By Tim Ubels (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: November 13, 2013
The Heat’s record over the past two weeks has been impressive. They have consistently squeaked out one-goal wins against their opponents, but their record isn’t indicative of a consistent roster. It’s been an exciting week at both the NHL and AHL level for the team, including a multi-player trade, call-ups, and a five-game winning streak as the Heat managed to sweep both the Utica Comets and San Antonio Rampage.
The Calgary Flames placed Joey MacDonald on waivers and called up Reto Berra, a move that wasn’t unpredictable consideringW the team’s glut of goaltending prospects piling up in the minors, itching for a chance to get some NHL experience.
Getting the call to make his NHL debut against the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks to open the Flames’ four-game road trip probably wasn’t everyone’s ideal matchup for the young goaltender. So when Berra, nicknamed “Berracuda” among some fans, stopped 42 of 44 shots in the overtime win and was named the game’s first star against the Blackhawks, fans and management took notice. He became the sixth goaltender in NHL history to defeat the defending champs in a debut game.
The rookie goalie kept the Flames in a tough game where they were badly out-shot and out-chanced throughout. Berra, along with Mark Cundari, was one of the pieces of last season’s Jay Bouwmeester blockbuster trade with the St. Louis Blues, and his play so far this season demonstrates that he will be central to Calgary’s planned rebuild. Although he allowed eight goals over the next two games, Berra’s experience at the NHL-level, no matter how short-lived, will help him pinpoint and improve the weaknesses in his game.
Along with Berra, promising rookie blueliner Chad Billins got the call to suit up for the big league team this week. Despite playing in two losses, Billins managed to make the most of the opportunity, picking up a pair of assists over those games. Listed at a generous 5’10 and 180 pounds, the offensive-minded Billins led all Heat defensemen with five goals, and gave Flames management a preview of his offensive prowess at the NHL level.
Although Billins played well during his first NHL stint, he was reassigned to the Heat when Flames General Manager Jay Feaster made a trade with the Edmonton Oilers for stay-at-home defenseman Ladislav Smid on Friday. Trades between these Alberta rivals are rare, and are usually only completed when one of the teams is dealing strategically, especially since Edmonton is already a notoriously weak defensive team. It turns out that Edmonton was dumping salary in order to sign Czech netminder Ilya Bryzgalov, a pretty low-risk move, and the Flames were more than happy to oblige in order to help out their injury-riddled lineup. Smid is still young at 27 and signed a reasonable long-term contract, so even if things don’t turn out for the Heat this season, he could be a valuable asset to move at the trade deadline this year. The Flames also acquired minor league goaltender Oliver Roy from the Oilers in the deal.
While the Flames made a significant upgrade in Smid, the deal sends two promising roster players in centre Roman Horak and goaltender Laurent Brossoit from the Abbotsford Heat to the Edmonton Oilers. The 22-year-old Horak has split time between the Heat and Flames lineup over the past three seasons, picking up 48 points in 87 games with the Heat. Brossoit, who was recently demoted to the Alaska Aces of the ECHL, posted back-to-back shutouts in only two games with his new team. Coach Troy G. Ward will have his work cut out for him this week as he tries to find a roster player who can take on the offensive role Horak has held down the past three years.
