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So starts the Flames chapter of Michael Frolik, who, on the first day of National Hockey League free agency, agreed to a five-year deal, worth $4.3 million per season.

“An excellent teammate,” Treliving said Wednesday afternoon at the Scotiabank Saddledome. “He’s going to fit with our group extremely well. A real good person. He brings pace. He brings energy. And I think he’ll fit in the locker-room great.”

In two winters with the Winnipeg Jets, Frolik rustled up a pair of 42-point campaigns.

Prior to that, the Czech Republic native had skated three seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, winning the 2013 Stanley Cup.

Frolik opened his NHL career with the Florida Panthers, who drafted him 10th overall in 2006. Twice, he scored 21 goals there.

All of this was too good for the Flames to pass up – especially at the age of 27.

Prime-time instead of post-apex.

“That played a big part,” said Treliving. “You want to be tight on term. But if you’re going to run something out that long (as a five-year pact) . . . this guy keeps himself in great shape. He’s got great legs. I see that part of his game not going anywhere for the foreseeable future. He fits in the age group that we want to be at.

“That played a major part in the term.”

As did Frolik’s penchant for high traffic and his fearless nature.

“He’s hard on the puck,” Treliving said of the six-foot-one, 200-pounder. “That’s what the game is about today. He gets in on the forecheck. He plays a heavy game. He’s got a heavy stick. You look at his battles — he comes out with pucks. He’s on people. He gets on defencemen, takes away time and space. Playing big doesn’t mean you have to be six-six. You can play a heavy game, a strong game.

“In today’s game, it’s so much about small-space compete areas. He’s excellent in those types of situations.”

No general manager, post-signing, would ever announce his other targets.

Treliving is no different.

But he did say that nabbing Frolik had been a long-time priority.

“We didn’t cast a big net,” he said. “If Michael wasn’t going to come our way, it wasn’t going down (the list) to Plan B, Plan D. This is the one guy we focused in on from Day 1.”

scruickshank@calgaryherald.com

Twitter.com/CruickshankCH