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This was one of those deals you had to make. Morrison’s time here was extremely limited, and he no longer added anything to the on-ice team. And in Brian Connelly., the Flames acquire a 25-year-old American Hockey League all-star with offensive prowess.

Calgary fans will get the chance to say a proper goodbye to Morrison on Friday night with the Blackhawks in town to play the Flames.

The Flames also sent goalie prospect Joni Ortio to TPS Turku of the Finnish Elite League in a move designed to create room for Henrik Karlsson on the Abbotsford Heat.

With our leading goal-scorer now out (Glencross) for what they are saying may be a few weeks, the chances of making up the 4 points seems to be less and less likely. Here is who we’ve got on IR at the moment.

At the town hall in September, Jay Feaster was asked straight-up by one of the Flames’ loyalists “Who do you think will be the surprise player of the year?”

Feaster didn’t hesitate, “Niklas Hagman,” he said. And the crowd laughed.

“No really,” said Jay, and he went on to explain how Hagman was really disappointed in himself and that this year will be different.

Well, it wasn’t. After being put on waivers last week and sent down to Abbotsford of the AHL, Hagman was claimed on re-entry wavers by the Anaheim Ducks. Anaheim and Calgary will split the remainder of his US$3-million salary this season.

Flames general manager Jay Feaster said he met with Hagman last week to tell him he was trying to complete a trade but no one was willing to take on his contract.

“I advised Nik that upon clearing waivers we would place him on re-entry waivers and I gave him permission to speak with other teams,” Feaster said in a statement Monday. “We are pleased for Nik that he was claimed and we wish him well.”

Feaster said Hagman did not fit in the team’s plans for the future.

My, how times do change.

Brendan Morrison is back on the injured-reserve list due to “inadequate rehabilitation of ACL knee surgery,” and will be replaced by centre Paul Byron.

Anton Babchuk had his left hand had been fractured blocking a first-period shot Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild — and T.J. Brodie is back in the National Hockey League.

Calgary’s new line combinations have been posted.

Well that changes the lineups a bit…

Check out the opening day lineup any time of the year on the Calgary Flames current line combinations page. Here’s what Saturday’s opener against the Penguins will look like.

The final roster will be announced on Wednesday, but because of some injuries and being only four players above the required 23-man roster, we have a pretty good idea of what this team will look like come October 8th.

I really didn’t want to see Roman Horak cut, especially to give Matt Stajan his (potential) spot. But you (and Feaster) have to make decisions with your head, not your gut or your heart.

I also haven’t heard anything about Ivanans, but the Flames have him on their website as no longer injured. With the suspension to Letourneau-Leblond Ivanans is likely to fill in on the fourth line. Unless of course Bourque is ready to go for the start of the year, which Sutter says he will be, and then Stempniak will be bumped to the third line, Jackman to the fourth, and Ivanans will sit.

*not actually final