Flames reassign Jakob Pelletier to minors: ‘I just want to play games’

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Jakob Pelletier put a optimistic spin on one other piece of discouraging information.

After all he did.

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Regardless of a pair of accidents — one main, one minor — which have stalled what was presupposed to be his breakout season on the big-league stage, regardless of being healthy-scratched for the previous two video games by the Calgary Flames, regardless of being reassigned Tuesday to the minors, Pelletier has maintained his glass-half-full strategy.

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“I simply wish to play video games, man,” the 23-year-old winger advised Postmedia after Tuesday’s morning skate with the AHL’s Wranglers. “Whether or not it’s right here or with the Flames, I simply wish to play video games. I’ve been out for nearly 5 months so for me, it’s simply to play video games.

“I don’t suppose it’s a nasty factor. It’s not like I’m mad to be right here. I’m not pissed to be right here. I simply wish to play hockey. It’s alternative — the Wranglers are right here for the following two days and the Flames are going to have these days off. So it’s good that I can play hockey.”

Pelletier’s optimistic outlook is about as stunning as a dump of snow on the primary day of spring.

In different phrases, not stunning in any respect.

The 23-year-old sparkplug has, by means of all of the frustration of the 2023-24 marketing campaign, hardly ever been noticed with no smile on his face. Teammates, coaches and followers admire that about him.

Whereas Pelletier had a businesslike manner as he ready for a Tuesday-Wednesday twin invoice between the Wranglers and Bakersfield Condors, he definitely wasn’t moping or depressing.

It stays to be seen whether or not the third-year professional is just becoming a member of the farm workforce for a short increase — the Flames are idle till Saturday’s Hockey Night time in Canada conflict in opposition to the Canucks in Vancouver — or if the brass on the Saddledome imagine he would profit from spending the rest of this marketing campaign as a go-to man within the AHL.

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“For me, it’s time to work on my sport,” Pelletier stated. “Play these two video games the most effective that I can and simply discover the tempo once more, discover the rhythm, hopefully play some large minutes, power-play, get some touches … After which we’ll see what’s going to occur.”

Information of Pelletier’s reassignment didn’t come as a serious shock, particularly since he’s waiver-exempt.

He was, in any case, scratched for Saturday’s victory over the Montreal Canadiens — a bummer for a child from Quebec — and was spectating once more throughout Monday’s loss to the Washington Capitals.

Pelletier, who was sidelined from late September by means of the top of January as he recovered from shoulder surgical procedure, has been restricted to only 13 appearances with the Flames this season. He logged solely 4:55 of ice time in his newest outing — a career-low, not together with the night time he was injured (for a second time) on his first shift at Madison Sq. Backyard.

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He admits that his confidence has been shaken.

Flames coach Ryan Huska has talked about that the rookie winger has been missing his traditional velocity, a key ingredient to his energetic model. That would definitely be a lingering impact of all that point off.

“I felt nice once we had been on that street journey proper after the all-star break,” Pelletier stated, referring to his first few video games of NHL motion this season. “After which I received injured once more and that type of set me again. It’s been a troublesome 12 months throughout for me, however as a professional, it’s a must to discover a approach to produce nonetheless you may. I don’t suppose I’ve been ready to do this with the Flames. And it’s not simply points-wise.

“I haven’t performed like I do know I can play. Now, it’s on me to get again to the outdated Pelts.”

The outdated Pelts stays an enormous a part of the long run plan on the Saddledome, though a bigger pattern dimension could also be required to find out whether or not he’s greatest forged in a scoring function or as one of many checkers.

On Tuesday morning, after his demotion was introduced, his cellphone buzzed with messages of assist from a number of Flames teammates.

From captain Mikael Backlund.

From Kevin Rooney, who spent an extended stretch of final winter within the AHL and can also be freshly recovered from shoulder surgical procedure.

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From shut pal and mentor Jonathan Huberdeau, who advised Postmedia just a few days in the past that Pelletier’s current struggles remind him of what he was feeling for all of final season and the primary half of this one. As Huberdeau put it: “It’s simply that confidence that he type of misplaced, and he must get that again.”

“I believe they’ve all been by means of that of their profession so for me, it’s good to type of depend on them,” Pelletier stated after Tuesday’s morning prep with the Wranglers. “It’s good to know that it occurs to different folks they usually received out of it. However on the identical time, you don’t need it to occur to you.

“But it surely’s life. You possibly can’t do a lot about it. You simply should work. Tonight goes to be alternative for me to play a sport and I’m simply actually excited.”

There’s that positivity once more.

“Generally you get to take a step again and also you may make two ahead after that,” Pelletier stated. “It begins right here. It begins tonight. I’m simply completely happy to play hockey. Sufficient of practising and rehabbing. I’m simply completely happy to play hockey.”

wgilbertson@postmedia.com

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