The Calgary Flames are a reasonably banged up group in the meanwhile. They have been already with out Yegor Sharangovich and Kevin Rooney, and introduced this morning that 19-year-old left winger Samuel Honzek is week-to-week with an upper-body damage. It’s powerful information for the group, although, as their 4-0-0 file reveals, they’re a resilient group.
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The Flames are on no account probably the most gifted staff, however seem to have absolutely purchased in to go coach Ryan Huska’s strategy of enjoying for each other. Now, they’re able the place they might want to name up a participant in mild of Honzek’s damage, and every time that particular person will get the decision, you’ll be able to count on him to compete each bit as arduous as everybody else within the lineup has been. Listed here are 4 candidates they could look to name up.
Jakob Pelletier
Maybe the largest shock lower of this preseason’s coaching camp was Jakob Pelletier. Not at all did he play to the extent deserving of a roster spot, however most figured the Flames wouldn’t threat placing him on waivers. They did simply that, nonetheless, and to the shock of many, he went unclaimed.
Pelletier hasn’t appeared himself since struggling two shoulder accidents final season, although his quick time within the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Calgary Wranglers this season helps him get again on observe. He’s managed 4 assists via three video games, and could also be in line to get one other alternative with the Flames.
Dryden Hunt
Dryden Hunt can greatest be described as a “tweener.” What which means is that he’s too good for the AHL, however doesn’t fairly lower it on the NHL stage. All through his professional profession and with the Wranglers, he’s had no drawback placing up massive offensive numbers. In 230 profession NHL video games, nonetheless, he has solely 51 factors.
The largest concern for Hunt is that he hasn’t found out a option to make himself helpful as a bottom-six ahead. With that mentioned, Honzek was seeing first-line minutes previous to his damage, which Hunt has the skillset for. Many expect Matt Coronato to fill that position, however with how good he has appeared on a line with Justin Kirkland and Ryan Lomberg, maybe inserting Hunt onto the highest line is one thing Huska considers.
Sam Morton
Being a 25-year-old within the AHL normally suggests your possibilities at changing into an NHL common are slim to none. Such isn’t the case for Sam Morton, nonetheless, who the Flames are fairly excessive on and imagine nonetheless has loads of untapped potential.
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The Flames signed Morton following his senior season with Minnesota State College, which allowed him to swimsuit up for some video games with the Wranglers in 2023-24. He impressed, scoring 5 objectives and including two assists for seven factors in 13 common season outings, and one other three objectives in six playoff video games. His time is coming, and will have formally arrived with the Honzek information.
Rory Kerins
After a stable 2023-24 season with the Wranglers, many have been excited to see what sort of push Rory Kerins may make in hopes of cracking the Flames roster out of coaching camp. He wound up falling far in need of that aim, nonetheless, as he struggled within the preseason video games he suited up for and didn’t make it almost as far into camp as a number of different prospects.
Maybe his tough coaching camp was nothing greater than shaking some rust off, as he has appeared glorious with the Wranglers via three video games. A hat trick towards the Coachella Valley Firebirds final evening offers him 5 objectives and 6 factors, each of which lead the squad.
Inner Choice Doubtless To Get First Crack
With all that mentioned, the Flames do nonetheless have one inner choice who’s more likely to get the primary look in Adam Klapka. The hulking ahead has sat the previous two video games as a wholesome scratch, and might want to make a greater impression to remain within the lineup. If he continues struggling, a called-up ahead, maybe one of many 4 above, could leap forward of him on the depth chart and get a possibility to step up in Honzek’s absence.
