Flames Make Logical Decision, Recall Brad Thiessen

The Calgary Flames made a roster move today. In response to the injury to goalie Karri Ramo, the Flames recalled the only other professional goaltender currently under an NHL contract.

So Brad Thiessen, the organization’s number-four netminder, is a National Hockey League goalie for the first time in three seasons.

Thiessen, 29, was brought into the organization in the off-season, likely with the goal of giving the Adirondack Flames a solid one-two punch with Joni Ortio. It worked, mostly, except when Ortio was injured Thiessen was ridden extremely hard with the untested Doug Carr as his back-up.

Thiessen’s not as sexy a prospect as Jon Gillies or Mason McDonald – though he was also a high-quality NCAA goalie in his day – but he’s a solid hand, if unspectacular, at the AHL level. He’s a career .909 AHL goalie and he probably won’t play over the final three games.

He won’t be a complete stranger in the Flames locker room, though, as he previously played with Deryk Engelland in both Pittsburgh (during his brief NHL stint) and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL.

The Flames return to the practice ice tomorrow and are back in game action on Tuesday when they face the Arizona Coyotes.