Curtis Glencross glad trade speculation is over after joining Capitals

When Bob Hartley answered his phone on the ice just 10 minutes into the Calgary Flames’ morning skate on Sunday, Curtis Glencross knew something was afoot.

For weeks, Glencross had been the subject of trade rumors, knowing he was a candidate to be moved to another team because of his expiring contract and the Flames’ budding youth movement. That Hartley, their coach, answered his phone during practice sealed his fate.

Glencross was traded to the Washington Capitals, sent from one potential playoff team to another in exchange for a pair of draft picks. The left wing figures to slot in as a top-six forward for the Capitals, though coach Barry Trotz said he’d wait to talk to Glencross about his style of play and his strengths before making a decision.

“I’m pretty open,” Glencross said Sunday night during the second intermission of the Capitals’ eventual 4-0 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. “It’s something where I’m gonna come in and do my best and see what happens. I’m excited for the opportunity, and like I said, I just want to get a new start, and wherever he sees me fitting in is where I’ll be. We’ll go from there, I guess.”

Glencross, 32, spent seven years in Calgary, where he was primarily a second- and third-liner this season. He scored nine goals and had 19 assists over 55 games, but his production figures to increase with the Capitals.

“I don’t think you can ever be deep enough at any position if you’re going into the playoffs, and after [Monday’s deadline], you really don’t have any opportunity to add, so I think that’s why most teams want to do that,” Trotz said. “He’s a veteran guy. He’s pretty detailed. He’s had pretty good success, and I think he’ll fit in really good with us. He’s got a little bit of an edge when he plays and he’s got a little bit of ability to score goals, and I think you can’t have enough of that.”

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With the Flames set to visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday night, the Capitals arranged for a car service to drive their new winger roughly 130 miles south to Verizon Center. Glencross chatted with Trotz briefly after the game, then will get his crash course in the offense on Monday. He expects to be in the lineup Tuesday, when the Capitals visit the Columbus Blue Jackets.

“I’ve been in Calgary for seven years now, and you know, it’s something where, when I got the call today, I was excited and I was happy and I wanted to get here as soon as I could and get things rolling,” Glencross said during the game. “I’m gonna be excited for tomorrow, and I’ll see the guys after the game tonight and I look forward to Tuesday playing in Columbus.”