Calgary Flames claim Joel Hanley on waivers from Dallas Stars

The Calgary Flames have claimed defenseman Joel Hanley off waivers from the Dallas Stars on Tuesday afternoon.

The claim comes just three days before the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline, set for 3:00 PM ET on Friday afternoon.

The Flames also placed forward Connor Zary on injured reserve retroactive to Saturday’s game.

Hanley, 32, has spent the past six years with the Stars. He has three points in 32 games this season as he has struggled for consistency. He played just 26 games last season and a career-best 44 games the year before that. Hanley made his NHL debut with the Montreal Canadiens during the 2015-16 season, registering six assists in 10 games. It was an impressive start for the defensive defender, with him only surpassing that point total with his eight assists in 2020-21.

Through 183 games over nine seasons between Montreal, Arizona and Dallas, Hanley has two goals and 27 points with 56 penalty minutes. More of a shutdown blueliner, Hanley also has 19 goals and 115 points in 359 AHL games over seven seasons – having last played during the 2019-20 season with the Texas Stars.

Before turning pro, Hanley spent two years with the OJHL’s Newmarket Hurricanes in 2008-09 and 2009-10. Left undrafted, Hanley embarked on a four-year run with UMass from 2010-14 before turning pro with the AHL’s Portland Pirates to close out the 2014-15 season.

Hanley has one more year on his contract with a cap hit of $787,500. The claim gives the Flames another defenseman with NHL experience ahead of the March 8 trade deadline, with defenseman Noah Hanifin appearing to be one of the top names on the market right now.

Hanley is one of now four defensemen on the roster making under $1 million, joining Jordan Oesterle ($925,000), Brayden Pachal ($775,000) and Dennis Gilbert ($762,500).

The Flames also retained $2.25 million on Chris Tanev’s trade after moving him to the Dallas Stars last week.