NEWARK — Despite the expectation of bolstering the roster prior to Monday's trade deadline, Flames general manager Brad Treliving made just one deal. Defenseman Oscar Fantenberg was the only new face acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings for a conditional pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
Now the 27-year-old will take the ice with his new team for the first time on Wednesday night against the New Jersey Devils.
"There will be some adjustments I have to make but it's just hockey," Fantenberg said. "I have to go out there and play my game."
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The Swedish-born Fantenberg was acquired from the Kings for a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2020 draft. Joining the Flames will be a complete paradigm shift as he is moving from the worst team in the Western Conference to the best.
"He's a guy who knows how to play," head coach Bill Peters noted. "We've done our homework on him as a staff and we're really confident in him as a player with his ability and everything else so I think he slots in perfectly where he's going to play."
Also very excited for this opportunity in @NHLFlames! Can’t wait too get it started!
— Oscar Fantenberg (@OscarFantenberg) February 26, 2019
Peters added the left-handed defenseman will play the left side and be paired with fellow Swede Rasmus Andersson on the blue line.
Undrafted, the defenseman signed with L.A. in May 2017 and made his debut the following season. In 73 career games with the Kings over two seasons, he has four goals and eight assists.
"I don't want to do anything fancy, nothing crazy," Fantenberg said. "Just play a solid game and be me."