The Colorado Avalanche have announced they’ve traded forward Freddie Hamilton to the Calgary Flames in exchange for a conditional 2016 seventh-round draft choice. The conditions on the draft choice have yet to be announced.

Hamilton was acquired at the trade deadline last season from the San Jose Sharks and saw action in 17 games, registering 1 goal on 11 shots. He will be re-united with brother Dougie, who Calgary acquired from Boston in a draft-day deal.

What it means:

For the Avalanche, this is likely an indicator they intend to sign both of their remaining tryout players, forwards Curtis Glencross and Jack Skille, to contracts in the coming days. Before the Hamilton trade, the Avalanche were sitting at 48 contracts with the maximum allowed being 50. Teams typically do not use all 50 contracts in case of emergency and the trade of Hamilton allows the Avalanche to remain at 49 should they indeed sign both Glencross and Skille.

What this also means is Borna Rendulic and Dennis Everberg, the other two right wings fighting for the final roster spots, will likely be sent down to San Antonio for the start of the season. Neither player will have to pass through waivers and both will be expected to play important roles for the Rampage until the inevitable injuries necessitate recalls to the Avalanche.