Wednesday’s season opener against the Vancouver Canucks looms and we have a bit more time for developing storylines around the team. Lets jump into it.
#1. Tomber en Disgrâce
It’s a shame to see Jakob Pelletier make himself expendable, but he thankfully cleared waivers on Monday. His story is far from over.
That 2019 draft was a weird one for the Flames. Missing their second round pick from the Travis Hamonic deal, the Flames only made five picks in seven rounds. Their final pick ended up becoming their greatest asset from the draft.
That being Dustin Wolf selected at #214.
Flames Selections – 2019 NHL Entry Draft
#26 – Jakob Pelletier
#88 – Ilya Nikolaev
#116 – Lucas Feuk
#150 – Josh Nodler
#214 – Dustin Wolf
The Flames also eventually added third round pick Cole Schwindt and second round pick Nikita Ohotiuk from that draft as well.
Maybe the lesson here is that swinging for the fences on whatever remains in terms of hype in the later rounds should generally be the go-to play. You have to wonder how many regional scouts were willing to pound the table regarding a 5’10”-6’0” goaltender. If you end up being wrong it likely comes off looking like a rookie mistake.
#2. Good News Bad News
You have to laugh. The same Flames fans writing off Pelletier after an injury-riddled season are likely simultaneously celebrating that Sam Honzek is suddenly good enough to make the roster.
Before we get to Honzek, how many Flames players are going to hurt their career trajectories by returning too early from a shoulder injury before something changes?
Mangiapane, Ruzicka, and now Pelletier are some of the public ones. All three saw their game take a massive step back. The Flames might need to re-examine their approach. There is an alternate timeline where Adam Ruzicka took half the season off last year and never spiraled out of the NHL.
OK. Honzek. Per the Calgary Flames, a roster spot is open for the time being.
Tough news for Yegor, but hopefully he takes the time he needs. He looked great in the final game of the preseason, but may have been missing a step.
Honzek is practising in his place on a line with Nazem Kadri and Andrei Kuzmenko.
#3. Uh Oh
While Pelletier cleared, Cole Schwindt is off to Vegas.
The Golden Knights have a knack for taking discarded bottom sixers and making playoff heroes out of them. Mike Amadio and Brett Howden come to mind but you can go as far as William Karlson and Jonathan Marchessault if you want to go down that road.
On the bright side, if he wasn’t making the Flames then he at least gets another shot. The fact that they also claimed Lavioe from Edmonton, a former 38th overall pick, serves as some form of solace.
It’s a shame to get nothing for something, but Sam Morton appears to be found money and had already passed Schwindt on the depth chart.
#4. Big Boy
It’s nice to see Adam Klapka make the roster. He’s just a lot of fun to watch. Him and Ryan Lomberg certainly have a dynamic so far.
Would that line be complete with Mitch McLain? Probably, but you can’t have everything on your birthday. Kevin Rooney will have to do for now.
#5. Dragged In
This is going to be a fun season. Barring injury, we’ll consistently be one two shifts away from Martin Pospisil or Lomberg being on the ice.
We’ve seen Ryan show off some untapped offensive ability, but make no mistake; the season will start and the scrums will roll like clouds. Lomberg and Pospisil are both known for riding the line when it comes to questionable hits.
#6. Backup
A lot of fans are upset that Joel Hanley got a roster spot while Pelletier didn’t. Just personal opinion here, but the team should have waived both and claimed Bokonji Imama.
Weighing in at six-foot-one and 225 pounds, Imama, 28, is just an straight up scary dude. He added seven fights to his record last season and one more this preseason.
This was the second time Jenik and Imama have fought. Both handily won by the latter.
Having Bokonji as a last minute slot-in option would torment opposing coaching groups. Pospisil and Lomberg would stand a foot taller with some established muscle making his opinion known between whistles.
The season starts Wednesday. Who else is enjoying the positivity of low expectations?
Stats via Natural Stat Trick, the National Hockey League and Elite Prospects.
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
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