Flames activate Jaromir Jagr from IR, send Tanner Glass to Stockton

The Calgary Flames have made a pair of roster moves in anticipation of tonight’s game against the Vancouver Canucks.

The club has officially activated winger Jaromir Jagr from the injured reserve, where he’s been since Oct. 21 due to a groin injury. To open up a roster spot they’ve assigned Tanner Glass, who cleared waivers this morning, to the American Hockey League’s Stockton Heat.

Jagr, 45, signed with the Flames back on Oct. 4 after sitting idly on the free agent market for three months, but his debut was delayed due to his concerns about his own fitness level. He wasn’t sure he was going to play in the NHL this season, so he wasn’t training as hard. Once he got into game shape he played five games and accumulated two assists before suffering the groin injury.

Given his age and the fact that they probably want his offense in the latter parts of the season, the Flames have been understandably cautious with his injury. Jagr will return to the team on the third line alongside two guys who combined are younger than he is: 21-year-old Sam Bennett and 23-year-old Mark Jankowski.

Glass, 33, signed with the Flames on Oct. 3 after being with the team throughout training camp on a tryout. He played in half of the Flames’ first 14 games, always on the fourth line, but failed to translate the crash-and-bang mentality he had in the preseason into the games that counted. He’ll make his $650,000 NHL salary in the AHL, as his deal is a one-way contract.

(Freddie Hamilton cleared waivers back on Nov. 2, but evidently the club got cold feet about sending him down and opted to waive and assign Glass instead.)