Flames add to forward corps, acquire T.J. Galiardi from Sharks for draft pick

The Calgary Flames have added to their forward corps, acquiring T.J. Galiardi from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a 4th round pick in 2014.

The writing was on the wall somewhat for this move from the Sharks' end when they acquired RFA Tyler Kennedy from the Penguins at the draft. Both he and Galiardi are tenacious left wingers that can play up and down the lineup, but Kennedy has a little more offensive upside.

In Galiardi's most productive season, he scored 15 goals. Kennedy has a 15-goal season under his belt, but he also has a 21-goal season.

Kennedy might be slightly better fit in the role Galiardi was playing in San Jose, alongside Joe Thornton and Brent Burns. And speaking of that line, the move also suggests that the Sharks might deploy a similar group next season, meaning Brent Burns could be remaining at forward.

Furthermore, while Galiardi struggled a bit playing in San Jose's bottom-six, Kennedy has been a staple of the Penguins' third line for a while now, so he could even be a better fit there as well.

As for the Flames, about three seconds after acquiring Galiardi, they announced that Galiardi had been signed to a very economical one-year, $1.25 million deal. If you're wondering how that happened so quickly and easily, consider that he's a native Calgarian:

Galiardi gives the Flames another serviceable left winger, but now there's something of a logjam there, as they've also got Curtis Glencross, Sven Baertschi, Jiri Hudler and Michael Cammalleri on that side.

Cammalleri can play centre, of course. That might be the plan here, especially as the team is without a bona fide star forward, and will need to overcome that with depth up front.

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