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No one anticipated Adam Klapka to be a completed product in his first recreation with the Calgary Flames.
That’s not an affordable expectation for any participant developing from the AHL.
The Flames wished Klapka to maintain his recreation easy and deal with the issues he was good at. By all accounts, the 23-year-old has finished a pleasant job of that. He’s performed on the fourth-line, has thrown hits and tried to be an energy-guy.
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And thru three video games within the NHL, Klapka appears like there’s been progress every time.
“I come each day and watch the movies, work on my particulars each day,” Klapka mentioned Saturday. “I really feel extra comfy each recreation and higher and higher. I believe it simply takes a bit of time to get on the NHL stage, however I hope it’s coming quickly.”
Klapka is a type of gamers who has intrigued Flames followers for the final couple of years because the staff signed him to a two-year, entry stage deal in 2022. He’d gone undrafted, however at 6-foot-8 and weighing in at 235 lbs., he actually seemed like the kind of man who would possibly be capable to discover a place on the prime stage.
And after a fast growth by means of his first yr with the Calgary Wranglers in 2022-23, Klapka’s offensive recreation took one other step ahead this yr. He scored 10 objectives and added 11 assists by means of 33 video games this season, incomes a call-up to the Flames roster final week.
For now, the staff isn’t counting on him to place up huge offensive numbers, however he’s finished what his coaches have requested him to do in his first stint as an NHL participant.
There’s room for enchancment, however the foundations are there.
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“There’s an enormous studying curve, for certain, for a younger man like him,” mentioned Flames head coach Ryan Huska. “What he’s finished within the video games is attempt to end hits, you see him dealing with the puck a bit of bit extra. We have now to guarantee that it’s each shift that he’s in line with that, and that’s a part of studying and rising as an NHL participant.”
Klapka must be given the time that the majority AHL gamers require to regulate to the pace and depth of taking part in within the NHL. That’s anticipated.
Puck-protection is one space the place Klapka nonetheless feels there’s work to do, however he’s placing within the further time earlier than and after follow. He believes that a part of his recreation is coming.
And the remaining? It’s the NHL, he’s studying and attempting to make the changes in his recreation which are wanted if he’s going to thrive towards the perfect gamers on the planet on a night-to-night bases.
“The blokes are smarter right here,” Klapka mentioned. “Typically, they allow you to go, however they’re proper on you after one second. The blokes are simply smarter than the American Hockey League, it’s the perfect league on the planet so I simply deal with taking part in fast, don’t lose the puck, chip the pucks to the o-zone and go hit any person and go to the web. Each recreation I really feel higher and higher.”
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GREER SIDELINED
After going into the boards awkwardly in Thursday’s loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, Flames ahead A.J. Greer is about to overlook the following eight weeks with a damaged foot.
The Flames introduced the unlucky information on Saturday morning.
“A.J. was the one man on that fourth-line who had some consistency to his play,” Huska mentioned. “There was the physicality that he introduced, he was an vitality man within the room for us, for certain, and he’s chipped in offensively for us. We’ll miss him for certain.
“A type of unlucky ones, however realizing him he’ll push the envelope to get again sooner reasonably than later.”
Greer has been a gradual, bodily presence on the Flames’ fourth-line since being picked up off waivers from the Boston Bruins on the finish of coaching camp.
The 27-year-old has pitched in with six objectives and 4 assists by means of 47 video games. Final week, he spoke about how a lot he and his household have loved their time since he was picked up by the Flames.
“We love our life in Calgary and hopefully we wish to keep,” Greer mentioned. “That’s the last word aim. I wish to keep right here and I wish to signal a contract extension and be a precious asset to this staff.”
BACK AT PRACTICE
Martin Pospisil joined the Flames at morning skate on Saturday, the primary time he’s been out with the staff since he was damage in a recreation towards the Toronto Maple Leafs on January 18.
He was not anticipated to play in Saturday’s recreation towards the Chicago Blackhawks, however seeing him again out together with his teammates was nonetheless excellent news.
“It’s the following step for him,” Huska mentioned. “If every little thing retains going the way in which it goes over our break, we’re anticipating him to be again for our recreation in Boston.”
daustin@postmedia.com
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