Flames announced today they have placed enforcer Raitis Ivanans on waivers, likely with the intent to send him down to the Abbotsford Heat.

There is lots of good news here. First, that Ivanans is healthy enough to play hockey again. However you feel about the use of pure enforcers or his contract in particular, in human terms it’s good that Ivanans is back on his feet.

It’s also good that Feaster has decided to limit the roster to just one puglisit. I’d prefer none, but, one is better than two for now I suppose.

The best case scenario is Ivanans is picked up off waivers by another club so the big guy doesn’t go down to the Heat and take ice time away from a more useful prospect. It’s certainly possible since Brian McGrattan was recently scooped off of the waiver wire, although a fighter who was KO’d in his game and recently spent more than a calender year on IR probably won’t attract a lot of attention.