Calgary Flames Trade Henrik Karlsson To Chicago Blackhawks

Mere hours after the Calgary Flames assigned goalie Henrik Karlsson to the AHL, the team traded him to the Chicago Blackhawks for a seventh round pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

The 29-year old has appeared in 26 career games in the NHL, all for the Flames going 5-9-8 with a 2.79 GAA and a .905 save percentage.  Last season with the Abbotsford Heat of the AHL, Karlsson went 2-2 with a 2.26 GAA.

Just last week both Karlsson and Leland Irving were placed on waivers by the Flames in a peculiar move.  It’s clear that Miikka Kiprussoff will shoulder the load for the Flames in goal during this abbreviated season, but to expose both backups to waivers was a risky move.

Karlsson has spent the majority of his professional career playing in Sweden before signing with the San Jose Sharks in 2009.  A year later he was dealt to the Flames for a sixth round pick.  You could say that Calgary gets their prospect back, albeit one round later.

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