Erixon trade turned out well for Flames
Deal for Swedish prospect brought Granlund, young blueliner to Calgary
In the end, Tim Erixon wound up to be one of the best deals that never happened for the Calgary Flames.
The former Flames draft pick, whom former general manger Jay Feaster selected 23rd overall in the 2009 National Hockey League draft, had famously walked away from the Flames in 2011, refusing to sign with the club at the last minute.
The decision forced Feaster’s hand and he managed to swing a deal that sent his rights and a fifth-round draft pick (Shane McColgan) to the New York Rangers in exchange for Roman Horak and two second-round picks in 2011.
And about those second-round picks?
The Flames drafted Finnish centreman Markus Granlund (45th overall) and defender Tyler Wotherspoon (57th overall).
But, back then, Craig Conroy had no idea it was going to work out that way.
“At the time, we were disappointed that he didn’t want to come to Calgary,” the Flames assistant general manager said on Sunday after the morning news broke that Erixon had been traded to the Chicago Blackhawks.
“It was last minute that we had to make a quick deal. But I thought Jay did a great job to get the two second (round picks) and everything to go along with it … then, it’s just weird how everything changes.”
Conroy recalled Erixon wanting to sign with the Flames and was preparing for the deal in one of his first duties as Feaster’s assistant.
Then, at the last minute, the Swede indicated he wanted to be dealt to the Rangers, where his dad Jan Erixon had played.
“For me, I had just finished playing,” Conroy said.
“I couldn’t believe it. I’m like, ‘Really?’ I couldn’t figure out why. I understand why he wanted to go to New York. It was shocking. Calgary’s an unbelievable city, you’re in a hockey market. We really liked him and Jay made it clear he was going to play in the NHL. Or go back to Sweden. We gave him everything he wanted.
“It was disappointing and, overall, frustrating, more than anything.”
Erixon played 18 games for the Rangers in 2011-12 and then added another 52 games for the Connecticut Whale in the American Hockey League. Next, Erixon was part of the deal that sent Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov and a first-round selection in 2013 (Kerby Rychel) to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Rick Nash, Steven Delisle and a conditional third-round pick in 2013 (Pavel Buchnevich).
This season, he’d played 19 games for the Blue Jackets, scoring a goal and five assists, before Chicago traded disgruntled forward Jeremy Morin to Columbus on Sunday morning.
And, wouldn’t you know it, there Erixon was — in the lineup for Sunday’s game against the visiting Calgary Flames.
“I guess his career path hasn’t gone quite the way he thought,” Conroy said. “And, for us, it’s actually worked out pretty well in the long run. You look back and, at the time, you’re disappointed. Now, you have a guy that’s playing in the NHL (Granlund) and Wotherspoon, a prospect but it hasn’t worked out for yet because of his shoulder surgery (last season). It’s weird how this business works.”
WELCOME BACK POTTER
In the wake of Ladislav Smid’s upper body injury — which, according to Hartley, will keep him out “for a while” — the Flames have recalled Corey Potter from the Adirondack Flames.
Hartley said reports from the farm were that Potter was their best defenceman.
It doesn’t hurt that he has 123 games of NHL experience, 111 of them with the Edmonton Oilers.
“I won’t hesitate to play him,” Hartley said.
“He was very steady, playing lots of minutes. Power play, penalty killing, five-on-five. We always call up the player we feel the player who deserves it the most and we felt Corey deserved the call.”
With the Baby Flames in Milwaukee on Friday night, Potter made the hour and a half drive to Chicago on Saturday to join the big club in time for Sunday’s clash (although he didn’t suit up). “It’s super exciting,” Potter said. “A new team and a new organization. It’s good to get this opportunity and just happy it’s pretty early in the year to get a shot.”
Signed by Calgary to add depth to their defence corps, Potter had underwent off-season shoulder surgery and was given a recovery timeline of four months.
He wound up being out of game action for five months, which was longer than he’d anticipated.
“You want to be patient and you want to do the right thing,” said Potter, who had five assists in 10 games for Adirondack while acquiring 10 penalty minutes.
“Obviously, I had a slow start with the shoulder injury … a little bit of a slow start for me but now I’m up to speed.”