There's ever more expectation for Heat defenceman Brian Connelly to lend the team some healthy speed after being clocked as the fastest skater during the AHL All-Star competition in Atlantic City on Sunday with a time of 13.851. Connolly's trade in exchange for Brendon Morrison was announced by Flames management on Saturday.

The two-time AHL all-star is a native of Bloomington, Minn., and has five goals and 31 assists for 36 points in 44 games this season which ranks him second in scoring with the Rockford IceHogs.

"In Brian Connelly we obtain a 25-year-old highly skilled AHL All-Star defenceman who is still a legitimate prospect.

We are excited to have Brian in the organization," said Flames general manager Jay Feaster.

Connelly helped the Western Conference players defeat their Eastern Conference peers 18-10 at the Boardwalk Hall on Sunday.

Last season he placed sixth in AHL defencemen, scoring 52 points, and second among AHL blue-liners with four game-winning goals.

This season the Minnesota native already has 36 points in 43 games and was on track to set a personal record in assists and points.

Here's hoping he'll be able to boost the injury-plagued Heat who lost their last two games to the baby Canucks last week.

Also new to the roster, sort of, is Akim Aliu from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for defenceman John Negrin.

The announcement came Monday but the Akiu, already on loan from the Jets, has collected four goals, in 13 games with the Heat.

Born in Nigeria, Akiu is six foot three and 205 pounds.

And in another move Abbotsford Heat have reassigned goalie Joni Ortio to TPS Turku of the Finnish Elite League to clear room on the bench for the Flames formerly injured Henrik Karlsson.

Ortio, 20, was originally Leland Irving's replacement for the Heat but he only spent nine games between the pipes.

AHL journeyman Danny Taylor was signed as a free agent and has been acting as starting goalie and looks likely to stay there for a stretch.

The Heat's next games are in Rochester against the Americans on Feb. 2 and 3.