It took a little longer than some expected, but getting Brad Treliving's signature on a new contract is an overwhelmingly positive outcome for the Calgary Flames.

There was some mild uncertainty about whether the general manager - whose contract was due to expire at season's end - would stay with the organization, but that was put to rest Monday when the club revealed Treliving agreed to a multi-year extension.

The GM's fingerprints are all over the Flames' roster, and he deserves credit for both assembling and securing the club's core since being hired by Calgary in the spring of 2014.

He's shown little reluctance to make blockbuster trades, acquiring Dougie Hamilton from the Boston Bruins for a few picks in 2015, and landing goaltender Brian Elliott from the St. Louis Blues for a second-rounder at last year's draft.

The signing of backup netminder Chad Johnson last July 1 didn't make waves at the time, but it made Treliving look like a genius when Elliott struggled, allowing Johnson to step in and play well.

Then there's the slew of extensions Treliving has negotiated, including deals for Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, Hamilton, Mark Giordano, Mikael Backlund, and T.J. Brodie.

This work has been well documented, but an unheralded aspect of Treliving's tenure has been his ability to turn expendable players into future assets.

Treliving draft picks Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett are already integral parts of Calgary's roster, but the GM has also stocked the organization with the likes of defensemen Oliver Kylington and Rasmus Anderssen, goaltending prospect Tyler Parsons, and centers Dillon Dube and Matthew Phillips.

Both Elliott and Johnson are pending unrestricted free agents, and Calgary could have some wiggle room to address the crease if they let Dennis Wideman and Deryk Engelland walk in free agency.

Figuring out what to do in goal will be Treliving's primary concern this summer, but he'll have options, namely bringing back one or both of his incumbent goaltenders, or looking for a short-term fix by acquiring an upgrade over Elliott who can provide stability until prospects Jon Gillies and Parsons are ready.

Despite that uncertainty, the future looks bright for the Flames, with the core locked up and some potential financial flexibility despite myriad long-term contracts on the books.

Calgary has made the playoffs twice in three years under Treliving, and while the club hasn't gone far, steady improvement isn't out of the question next season and beyond considering all of the pieces he's put in place and all of the talent coming down the pipe.

It wasn't a question of whether Treliving deserved a contract extension, but it's about time he got one. It's a case of better late than never for the Flames, who should be relieved knowing their versatile GM won't be plying his trade elsewhere.

He has the franchise well positioned both now and for years to come.

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