Pelletier Back With Flames With Opportunity Knocking

The Calgary Flames need an injection of offense, and the hope is popular winger Jakob Pelletier can offer that after a productive AHL season so far.

It doesn’t hurt that Pelletier is also known for his uplifting spirit, which is another element the Flames are in need of after four straight losses on the road — two of them in embarrassing fashion.

Pelletier was called up along with Walker Duehr on Monday ahead of the rematch with the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Saddledome on Tuesday. The former has been with the Calgary Wranglers since clearing waivers at the start of the NHL season and has three goals and 19 points in 20 AHL contests.

The Flames also announced that Justin Kirkland has been placed on IR, and Adam Klapka has been reassigned to the American Hockey League.

Pelletier, 23, was a promising prospect (drafted 26th overall in 2019) before a shoulder injury spoiled his 2023-24 season. He wasn’t the same confident player and was injured again after a late-season return. That seemed to spill into a disappointing training camp this year.

But his performance with the Wranglers offers hope.

“Feels great. After everything that happened, it’s nice to be here; to come back with the boys,” Pelletier told reporters Monday at the Saddledome when asked about his return.

“I think it’s on me to help the team win and to stay up here and prove to everybody that I can play in the NHL.”

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The Flames offense is sputtering, to say the least. The team averaged 2.27 goals per game during the month of November — second worst in the NHL in that span. Their recent play continues to fuel trade rumors.

Although he’s likely to play on the fourth line alongside Kevin Rooney and Ryan Lomberg, Pelletier has the skills to participate on the powerplay, and his youthful exuberance would be welcomed at a time the team is as down as it’s been all season after a dreadful road trip.

He’s only got 10 points in 37 NHL games during his young career, but opportunity is knocking again now for him to carve out a bigger role.

Duehr has 11 goals with the Wranglers in 20 games so far and practised on a line with Connor Zary and Blake Coleman on Monday.