It appears that the lower body injury that caused Calgary Flames winger Jaromir Jagr to leave Saturday’s game with the Minnesota Wild is going to linger for a little while. According to the roster listing on National Hockey League’s media site, the Flames have placed Jagr on the injured reserve list.
Per the terms of the IR, Jagr will miss at least a week – meaning he won’t be eligible to play in any of the three Flames games this week (Tuesday in Nashville, Wednesday in St. Louis or Friday at home against Dallas).
The move also opens up a roster spot for the Flames to recall a forward for the upcoming road trip. Given that Jagr is a winger it’s logical to presume that Calgary will summon a winger from the American Hockey League’s Stockton Heat – potentially someone like Andrew Mangiapane or Garnet Hathaway who have been tearing it up on the wings of Stockton’s top line. They may also choose to bring up someone like Morgan Klimchuk who plays more of a 200-foot game and was very good last season (and has been this season) but not able to see any NHL action due to few forward injuries in Calgary. It’s impossible to replicate Jagr’s skill-set, so it’ll be interesting to see what they do.
They could also potentially recall Mark Jankowski, who was their best player in camp that didn’t make the NHL roster. Jankowski’s a center, but played left wing a bit in college. He could come up and play on the wing, or the Flames could use him as a center and potentially bump somebody else to the wing.
If I were a betting man (and I’m presuming they’re not going to abandon Sam Bennett as a center quite yet), I’d put money on Mangiapane or Klimchuk coming up with Kris Versteeg sliding over to play on the right side. We’ll have more on this story as it develops.
Time to bring Janko up and give Bennett a chance on the wing.
Nooooooooooo!!!!
Also, yaaaaaaay because now we can call up Janko and put Benny on the wing just like the article said we’re not likely to do!!!
But ultimately noooooooo!!!!!
Ryan Pike having a bad day with this article….
Please no recall on Mangiapane or Klimchuk. Please Jankowski.
I’d prefer Janko too, but I wouldn’t feel too bad about those other two.
I guess who they call up may depend on if they plan to play the call up or sit them in the press box as an extra. However, whoever it is, I really hope that they give them a shot. It was frustrating last season when guys would come up and not play, or play very little.
I actually wouldn’t mind seeing someone not named Janko given a chance, since we know Janko will be coming at at some point in the season. It would be nice to see if anyone else has what it takes.
So just because you think Jankowski is coming at some point means someone else should come up? Not logical.
Jankowski is most deserving.
You also don’t think like a GM and have no idea what pieces are at play behind the scenes.
Shouldn’t you be conversing with your CoilEr buddies?
Ya ok you think like a GM? Bring someone up who doesn’t deserve it? Great thinking.
If they brought up Hathaway, would he have to re-clear waivers? I don’t know the rule on that.
The best bet is Mangiapane. Then move Klimchuk or Poirier to Stockton’s top line. Maybe Austin Carroll will finally see some ice time in Stockton.
Or bring up Jankowski and move Bennett to the wing.
Bringing up anyone other than Janko would be a slap in the face. Tre must have said your the next forward call up ….period.
I’d be happy to see how mangi does in NHL with that blazing speed.
Waivers down, not up.
I know Jagr plays wing, but I still think it will be Janko. You bring the best player up and that’s been Janko. Sure hope Jagr isn’t out too long.
🙁
Klimchuk would be interesting. I’ve always thought that he has gotten less of a chance and less of a look than certain other forward prospects.
Expect they’ll bring up Janko and park him in the press box because he doesn’t have enough experience…I continue to believe that it’s the surprise contributions from an unexpected source, such as the Jankos, Guentzels, Shearys, Arvidssons of the world, that are the difference between a serious cup contender and an also ran in this time of parity. Hope we see Mangi up at some point too. How these guys started at Stockton and their potential ability to contribute now reinforces why it’s always important to ask what you can’t do if you sign a third or fourth line vet for their experience.
I’m a huge advocate of Bennett – and I believe these games might be a great way to audition him on the wing while bringing jankowski up. 3 games won’t hinder the guys development and it will give him the ability to hopefully showcase some flash, while still giving the call up spot to the most deserving player: Jankowski
It will be interesting to see how GG shuffles the lines today in practice. Also why I am keen on having Janko brought up I am also realistic enough to understand that he will not turn this team around. Lower our expectations a bit on him folks or we will likely be disappointed.
One guy certainly CAN turn a team around, but its not only his contribution, but what it does for the rest of the line-up and the message it sends the others that makes the real difference. If Jankowski can come up, Centre the 3rd line with Bennett either 1RW/LW or 3LW/RW that could make a huge difference for the team, even if its not JUST his production we are looking at. The team needs a jolt, several players got to get the message to smarten up, start producing or else, and new combos need to happen because having a two line team isn’t going to cut it.
Watching Afterhours on HNIC on Saturday, it sure didn’t look that Jagr was in a great deal of discomfort, nor was there any visible signs of injury (and the man was wearing shorts). His legs appeared symmetric, and no redness or swelling was evident.
But who knows what’s he’s been putting up with. Could be a wonky knee. Or hip. Lord knows that my joints make me wince, and I’m just a bit younger than he is!