Flames sign Matt Stajan to 4-year, $14 million contract extension

Today has been a day of teams slightly overpaying for second and third line players, in an effort not to lose them to free agency. Earlier, Steve Ott was signed by the Dallas Stars for nearly $3 million per season for for four years, and now we have the news that the Calgary Flames have signed Matt Stajan to a contract extension. Per TSN’s Bob McKenzie:

Matt Stajan has agreed to terms with Calgary Flames on four-yr extension worth about $3.5 million per yr. Was going to be UFA on July 1.

This signing certainly means that the Flames will be forced to make another trade to unload some salary, as they currently have just $7 million in cap room for next season with eight players facing free agency this summer. Is this a sign that Ales Kotalik could be gone, soon after he’s arrived, as there is now a long-term logjam both in payroll and on the roster? Perhaps Dustin Boyd is on his way out, although his being traded won’t free up any space at all under the cap.