All was right again for Curtis Lazar.
Following a deal to the Calgary Flames at last year's trade deadline, the former junior star was seemingly back to his old self as the talented winger who had made a name for himself before arriving in the NHL.
"I saw my potential come back in Calgary. I was carrying the puck, skating well, being physical," Lazar told Jason Gregor of TSN 1260. "I felt happy again."
It was a stark contrast from the player who was a part of the Ottawa Senators for parts of the last three seasons. Lazar made his NHL debut with the Senators in 2014-15, putting up 15 points in 67 games.
But it was in 2016-17 when Lazar's game went off track, as he was limited to a single point through 33 games. He even struggled following a demotion to the AHL, registering just four points in 13 games.
In 2013-14, his final year in junior, Lazar was a key cog in leading the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings to its first Memorial Cup championship. Through 58 regular-season contests, Lazar netted 76 points. He put up another 22 points in the playoffs.
Lazar then added to his trophy case by taking home a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2015 world juniors. He scored nine points in the tournament, including five goals to tie Max Domi and Sam Reinhart for the team lead.
But the same success which Lazar enjoyed in junior didn't follow him to the Senators, the club which selected him 17th overall in 2013. And after three years, Ottawa had seemingly seen enough, deciding to move on from Lazar when he was shipped to Calgary.
| Team | GP | G | A | P | P/GP | TOI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flames | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0.75 | 11:46 |
| Senators | 33 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.03 | 8:48 |
At the time of the trade, Flames general manager Brad Treliving stated, "We're not making this bet based on what he's doing today - we think there is significant upside."
So far, the wager has worked out perfectly for Calgary, as Lazar collected a goal and two assists in four games with the Flames and seemed to rediscover the style that made him a junior standout.
"The skill set I had in junior kind of got washed away playing fewer minutes and games (in Ottawa)," Lazar added. "Muscle memory comes back and I feel it now."
On Friday, Lazar was rewarded for his quick turnaround with the Flames, as he inked a two-year extension with his new club.
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