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Lengthy after his Calgary Wranglers teammates had left the ice at WinSport, Adam Klapka skated alone.
On this specific day, Klapka obsessively fired photographs on web after which skated — exhausting — up and down the ice. To an outsider’s eyes, the 23-year-old appeared like a person possessed.
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And perhaps, to a sure extent, that’s precisely what Klapka is.
He’s been having a fantastic season with the Wranglers and has taken an enormous step from his rookie 12 months within the AHL.
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In his 4 video games with the Flames, Klapka didn’t file any factors. His ice time was restricted, however there have been undoubtedly positives and nonetheless just a few moments the place he managed to successfully use his massive 6-foot-8, 235 lbs. body.
The problem now could be discovering methods to try this each single shift on the NHL stage.
That’s the place the work is available in.
“I actually recognize the prospect to play and it confirmed me the little issues I’ve to work on,” Klapka stated. “That’s what I’m attempting to do at observe, simply get again all of the issues I feel I needs to be higher at.”
Happily for Klapka, placing within the work has by no means been an issue.
Wranglers coaches raved in regards to the strides he took in his first season as he realized to be knowledgeable and located his recreation on the AHL stage. That’s solely continued in Yr 2 as he’s discovered his footing as a extra dependable offensive contributor.
He’s already soared previous his season-total numbers from final season, scoring 14 targets and including 19 assists in 48 video games for the Wranglers. That he’s a plus-11 and has added 4 game-winning targets is spectacular, as properly.
“There’s an enormous studying curve, for positive, for a younger man like him,” stated Flames head coach Ryan Huska again on the finish of January. “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 now have to guarantee that it’s each shift that he’s according to that, and that’s a part of studying and rising as an NHL participant.”
It’s price noting, too, that Klapka has been completely red-hot for the Wranglers lately. If the Flames want a call-up he’s absolutely on the shortlist — particularly after he picked up seven factors in 4 video games previous to Sunday afternoon’s contest on the Saddledome between the Wranglers and the Ontario Reign.
That’s the kind of stretch that will get individuals’s consideration and doesn’t occur with out the work Klapka continues to place into his recreation.
daustin@postmedia.com
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