The Calgary Flames traded defenceman Chris Tanev to the Dallas Stars for prospect Artem Grushnikov, a 2024 second-round draft pick and a conditional 2026 third-round pick.
The deal announced Wednesday happened with some financial lubricant from the New Jersey Devils.
Calgary retained 50 per cent of Tanev鈥檚 salary, while New Jersey agreed to cover half of his remaining salary this season.
Tanev, 34, is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
To obtain the Stars鈥� fourth-round pick in 2026, the Devils agreed to kick in money for Tanev鈥檚 contract and also traded to Dallas via Calgary the rights to unsigned drafted goalie Cole Brady currently playing for the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.
The Flames have provided buzz ahead of the March 8 trade deadline because of the team鈥檚 prominent impending free agents and the club鈥檚 position hovering just below the Western Conference鈥檚 wild-card cutline.
Flames defenceman Noah Hanifin will also become a UFA this summer. Goaltender Jacob Markstrom鈥檚 name has also been bandied about despite the two years remaining on the Swede鈥檚 contract that pays him an average of US$6 million annually.
Calgary dealt top centre Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 1 for Andrei Kuzmenko, a first-round draft pick in 2024, a conditional fourth-round pick, and a pair of defensive prospects.
Grushnikov, who is six foot two and 192 pounds, has a goal and four assists in 44 games this season for the AHL鈥檚 Texas Stars.
The Russian defenceman spent two seasons with the Ontario Hockey League鈥檚 Hamilton Bulldogs amassing 13 goals and 16 assists, and helped the team win an OHL championship in 2022.
The Stars drafted the left-handed shot in the second round, 48th overall, in 2021.
鈥淎rtem is a player our organization has identified, for some time now, as being a strong addition to our prospects pool,鈥� Flames general manager Craig Conroy said Wednesday in a statement.
鈥淎s a 20-year-old he is having a solid season in the American Hockey League. He is best described as a young defensive defenceman, a good penalty killer who understands the importance of this role and plays to his identity. We have also been able to secure another second-round draft pick in 2024, and the potential for a third-round selection in 2026.鈥�
Tanev has a reputation as a smart, leathery defender who shrugs off dings, dents and bloody facial injuries to keep playing. He鈥檚 in the final year of a four-year contract with an average annual value of US$4.5 million.
Tanev, who was one of Calgary鈥檚 alternate captains, ranked second in the league in blocked shots (171).
鈥淲e are fortunate to have the opportunity to add a player of Chris鈥� calibre to our team,鈥� Stars general manager Jim Nill said in a statement on the team鈥檚 website.
鈥淗e is a proven defenceman with post-season experience that is comfortable in all situations on the ice. Chris is one of the best penalty killers in the NHL and will be a tremendous asset to our special teams play.鈥�
Tanev had 10 goals and 57 assists in 259 regular-season games for Calgary since he signed as a free agent in 2020. He also suited up for eight playoff games in 2022.
The right-handed shot from Toronto spent 10 seasons with the Canucks before he became a Flame.
READ ALSO:
