The Calgary Flames’ commerce deadline offers on Friday included the NHL’s first swap of brothers.
The Flames acquired Nick Ritchie from the Arizona Coyotes and despatched his older brother Brett to the desert.
“I feel it leaked, so that they laughed once I referred to as them,” Flames basic supervisor Brad Treliving stated. “It is distinctive. If nothing else, we’re distinctive. It simply labored out that means.”
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The four-player cope with the Arizona included defensemen Troy Stecher to Calgary and Connor Mackey to the Coyotes.
Calgary additionally picked up winger Dryden Hunt from the Toronto Maple Leafs for Radim Zohorna.
Within the Ritchie-for-Ritchie deal, the youthful sibling from Orangeville, Ont., got here away with 9 objectives and 12 assists in 58 video games for Arizona this season.
In 480 profession NHL video games, 25-year-old Nick Ritchie scored 80 objectives and had 101 assists.
Brett Ritchie (29) is leaving after three seasons in Calgary’s group.
He totaled 13 objectives and 7 assists in 107 video games as a Flame.
Whereas the sibling swap is a enjoyable little bit of commerce deadline trivia, Stecher was the get of the day for Calgary.
He supplies depth on the again finish that the Flames have been lacking with Oliver Kylington sidelined this season on account of a private matter.
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Treliving does not anticipate Kylington again this season, and Michael Stone is on the injured record with a lower-body damage.
Stecher, 28, of Richmond, BC, had seven assists in 61 video games for the Coyotes.
He performed 420 profession video games with the Vancouver Canucks, Detroit Pink Wings, Los Angeles Kings and Coyotes.
“Extremely aggressive participant. He has some management qualities,” Treliving stated. “He is often known as a hard-working, devoted athlete wherever he is been.
“Not the most important man on the earth, however he is not a small man both. Transfer effectively. That is one factor we missed is Oliver’s mobility. Troy brings it.”
With 20 video games remaining within the common season, Calgary is 5 factors out of a playoff spot within the Western Convention.
The Flames’ deadline strikes have been their first trades of the season.
“We weren’t entertaining shifting any ‘A’ belongings, vital belongings for short-term acquire, right here,” Treliving stated.
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“I do consider we’ve got a great crew. We have now a great crew that’s underperforming right here and for varied causes.
“We felt it was wisest now to work across the edges. We have now 20 video games right here. We all know the hill is steep.”
Hunt got here from the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies to affix his fourth NHL group this season.
The 27-year-old from Cranbrook, BC, will report back to the Wranglers, Treliving stated.
Hunt has 15 objectives and 28 assists in 202 NHL video games with the Coyotes, Florida Panthers, New York Rangers, Colorado Avalanche and Toronto.
Mackey, 26, has appeared in 10 video games for the Flames this season for 2 objectives and one help.
Zohorna performed eight video games for the Flames. The 26-year-old Czech compiled 10 objectives and 19 assists in 40 video games for the AHL’s Wranglers.
Treliving picked up Tyler Toffoli earlier than final yr’s commerce deadline for Tyler Pitlick, a prospect and first- and fifth-round draft picks.
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With the departures of Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk, Calgary’s GM engineered huge blockbuster offers this previous summer time.
He traded with Florida for Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar, and signed free agent Nazem Kadri.
“Final yr we made some vital strikes on the deadline. We spent belongings on and earlier than the deadline,” Treliving stated.
“We made vital, vital change over the summer time. I do not know if anybody has made that many modifications over the summer time. You’ll be able to’t simply maintain altering and altering and altering.”
One potential addition to the roster within the coming weeks is winger Matt Coronato.
Calgary’s 2021 first-round choose (thirteenth general) might signal when his Harvard season ends, however that could possibly be as late as April 8.
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