The Calgary Flames have parted ways with goaltender Eddie Lack. With David Rittich seeming like a good fit as Mike Smith’s backup, the Flames have traded Lack to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for defenseman Dalton Prout.
Prout will report to the American Hockey League’s Stockton Heat – he cleared waivers on Dec. 29 and was already in the AHL with the Binghamton Devils. Mason McDonald is joining the Heat in the meantime, but Tyler Parsons is expected to replace him once he recovers from injury, which should be soon.
The Flames get Prout, 27, a right-shot defenseman with NHL experience to play in Stockton’s top four. The Heat are very heavy with left-shot defenders; aside from Rasmus Andersson, the only other right shot is AHL-contracted blueliner Kayle Doetzel. Prout’s addition balances things out.
Prout has 36 points in 246 NHL games split between Columbus and New Jersey – he’s only played in 28 NHL games over the past three seasons – but he’s a nice bit of additional depth for the farm team and gives the Flames an option for somebody to call up to sit in the press box other than Andersson.
Prout is in the final year of a deal with a $1.575 million cap hit, so the Flames will be on the hook for $550,000 of Prout’s cap hit rather than the $350,000 of Lack’s. They have the cap space to work with, and it gets Parsons a step closer to the NHL than he was previously.
The Devils get Lack, 29, who was a disaster as Calgary’s backup but pretty solid as Stockton’s in a handful of appearances. He’ll help solidify things in Binghamton and potentially aid in the development of Appleby, who’s been sharp for the Baby Devils this season.