Calgary Flames claim defenceman Joel Hanley off waivers from the Dallas Stars

The 32-year-old Hanley is a left shot blueliner that can play either side of the defensive position. A product of the University of Massachusetts Amherst who went undrafted, Hanley’s in his 10th full pro season. He’s made his living the hard way: on short-term deals. He didn’t even sign his first NHL contract until he was 24, and he’s spent time as NHL depth for Montreal, Arizona and Dallas, accumulating 182 NHL games.

He’s been a perpetual sixth or seventh defender, never playing more than 44 games in an NHL season, but he’s been lauded for his professionalism and demeanour in what can often be a really challenging role. Hanley is in the first year of a two-year deal with a $787,500 cap hit.

If nothing else, Hanley provides what could be a really lean defensive group with a reliable shutdown defender who has shown that he can be effective if he doesn’t play for awhile. He’s somebody you can lean on to help ease the burden on any prospects being introduced into the NHL over the next while, but he’s also not somebody anybody will lose sleep over making a healthy scratch.

In a corresponding move to open a roster spot, the Flames have placed forward Connor Zary on the injury reserve retroactive to his injury on Saturday. He’ll be eligible to return to action starting on Sunday. So far this season, the Flames have added Hanley, Brayden Pachal and A.J. Greer via waiver claims, while losing Nick DeSimone and Adam Ruzicka on the waiver wire.

The Flames are now carrying a full active roster of 23 players: two goaltenders, seven defencemen and 13 forwards. They have Zary and Greer on the injury reserve list. Dillon Dube is on the non-roster list.

The Flames are back in action on Thursday night when they face the Tampa Bay Lightning in their final game before Friday’s trade deadline.