CALGARY - The Calgary Flames splashed into the NHL’s free-agent pool before the July 1 kickoff.

The Flames announced acquired the rights to defenceman Dennis Wideman from the Washington Capitals Wednesday and promptly signed the pending unrestricted free-agent to a five-year contract worth US$26.25 million.

In return, the Flames dealt away minor-league defenceman Jordan Henry and a fifth round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft.

The Flames also re-signed left winger Blake Comeau to a one-year contract worth $1.25 million.

Wideman, a 29-year-old from Kitchener, Ont., collected 11 goals, 46 points and a minus-8 last season with the Capitals.

He has also played for St. Louis, Boston and Florida during his NHL career.

His salary last season was $4.5 million.

Right now, the Flames are staring at a defence corps of Wideman, Jay Bouwmeester, Mark Giordano, Anton Babchuk, Chris Butler, Derek Smith and T.J. Brodie, whose combined salary-cap hit is $21.217 million.

The NHL’s salary cap is reportedly set to be $70.2 million.