Flames return Rinat Valiev to Stockton

The Calgary Flames made a lot of roster moves this past weekend with several key bodies unavailable due to injury or suspension. With Mark Giordano available for Wednesday’s game against Philadelphia, the Flames have returned Rinat Valiev to the Stockton Heat of the American Hockey League.

Valiev was recalled on Dec. 8 as an insurance policy in case a player was injured in morning skate or pregame warmup. He sat in the press box for two days and received two days of NHL pay (and a trip to Edmonton). With Giordano available to play on Wednesday, that bumps Dalton Prout to the press box and makes Valiev’s presence on the Flames roster unnecessary.

The Flames now have 22 players on their active roster: 13 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders. Juuso Valimaki, Michael Frolik, Michael Stone and Mikael Backlund are all on the injured reserve.