand shot and can play in your top nine. A player that's had to play in playoff races, which is important for our club. Lots of guys haven't been in playoff races or were and didn't understand it. Every time you get a player that's been in a playoff race and has got some playoff experience that's still a good player, it helps your organization."

RELATED: 2021-22 NHL Trade Tracker

Flames general manager Brad Treliving said Calgary has long had interest in Jarnkrok.

"I've always considered him kind of a fixer defensively," Treliving said. "You can put him with any line and he fixes it. He plays the game the right way. … He's played center growing up for the most part, lot of wing at the pro level. Touches both sides of specialty teams. He can go up and down the lineup. We think we got better today. He's a real good player. We love how competitive he is, how versatile he is, and I think he's going to fit with us real good."

Regarding his versatility, Jarnkrok said, "I think that's been part of my game for a while, that I can play left wing, center and right wing. Mostly this season, I've been playing on the wing, but I don't think I have a spot that's more comfortable to be honest with you."

Jarnkrok scored 26 points (12 goals, 14 assists) in 49 games this season. He was acquired by the Kraken in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft on July 21, 2021, after playing eight seasons for the Predators.

"It makes our lineup a lot deeper, so it only helps us and it's really exciting," Flames forward Dillon Dube said. "The investment shows us what we put in is paying off so it's nice to add a really good player."

Selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round (No. 51) of the 2010 NHL Draft, Jarnkrok has scored 237 points (106 goals, 131 assists) in 557 regular-season games for the Kraken and Predators and 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) in 63 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

"Its big," forward Milan Lucic said of the trade. "It's gives us confidence. It gives us a belief in ourselves because we've got belief from up top and [Treliving is] doing what he can to help the team get better here. Now it's up to us to keep doing what we've been doing on the ice."

NHL.com independent correspondent Aaron Vickers and staff writer Tracey Myers contributed to this report