Door open for Milano to make Flames

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This is not how Sonny Milano thought his free agency would go. 

Coming off a career-high 34 point season with the Anaheim Ducks, the 2014 first-round pick (Columbus) was surprisingly unsigned until mid-September, when the reigning Pacific Division-champion Calgary Flames reached out with an opportunity.

He signed a professional tryout agreement and is now at camp.

 “Obviously I was hoping for a contract, but that’s where we are at right now,” Milano said on Thursday after the team’s first on-ice session. The winger is coming off a two-year, $3.4 million deal with the Ducks. “[Calgary] seemed happy about me coming and telling me there’s a spot open and I’ve just got to get it.”

 The 26-year-old left wing was skating on a line with fellow newcomers Cody Eakin and Nazem Kadri.

Eakin is a likely placeholder for Andrew Mangiapane, who tweaked something during informal skates and will not participate in the early part of training camp. At five-on-five with the Ducks last season, Milano was fifth with 24 points while playing mostly with Trevor Zegras and Rickard Rakell.

“You just want to be yourself,” he said.  “Play your game and show your best and how you can help the team.”

With four games in the opening seven nights of preseason, Milano will have to win over head coach Darryl Sutter in a hurry.

“The kid will have an opportunity to take advantage of,” Sutter said.

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Fellow newcomer Jonathan Huberdeau is adjusting well to his life as the face of a Canadian franchise. The off-season addition from the Panthers sold his fleet of sports cars in Florida, bought a pickup truck, and on Thursday skated with Elias Lindholm and Tyler Toffoli. 

“Think they're two good players and I don't think I've ever played with