Though he was set to become an unrestricted free agent following the season, Stajan opted to remain in Calgary and signed a four-year, $14 million contract with the Flames. Stajan's offensive production rapidly declined over the following two seasons – he scored 31 points in 2010–11 and only 18 in 2011–12 – which resulted increasing condemnation of his play and arguments that his contract had become one of the "worst in franchise history" while head coach Brent Sutter dropped him from the top scoring lines to the fourth line in a checking role. His troubled 2011–12 season was exacerbated by a sprained ankle, an injury that caused him to miss 14 games. However, he finished the season on an offensive high that included scoring his 100th career goal late in the year.
