A trio of transactions on Thursday afternoon saw Akim Aliu get another shot at the NHL level, while the Abbotsford Heat bolstered their forward depth.
The Calgary Flames recalled right winger Aliu from the Heat, while reassigning Blair Jones and Roman Horak to Abbotsford.
The presence of Aliu, a burly 6'3", 205-pound right winger, addresses a perceived lack of toughness in the Flames' lineup. He'd posted one goal, four assists and 80 penalty minutes in 27 games with the Heat this season.
Aliu made his NHL debut at the tail end of the 2011-12 regular season, notching two goals and an assist in two games with the Flames.
Jones will be making his first appearance in Abbotsford after going unclaimed through waivers earlier in the week. The Central Butte, Sask. native has 110 NHL games on his resumé with the Tampa Bay Lighting and the Flames, and had registered one assist in 11 contests with Calgary since the end of the lockout.
Horak got off to a hot start with the Heat last fall, claiming the early AHL goal-scoring lead, but his production subsequently tailed off. He's got 21 points (14 goals, seven assists) in 43 AHL games this season, along with a goal and an assist in six games with the Flames.
The Heat host the Charlotte Checkers in a Friday-Saturday set at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre this weekend (7 p.m. both nights).