Flames Claim Goalie MacDonald on Waivers

The Calgary Flames claimed goaltender Joey MacDonald on waivers from the Detroit Red Wings on Monday. MacDonald, 33, has missed the entire 2013 season due to a back injury.

MacDonald played well enough during a call-up from the Grand Rapids Griffins at the end of the 2011-12 season to take the backup role in Detroit away from Ty Conklin. Heading into the 2012 offseason, it looked as though he would be Jimmy Howard’s backup with the Red Wings but the team opted instead to sign Jonas Gustavsson.

Though Gustavsson has been injured for much of the season, the emergence of rookie goalie Petr Mrazek made MacDonald expendable.

Rather than first send him to Grand Rapids on a conditioning assignment, the Red Wings waived MacDonald in an effort to accommodate his request to join another NHL team.

It marks the second time the Red Wings have lost MacDonald on waivers. The Boston Bruins claimed him on February 24, 2007. He has also spent time with the New York Islanders and Toronto Maple Leafs.