SLAM! Sports
SLAM! Hockey
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
COLUMNS
NHL
The Teams
Full Schedule
Monthly Schedule
Standings
Statistics
Rosters
Injury list
Movement
Trades
Hits Gallery
INTERACTIVE
JUNIOR
MORE HOCKEY
ALSO ON SLAM!
Saturday, September 4, 1999
Flames acquire Grant Fuhr from Blues
CALGARY (CP) -- In an effort to put some experience in net, the Calgary Flames acquired veteran goalie Grant Fuhr from the St. Louis Blues on Saturday.In return, the Blues get a third-round draft pick in the 2000 NHL draft.
Fuhr, who will turn 37 next later this month, has a 3.37 goals-against average in 845 NHL games. He posted a 16-11-8 record with a 2.44 goals-against average in 39 games last season
The native of Spruce Grove, Alta., won five Stanley Cup titles in the 1980s with the Edmonton Oilers and ranks sixth on the all-time win list with 398.
It's that kind of experience the Flames had been searching for after losing veteran Ken Wregget as a free agent to the Detroit Red Wings. Other names, such as Ron Hextall and Glenn Healy, had also popped up in the rumour mill.
"Grant Fuhr is unquestionably a Hall of Fame goaltender," said Flames general manager Al Coates in a release.
"Our commitment is to win and this acquisition helps us in that regard while enhancing . . . the development of our young team."
The Flames have three relatively inexperienced goalies in Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Tyler Moss and Fred Brathwaite, but none has shown conclusively he's ready for the No.1 job.
Brathwaite endeared himself to Calgary fans last season when a rash of injuries caused the Flames to summon him from the Canadian national team. He played in 14 consecutive games in January, posting a 5-4-5 record.
Giguere, just 22 years old, spent much of last season with the Flames' AHL affiliate in Saint John, N.B., and was inconsistent.
The Blues used four goaltenders besides Fuhr last season. Jamie McLennan was the backup most of last season and the team also used rookie Brent Johnson, Rich Parent and Jim Carey.
In need of a solid starter, the Blues traded a third-round draft pick to Dallas for Roman Turek in June. The 29-year-old backed up Ed Belfour last season in Dallas. He was 16-3-3 with one shutout and a 2.02 goals-against average for the Stanley Cup champions and tied for 10th in the NHL with a .925 save percentage.
Turek made his NHL debut in 1996-97 with the Stars, going 3-1 with a 2.05 GAA. The following season he was 11-10-1 with a 2.22 GAA and one shutout.
 Bert's back on blades Blue Jays boot game Bombers drop Peterson Felicien rebuilds race | Visit our Polls Archive |