Gulls Acquire Red Wing Goaltender Hanlon

The Gulls have acquired veteran goaltender Glen Hanlon from the Detroit Red Wings, General Manager Don Waddell announced Wednesday.

Hanlon, 33, played in 459 regular-season NHL games in a career that spanned 13 years. In 1987, when Detroit reached the Campbell Conference finals, he was 5-2 with a 1.67 goals-against average, and had two shutouts.

Waddell said goalies Scott Brower and Mark Reimer have performed well despite the Gulls’ 1-3-1 start, but a player with Hanlon’s experience can have instant impact.

“What it does is give us someone with experience who can play and help with the younger guys,” Waddell said. “You can’t blame the losses on the goaltending, but you have more confidence with the other players when you bring in someone like this. It makes you a better team by him just stepping on the ice.”

Waddell said the Gulls had been seeking a goaltender and that Hanlon is, “by far the best of the ones available.”

Hanlon appeared in only one NHL regular-season game this season, relieving Alain Cheveldae in a 7-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Cheveldae has started all seven Red Wings games.

Hanlon has two years left on his contract, but the Gulls, who have a working agreement with Detroit, reached a financial arrangement with the Red Wings for this season.

Detroit can’t recall Hanlon, but there is an emergency-situation provision in the arrangement.