Flames get Curtis Lazar from Senators minutes before trade deadline

Mar 2 2017, 3:54 am

The Calgary Flames have made a last minute move on trade deadline day, as GM Brad Treliving has swung a deal with the Ottawa Senators.

The Flames have sent defenceman Jyrki Jokipakka and a second round pick to the Senators in exchange for centre Curtis Lazar and minor league defenceman Mike Kostka.

Jokipakka was acquired from Dallas by the Flames at last year’s trade deadline in exchange for Kris Russell.

The 25-year-old appeared in just 38 games with Calgary this season, averaging just 14:26 of ice time per game.

The biggest name in the deal is Curtis Lazar, who was captain of Team Canada’s gold medal-winning team in 2015. The former first round pick has a lot of untapped potential, but it remains to be seen if he will ever become the player Ottawa thought he would be when they took him with the 17th overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft.

Lazar got off on the wrong foot this season, suffering from mononucleosis, which he says affected him. The Flames will hope that’s the reason for his poor performance this year, which sees him with zero goals and just one assist in 33 NHL games.

The 22-year-old from Salmon Arm, BC has just four points (3-1-4) in 13 AHL games as well.

It’s way too early to give up on Lazar, and there are enough factors at play to suggest he could still become an impact player for the Flames.

All in all, a reasonably low risk move for a player that could make Brad Treliving look like a genius in a couple of years.

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