The Manitoba Moose have made a splash at the AHL roster-freeze deadline by landing a impact player who's also a familiar face.
Former team captain Nolan Baumgartner rejoins the Moose later tonight, acquired on loan from the NHL's Dallas Stars, and is expected to be in the lineup Thursday night at MTS Centre against the Hershey Bears.
Baumgartner's acquisition addresses the Moose's biggest vulnerability heading for the stretch drive and a possible Calder Cup playoff berth -- the lack of a skilled, experienced defenceman.
The 31-year-old Calgary native, who's a veteran of 131 NHL games, spent three seasons with the Moose, his final one as team captain in 2004-05.
The deal that brings Baumgartner over from the AHL's Iowa Stars will rank high on the team's list of deadline moves, especially since much of what happens to the Moose at deadline time is subject to the whims of the parent Vancouver Canucks.
Moose GM Craig Heisinger, who had the room on his roster to add another veteran player -- the AHL's per-game limit is five -- said this afternoon that the Stars were open to his pitch.
"Nolan's an older, veteran player and it looks like (Iowa) isn't going to make it and it's an opportunity for them to help him out and they knew we were interested," Heisinger said.
The GM said he only spoke to Baumgartner about the deal after it was done, which was late this afternoon.
"His reaction is very positive, both him and his agent, and he sees this as one of the places he can get his career back on track and we're happy to provide that opportunity," Heisinger said.
Baumgartner first joined the Moose in 2002-03 when he was acquired by the Canucks. He played three seasons here, finally earning enough respect here during the lockout season that the Canucks used him full-time in Vancouver in 2005-06.
That led to Baumgartner being signed by the Philadelphia Flyers, who offered a lucractive two-year, one-way package to the free agent. When he didn't fit the Flyers' needs, he was shipped back to the AHL and eventually traded to Dallas at last year's deadline.
With the AHL's Iowa Stars this season, Baumgartner has made no trips to the NHL and has 56 games with 18 points.
He gave the Moose a pair of 39-point seasons while he was here, showing off his abilities to make smart plays and to use his skating to solve all kinds of on-ice situations. In his 192 games wearing a Moose uniform, he scored 105 points.
tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca
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