The New Jersey Devils have acquired G Eddie Lack from the Calgary Flames in exchange for defenseman Dalton Prout.
For the Devils, they already have Cory Schneider and Keith Kinkaid on their roster, plus prospect Mackenzie Blackwood rising, so it\’s a surprise they\’d go out and get Lack. Maybe he will replace Scott Wedgewood in the AHL. Wedgewood was traded earlier this season to the Arizona Coyotes, and is now their backup goalie. Prout isn\’t really needed, so it doesn\’t matter too much.
Lack, 29, has a 5.29 GAA and .812 SV% in four appearances for the Calgary Flames this year. In his NHL career for the Flames, Carolina Hurricanes and Vancouver Canucks, Lack has a GAA of 2.60, with a .909 SV% in 140 games.
For the Flames, this move is also surprising. This means they are showing trust in 25 year old David Rittich as their backup. Prospect Jon Gillies is the starter in the AHL, so maybe they didn\’t need Lack with Rittich. They don\’t necessarily need a defenseman, with seven already on their active roster, so I guess Prout will be a call-up man.
Prout, 27, has no points in four games for the Devils this year. In his NHL career for the Devils and Columbus Blue Jackets, Prout has scored six goals and 30 assists for 36 points in 242 games.
I think the Devils win this trade. Lack has shown he\’s a stable backup, especially in his Vancouver days, which weren\’t too long ago. I think he definitely has more upside than Prout.
CarterHud 