Walker Duehr’s time in Calgary has come to an end.
After the Flames put the 27-year-old winger on waivers on Tuesday, he was claimed by the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday morning.
It brings an end to Duehr’s nearly four-year tenure with the organization.
The South Dakota native signed as an undrafted free agent in 2021 after a four-year college career with Minnesota State University and, while he showed flashes of real NHL potential during his time in Calgary, he spent much of the past two-and-a-half seasons splitting time between the Flames and the Wranglers in the AHL.
He was called up to the NHL roster in early December and played in 16 games this season, recording one assists and posting a minus-six.
Still, the Flames had felt there had been improvement in this recent run of games compared to previous stints in the NHL.
“I think Walker, on this recall for us, has been a different player than in the past, where I think he’s used his size and speed more consistently than what we’ve seen prior,” Flames head coach Ryan Huska said on Tuesday.
Duehr, who is listed at 6-foot-2 and weighs in at 210 lbs., had previously gone unclaimed when he was placed on the waiver wire in October at the end of training camp.
Once he arrived with the Wranglers, he turned heads, recording 19 points in 20 games before the NHL call-up.
Ultimately, though, he couldn’t translate that AHL success into similar numbers with the Flames and he’ll leave Calgary having played in 84 games over parts of four seasons, recording nine goals and adding 10 assists.
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