Cervenka has allegedly signed a three-year deal with a KHL team known as SKA Saint Petersurg according to the official press release of the club and passed on by Eronko’s Twitter account.

The Czech Republic native signed a one-year deal with the Flames prior to the 2012-13 season where he posted 9 goals and added 8 assists in 39 games.  So far in the 27-year old’s hockey career, last season has been the only one he’s played in North America.  The previous ten seasons Cervenka split between the KHL and the Czech pro leagues.

For the Flames, the loss could be considered a substantial one given Cervenka’s age and potential talent ceiling.  A young center who isn’t an imposing body on the ice, Cervenka surely would have fit in nicely as the team’s third line center while the club attempts to reassemble the pieces in what they hope will be a playoff contending club.

With aging veterans still on the roster, the Flames could be one of the busier clubs this summer and now with the departure of Cervenka, it’s one more hole left to fill.

Flames’ GM Jay Feaster will have his work cut out for him if he plans on lifting this organization back into the postseason.  Cervenka may not have been in the long-term plans for Feaster and the Flames and given his average numbers this past season, his game may be best suited for the KHL rather than the NHL.  For Flames fans, they may never know now.

Hudler has returned from his homeland of the Czech Republic where he went to mourn the passing of his father, according to TSN.ca.  The left winger signed with Calgary this past summer as free-agent after spending the first seven seasons of his career with the Detroit Red Wings.  The Flames inked him to a 4-year, $16MM deal and will rely on the durable forward to play a solid, two-way game.

Last season with the Red Wings, Hudler scored a career high 25 goals and put up 50 points, the second highest point total of his NHL career.

Cervenka could be making his NHL debut on Saturday after finally being cleared to practice after suffering from blood clots in his leg.  The free-agent forward who signed a one-year deal with Calgary was in Phoenix where he met with a specialist at the Mayo Clinic regarding the blood clots.

The 27-year old has spent the last ten seasons between the Czech professional league and the KHL where he’s average above a point per game.

The Flames are awaiting his clearance to return to game action and are hoping it comes in time for Saturday’s game against the Oilers.  The Flames have dropped two straight to start the season and hope that both Hudler and Cervenka will inject some balanced scoring and depth throughout the lineup.

We are currently seeking Calgary Flames writers to join our team at Flame For Thought.  If interested, please apply here.