The Calgary Flames organizational depth took quite a hit today as both Adam Ruzicka and Nick DeSimone have been claimed after being placed on waivers yesterday. In a rare double claim, the Flames suddenly have to bid farewell to both.
Ruzicka’s Flames tenure comes to an end
After being drafted in the fourth round of the 2017 draft and spending five seasons in the organization, Ruzicka will now be on the move to Arizona. This isn’t the first time Arizona has snagged one of the Flames younger players off waivers, as they also claimed Jusso Valimaki back in 2022.
After falling out of favour with head coach Darryl Sutter last season, Ruzicka was given ample opportunity to prove he belongs in the NHL this season under Ryan Huska. Unfortunately, he was just never able to stand out this season and mustered up just nine points in 39 games. In his 114 games as a Flame spread across four seasons, Ruzicka posted 40 points.
Given he was in the final year of his contract and was playing under 11 minutes a night, Ruzicka likely wouldn’t have been offered a contract this summer anyway but this is certainly a hit to the Flames centre depth in 2023–24.
DeSimone off to New Jersey
After playing in 27 games for the Flames over the past two seasons and 143 for the Heat/Wranglers, DeSimone is off to New Jersey. DeSimone was one of a few bottom-pairing defenders rotating in and out of the lineup this season for the Flames as the team worked to fill the gap left by Nikita Zadorov‘s departure.
Oliver Kylington’s looming return certainly made one of the Flames other defenders expendable, but losing DeSimone leaves an already thin defensive group even more thin as the Flames don’t have many options in the AHL in the event of an injury to one of their top four.
Uncertain future
Losing two depth players in one day will hurt any team, and it makes the Flames’ organizational depth charts a bit thinner. With both players claimed, this could impact Calgary’s trade deadline strategy and draft picks as well. Only time will tell what the overall fallout can be.
