Article content material
Tuneup time is over. The following one counts within the standings.
The Calgary Flames concluded their exhibition slate with Friday’s 3-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on the Saddledome.
The Flames, after a 5-2-1 document throughout their dry runs, will now flip their consideration to Wednesday’s regular-season opener in opposition to the Canucks in Vancouver. Common supervisor Craig Conroy has some work to do within the meantime, needing to ship 4 to the minors previous to Monday’s roster deadline.
Commercial 2
Article content material
“I believe we’ve achieved a very good job in follow and video games to work on the issues that we wanted to work on and now subsequent recreation, it’s recreation on,” mentioned Flames captain Mikael Backlund. “Now, we’re specializing in Wednesday and you may inform guys are excited already that it’s developing.”
Each groups dressed nearly all of their stars Friday, with Backlund and Jonathan Huberdeau doing the lamp-lighting for the house aspect, each on dandy deflections within the remaining body.
There may be some concern about Flames sharpshooter Yegor Sharangovich, who headed instantly to the locker-room after an ungainly fall whereas twisted up with an opponent within the late levels. Throughout his post-game presser, coach Ryan Huska didn’t have an replace on Sharangovich, Calgary’s main marksman final season.
Listed below are three takeaways from Friday’s exhibition capper, together with our greatest guess on the 23-man roster …
HELLO HONZEK?
It’s been fairly some time since an adolescent cracked the Flames’ opening roster. You’d have to return to the times of Sean Monahan, Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk.
Sam Honzek, at 19, needs to be the newest addition to the record.
Midday Information Roundup
Article content material
Commercial 3
Article content material
The distinction is these different dudes had been all ineligible for the AHL once they made their debuts within the Flaming C emblem. Honzek might be assigned to the AHL’s Wranglers — and that transaction wouldn’t require waivers — however this pre-season revelation has undoubtedly earned a have a look at the big-league stage.
This power-forward prospect appeared in six exhibition video games, pacing the workforce with seven factors and a plus-8 score in his six alternatives to impress the brass.
Whereas Honzek was held off the scoresheet in his remaining audition, the younger Slovak didn’t do something his play his method out of a roster spot. A minimum of not from this vantage level.
He was clearly aware of his defensive obligations, a non-negotiable once you’re skating alongside Calgary’s high shutdown centre in Backlund, and continued to indicate confidence with the puck and 0 hesitation in his board battles. (Honzek was on the ice for Winnipeg’s winner, however he wasn’t the one responsible of a missed task. That was Connor Zary’s man.)
“I did all the things I may,” Honzek mentioned after Friday’s remaining buzzer. “Now, it’s less than me. It’s as much as coaches and administration to resolve what’s subsequent and what’s good for me.
Commercial 4
Article content material
“I can say, ‘You realize, I did the job I needed to do right here.’ I believe I left a very good message right here.”
THE BACKSTOP BATTLE
You’d like to be a fly on the wall on the Saddledome — or a part of the digicam crew for ‘The Chase’ — because the coaches debate who will probably be between the pipes for the curtain-raiser in opposition to the Canucks.
It was the massive query at first of coaching camp, and each Dan Vladar and Dustin Wolf made a case for the Evening 1 nod.
Vladar, 27, is probably the most skilled choice, having served as Jacob Markstrom’s backup for the previous three winters. He stopped 14 of 17 on Friday, together with a stunning glove on Vladislav Namestnikov. Among the many pucks that did sneak previous him, a pair got here from guys who had slipped their checks.
The 23-year-old Wolf, sometimes billed because the Flames’ goaltender-of-the-future, posted a .900 save share in 160 minutes of exhibition motion. That stat-line was much more spiffy earlier than the Jets scored three unanswered in Wednesday’s third interval in Winnipeg. (Equally, Vladar’s numbers took successful Friday, together with his save share dipping to .895.)
Devin Cooley additionally had a robust camp, exhibiting flashes of why the Flames had been so excited to get him signed this summer time, however he’ll doubtless wait his flip with the AHL’s Wranglers.
Commercial 5
Article content material
“I believe all of them know that they’re going to play,” mentioned Flames goalie coach Jason LaBarbera after Friday’s morning skate. “You don’t know when you’re going to play, however you realize you’re going to get alternatives. In case you’re not the man that’s within the first evening, it doesn’t matter. You clearly need that task, however you realize you’re going to get an opportunity to play fairly a little bit of hockey.”
PROJECTING THE 23
After eight pre-season video games, and after cautious consideration of the waiver implications, taking a crack on the Flames’ opening roster …
FORWARDS
Yegor Sharangovich-Nazem Kadri-Andrei Kuzmenko
Jonathan Huberdeau-Martin Pospisil-Anthony Mantha
Connor Zary-Mikael Backlund-Blake Coleman
Ryan Lomberg-Kevin Rooney-Adam Klapka
Extras: Sam Honzek, Jakob Pelletier
DEFENCEMEN
Kevin Bahl-Rasmus Andersson
MacKenzie Weegar-Daniil Miromanov
Jake Bean-Brayden Pachal
Further: Tyson Barrie
GOALIES
Dan Vladar
Dustin Wolf
FINAL CUTS — G Devin Cooley (requires waivers), RW Matt Coronato, D Joel Hanley (requires waivers), C Cole Schwindt (requires waivers).
The rationale: Honzek needs to be rewarded with a spot on the roster, though he might have to attend till Sport 2 or Sport 3 earlier than he’s tapped for his solo lap. Until Honzek is demoted, three of those 4 dudes — Cooley, Hanley, Pelletier and Schwindt — will probably be positioned on waivers to be assigned to the Wranglers. There’s some concern that Cooley might be plucked, but when it comes right down to defending your third-string goalie or considered one of your current first-round picks, shouldn’t that be a simple resolution? That’s why we’re opting to maintain Pelletier. He’s nonetheless solely 23 and if there’s an early harm (or if Honzek hits the wall as a rookie and requires a reset within the AHL), he’s a man that you just’d wish to hold within the group. If Sharangovich will miss time, you can reunite Zary with Kadri and Kuzmenko and Honzek may swimsuit up in Vancouver, the place he was enjoying junior final winter for the WHL’s Giants.
Article content material
