Flames recall Andrew Mangiapane and Tanner Glass from Stockton

In anticipation of Saturday afternoon’s affair with the Colorado Avalanche – and possibly some further moves prior to the National Hockey League’s trade deadline – the Calgary Flames have recalled wingers Andrew Mangiapane and Tanner Glass from the Stockton Heat.

In corresponding moves, the club has returned winger Ryan Lomberg to Stockton and placed goaltender Mike Smith on the injured reserve, retroactive to Feb. 11.

The moves are basically two sets of moves: Mangiapane up to take Smith’s roster spot, potentially in relation to Micheal Ferland’s departure from the game in Arizona, and Glass swapping with Lomberg as the extra forward.

Mangiapane has been called up three times by the Flames this season: Dec. 31-Jan. 14, Jan. 19-26 and Jan. 29-Feb. 4. Now in his second pro season, he’s put up 42 points in 36 AHL games with Stockton and zero points in nine NHL games with the Flames. He hasn’t set the world on fire with the Flames as of yet, but he’s been one of Stockton’s major offensive threats since he’s joined the Heat and (much like teammate Rasmus Andersson) has definitely earned a long look at the NHL level.

Ferland left Calgary’s 5-2 win over Arizona following the second period, dealing with what was characterized as an unspecified nagging injury by Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan. Bringing Mangiapane up gives the Flames a body that can play in the top nine, and placing Smith on the IR doesn’t really impact their roster flexibility because he’s already missed the minimum of one week that players have to stay on the IR. It’s not necessarily an indicator of anything regarding his injury status.

Glass is back for the first time since the opening of the season. He’s amassed five points (and 45 penalty minutes) in 21 games with Stockton and went pointless in seven games earlier this season with the Flames. Lomberg has been fine in a depth role, but given the numbers game on the forward side of the roster he’s been pushed to the press box for the last few games. He has one assist in seven NHL games this season. He’s waiver exempt and still fairly young in his pro career so he should be playing. (Also, as noted on CalgaryPuck: Glass makes $60,000 less at the NHL level than Lomberg, so this move produces some short-term cap saves for the Flames.)

For those curious, these moves give the Flames six players on their roster with remaining waiver exemption time: Jon Gillies, David Rittich, Matthew Tkachuk (20 more games), Mark Jankowski (16 more games), Andrew Mangiapane and Tanner Glass (30 days, as he cleared before he was demoted in Oct.). While Tkachuk will definitely not be moved around, the others may factor in as waiver status can help facilitate other pre-trade deadline moves.