Flames place Freddie Hamilton on waivers, Jankowski sticks around

Ladies and gentlemen, Mark Jankowski is sticking around.

In anticipation of activating Jaromir Jagr from the injured reserve for tomorrow’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Calgary Flames have placed forward Freddie Hamilton on waivers. This move opens up a roster spot for Jagr and allows Jankowski to stay with the Flames for the foreseeable future.

Hamilton, 25, was acquired by the Flames from Colorado in October 2015 in exchange for a conditional seventh round pick – fundamentally speaking, it was a chance for Colorado to unload a contract for nothing. He’s probably most prominently known as Dougie’s big brother.

He split his first season between Calgary and Stockton then spent last season as a frequent healthy scratch, dressing 26 times and sitting for 56 games. He’s played in just two of the Flames’ first 12 games and given the Flames also have Curtis Lazar on their roster – another right-shot forward who can play center or the wing – they probably couldn’t justify Hamilton’s spot.

Hamilton’s on a one-way deal with a cap hit of $612,500; while he’ll be paid his NHL salary on the farm, it’s well below the threshold where the cap hit can be fully buried.

We’ll find out if Hamilton clears waivers tomorrow at 10 a.m. MT, but the presumption is if he clears he’s headed to the Stockton Heat.

Whether he clears or not, a roster spot will open up for Jagr.