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The Calgary Flames get set for game five of the preseason tonight in what should be an interesting test for both teams. While we won’t know what the lines will look like until warmups, here is a look at the roster courtesy of Pat Steinberg. @Fan960Steinberg
As some may have picked up on, 13 forwards and eight defencemen will leave a few odd men out. Barrie, Kuznetsov, and Coronato stayed out late during the morning skate, so it’s fair to assume those three are sitting this one out.
Rough Start
It’s been a forgettable preseason for 2019 26th overall pick Jakob Pelletier. Zero points, one shot on a partial break. The diminutive winger is simply not playing his best hockey. Whether it’s last season’s injuries still affecting him or a confidence issue; something has the 23-year-old from Quebec stuck on the ropes.
Speaking Of
A few younger players are also dealing with some injury issues.
Huska says there’s no long-term concerns with any of Martin Pospisil, Matt Coronato, or Jake Bean.
All three are day-to-day with lower body injuries. Huska says they could be skating if the regular season was underway. #Flameshttps://t.co/M6mKrdYgs1
Martin Pospisil, 24, reportedly had a summer of high-intensity training with fellow Slovak Samuel Honzek. It’s possible that he hurt himself during that time or possibly later on during the preseason.
Fresh off scoring a goal against the Canucks on Wednesday, Jake Bean is also nursing something. As is the team leader in points this preseason, Matthew Coronato. Him and Honzek are tied for five in two games.
Nazem Kadri is also banged up following a collision with Blake Coleman in practice and Kevin Bahl is just getting back on the ice after missing the first four games.
You worry with Bahl’s case. Is he really healthy? Or is he getting back on the ice because he doesn’t want to get passed for his spot in the lineup?
It happened with Adam Ruzicka last season after he injured his shoulder receiving a hit-from-behind at the hands of Jimmy Vesey of the New York Rangers. He returned too early and struggled.
Points Per Game: Adam Ruzicka in 2023-2024
Pre-hit - Oct. 11 to Oct. 24: 0.57
Post Hit - Nov. 7 to Jan. 24: 0.15
Without taking the time to properly heal, Ruzicka eventually played his way off of the Calgary Flames.
The Canucks
Much like Calgary, Vancouver isn’t admitting much about their lineup prior to warmups. We know that Arturs Silovs is starting in net, and we know that the Canucks played last night.
Head Coach Rick Tochett says he’ll be trying out a few players in a back-to-back situation, so we can't assume that the lineup will simply be the guys who didn’t dress last night.
JT Miller hasn’t played a preseason game, so tonight would be an ideal time to get him tuned up unless he's out for maintenance.
Speaking Of
Wednesday’s game featured a strange sequence. Courtesy of Robert Munich. @RingOfFireCGY
Sam Honzek makes a great rush and then draws a penalty after engaging in a battle with the much bigger Vinny Desharnais.
What you saw there was hulking defensive defenceman Vincent Desharnais wailing on 20-year-old Honzek. With Ryan Lomberg dressing tonight, do we see a five-foot-nine winger take on a six-foot-six defenceman?
Sign me up.
Zayne Heads Back
Following a “humbling” Penticton and preseason, 18-year-old Zayne Parekh has been reassigned to Saginaw of the OHL. Lots to work on, but he looked alright for such a young defenceman playing against fully matured pros.
“I thought my gaps were good, and my stickwork was good.” Said Parekh during a brief with the media. “I think I just need to be more physical down low, especially in the box-out area.”
It shouldn’t be forgotten how hard this kid has been going in the last calendar year.
An OHL season and championship, a Memorial Cup win, five games at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, prospects camp, the Penticton Young Stars Classic, Hockey Canada camp for the U20 World Junior Championships, oh, and he’s taking University courses during the season after graduating high school at 15.
You’re going to want to watch some Saginaw Spirit games this season. One reason is to watch Parekh try to top a 33-goal, 96-point campaign in 2023-2024. He’s missed two games already and will miss time at World Juniors, but he has all the tools to climb well above the 100 mark.
One more reason? Micheal Misa. The brother of Luke, who was drafted by the Flames in June and lit up prospects camp, Micheal is primed to be selected in the top five next summer. The six-foot-one all-positions forward has five goals and one assist in two regular season games already.
Game time is at 7:00 p.m. MST. Catch it on Sportsnet.
Stats courtesy of NaturalStatTrick, the National Hockey League, and EliteProspects.
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