Stewart adds some depth to the team
After being a healthy scratch a dozen times in this calendar year, Chris Stewart could read the writing on the wall.
And, having been through the NHL trade deadline process and dealt four times in his career, the 30-year-old winger knows the drill.
So, when the Calgary Flames picked up Stewart off the waiver wire Monday — the Minnesota Wild attempted to free up some cap space — the move was somewhat expected and well received.
“No stranger to being moved,” Stewart said as he hammered out the final travel details to meet his new squad on the road in Dallas. “This situation was a little different because I was on waivers. The uncertainty of the unknown was kind of the toughest part to deal with. Waking up (Monday) and getting that call that I was claimed by Calgary was really exciting.
“I’m ecstatic to be going to the Calgary Flames.”
A well-liked figure in the Wild dressing room and a veteran of 645 NHL games with stints in Minnesota, Anaheim, Buffalo, St. Louis and Colorado, Stewart is leaving a team in the thick of the Central Division playoff race, sitting third at 35-20-7 with 77 points. Calgary is 32-22-9 and sitting in the final wild card spot in the Western Conference.
If there was ever a time to look on the bright side, Monday ’s news was it.
“They’re right in the thick of things in the Pacific Division,” Stewart said. “That was my biggest worry was getting claimed by a team that was already out of playoff contention. I still get to compete and play meaningful hockey at this time of the year.”
Stewart’s cap hit of $1.15-million is reasonable and his arrival gives the Flames depth on the wing.
For the player who has 13 points (nine goals and four assists) in 47 games, the situation, coupled with the idea of a fresh start, is promising. The Toronto native believes he has more to give.
“I wasn’t asking for a trade but if there was a new opportunity that presented itself, it would have definitely been welcomed,” said the 6-2, 242-pounder who’ll wear No. 8 for the Flames. “But I don’t think my scratches were performancebased. I thought I was playing well and I wasn’t told that I was playing bad. I think it was more of a political thing. I just knew I had to work hard every day and be prepared for when I would get an opportunity like this to hit the ground running.
“And that’s exactly what I plan on doing.”
The deal with Calgary was, officially, completed at 10:37 a.m. Stewart was set to meet the team on the road, where they ’ll be for 10 of the last 19 games.
Not a lot of time for his wife Holley, their six-month-old son Cannon, and four-year-old twins Christian and Connor to get acclimatized to their new city.
But considering the Flames have a pile of players and their families hailing from the Toronto area, the adjustment shouldn’t be difficult.
Also welcoming the Stewarts will be Matt Stajan and Kris Versteeg, who both train with Stewart in the summer.
“He’s a force when he’s playing,” Stajan said. “He’s a big body, he can skate, he’s got a lot of skill. And he’s a really good guy. He’s a lot of fun. He’ll fit right into the locker-room ... He’s a power forward that you don’t see very often in this league anymore. For a stretch playoff drive, he’s a good fit and we’re excited to get him.”
Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan welcomes another big body to assist them in their playoff push.
“I’ve watched him play in the league the last few years and he’s a guy who can score and has some skill,” Gulutzan said. “He’s a powerful guy. He gives you some weight in a conference that, if you look at our division, you still need some weight in.”