Flames return Mangiapane, Lomberg, Hrivik to Stockton

With the All-Star Break upon us, the Calgary Flames have made a trio of roster moves. The club has returned forwards Andrew Mangiapane, Ryan Lomberg and Marek Hrivik to the American Hockey League’s Stockton Heat.

The move drops the Flames to the CBA-mandated minimum roster limit of 20 players, while saving them some cap space in the short term.

As noted by Postmedia’s Wes Gilbertson, Mangiapane is probably coming back given that he was replaced in the AHL All-Star Game – the Flames play on Tuesday, so playing in a Monday All-Star Game and then trekking back to Calgary wouldn’t be an option.

Michael Frolik has also been cleared for contact and is expected back after the break (also per Wes), so expect only two of these guys – probably Mangiapane and Hrivik – to come back. By sending Hrivik down the Flames save a few days of his waiver exemption; he cleared in October and is allowed a cumulative 30 days on the NHL roster before he requires waivers again.

The same three players were demoted a couple weeks back before the Flames’ bye week for the exact same reasons.