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Calgary Flames

Flames Acquire Kevin Westgarth for Greg Nemisz

Former 2008 first rounder Greg Nemisz is off to Carolina while Stanley Cup winner Kevin Westgarth comes to Calgary.

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The Flames have finally parted ways with Greg Nemisz.

Nemisz was originally selected 25th overall in the 2008 NHL entry draft. Since then, he has played 15 games for the Flames, assisted on one Curtis Glencross goal, and that’s it. (If you want to feel bad, Tyler Ennis and John Carlson were selected immediately after Nemisz.)

Nemisz was re-signed to a one year deal worth $725,000 this past summer by the Flames. He has spent the entire season in Abbotsford, scoring five goals and picking up nine points in 32 games.

His departure from the Flames organization was inevitable, although perhaps not in this manner.

In a single player swap, the Flames have received Kevin Westgarth from the Carolina Hurricanes. The 6’4″, 234 lbs. right winger has played 12 games for the Hurricanes this year. He has no points and four penalty minutes, and has scored three goals and nine points (and 202 penalty minutes) throughout his 133 game career.

Westgarth is also on a one year deal worth $725,000, so the contract details are a wash.

Via the Flames site:

Still without a GM, this move was done by President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke, and oh my god, Burke, we get it. Truculence. We get it. You like truculence. Kevin Westgarth is truculent. That's great.

This is a low level, near inconsequential move aside from the fact that Westgarth is joining a club that already has Brian McGrattan in the NHL and Lane MacDermid in the minors, so one has to wonder what the point is. Nemisz wasn’t an asset, really, so the Flames haven’t lost anything in this trade, except perhaps a roster spot for a prospect or young player who may have more to contribute, which might be nice for a rebuilding team.

Instead, the Flames will find a spot for Westgarth, a player who makes the team grittier, which is apparently important.

by Ari Yanover