Hanowski was a casualty of the first round of cuts Saturday, as he was sent down to the AHL, Scott Cruickshank of the Calgary Herald reports. Hanowski saw some extended time in Calgary in 2013-14, tallying two points in 11 games. He will likely see a little time with the Flames this year but may soon be passed by the bevy of talented forward prospects in the organization.

Now that he is relieved that he received a new, one-year contract from the Calgary Flames, big left winger Ben Hanowski will be working on his skating style. The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder has scheduled training sessions with a group of NHLers in his home state of Minnesota and one-on-one work with a skating instructor. "I think my skating has been an issue, probably since I was in college. I'm just working on the technical side of it - just being a more efficient, fluid skater," Hanowski said. "I think I have a lot of wasted energy in my stride, and it's just not very efficient, so that's something I'm try to fix up. Just trying to become faster and, overall, a better skater."

Now that he is relieved that he received a new, one-year contract from the Calgary Flames, big left winger Ben Hanowski will be working on his skating style. The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder has scheduled training sessions with a group of NHLers in his home state of Minnesota and one-on-one work with a skating instructor. "I think my skating has been an issue, probably since I was in college. I'm just working on the technical side of it - just being a more efficient, fluid skater," Hanowski said. "I think I have a lot of wasted energy in my stride, and it's just not very efficient, so that's something I'm try to fix up. Just trying to become faster and, overall, a better skater."

Ben Hanowski was called up from the minors on Wednesday March 5.

The Calgary Flames have sent Ben Hanowski back to Abbotsford of the AHL. Hanowski was recalled during the break. He has not played in the NHL this season after playing five games in 2012-13, scoring once.

Ben Hanowski has been reassigned to the AHL Abbotsford Heat. Hanowski scored a goal in five games with the Flames last season. It wouldn't be surprising to see him get another NHL stint before the 2013-14 campaign is over.

Some time with the Calgary Flames late in the 2013 season clued Ben Hanowski into in to the dramatic difference between college and NHL-level conditioning. "You would think (I was in top condition possible), but it's a different animal," Hanowski said. "Those guys have been putting in years getting in shape, so you really have to push it. For a guy like me - not the fastest guy - I have to make sure I do things the right way."

Flames prospect Ben Hanowski was one of thousands evacuated from his Alberta home Friday because of massive flooding. The 22-year-old from Little Falls, Minn., has been sharing an apartment with center Max Reinhart, but he was forced to find alternate accommodations as water spilled into the downtown core Friday. "For me, it was definitely scary this morning," Hanowski said. "I've never been a part of a dangerous natural disaster like this, and then it's in a city I don't know and I don't really know my way around that well. So, for me, it was hectic and scary just trying to figure out where I was going to go and how I was going to go about getting there. It was almost terrifying, a little bit. And then I saw right where I was driving about a half an hour later (on TV) and it was completely flooded, so I just got out in the nick of time."