Curtis Lazar is receiving a fresh start in Calgary.

The trade: The Ottawa Senators have traded forward Curtis Lazar and defenseman Mike Kostka to the Calgary Flames for defenseman Jyrki Jokipakka and a second-round pick.

The Flames get: A former first-round pick (17^th overall, 2013), Lazar has failed to meet expectations in Ottawa, recording just a single assist in 33 games this season. The 31-year-old Kostka has spent the entire season in the AHL.

The Senators get: A defenseman who has been on the bottom pair for the Flames since being acquired at last season’s trade deadline in a deal that sent Kris Russell to Dallas. Also what should likely be a mid-second-round pick.

Fantasy players impacted: The key player in this deal is Lazar, who at age 22 still has time to carve out a productive NHL career after perhaps being rushed into the NHL. His statline this season is awful, but it’s worth mentioning that he was derailed at the start of the season by mono. The Flames have a need for a right-handed shooting center, as all of Sean Monahan, Mikael Backlund, Sam Bennett, Lance Bouma, and Matt Stajan shoot left. This move may also help Lazar personally, as Calgary is about a six-hour drive from his hometown of Vernon, BC.

Lazar will likely have to start on the fourth line with Bouma and Stajan, but he could move up with strong play. The Sens have been using Lazar as a right wing, so a potential move back to center could also help. He should not be considered a fantasy option in anything but the deepest of keeper formats, but it will be interesting to see if this move helps him get his career back on track. If Lazar makes the right impression, there’s even the possibility that he is protected in the expansion draft and someone like Troy Brouwer or Micheal Ferland is left exposed.

The Senators have brought in Alex Burrows and Viktor Stalberg over the past couple days, so moving Lazar out just creates more space for the new additions. The Sens have yet to play a game with Burrows and Stalberg in the lineup.  

Players this helps, in order:

Curtis Lazar (simply for the change in scenery)

Players this hurts, in order:

Lance Bouma

Matt Stajan

Fantasy owners are discussing this trade now. Give your take here!