#Flames lines at their first practice look like: Quine-Monahan-Lindholm Tkachuk-Backlund-Rieder Ruzicka-Ryan-Czarnik Froese-Gawdin-Phillips D-men are Giordano, Mackey, Brodie, Valimaki, Forbort, Stone, Yelesin, Gustafsson, Kylington Rittich, Gillies, Zagidulin in net.
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Notes from Day 1 of Phase 3 training camp
Photo credit: Candice Ward/USA Today Sports
For the first time in four months the Calgary Flames took to the practice ice on Monday as they began Phase 3 of the NHL’s Return to Play protocol. As you can imagine, it was a little weird.
Here’s a roundup of news and developments from Day 1 of camp.
Power play units, per Pat:
- PP1: Tkachuk, Quine-Monahan-Lindholm, Gustafsson
- PP2: Ruzicka, Gawdin-Backlund-Phillips, Giordano
(Speculation: Quine appears to be a Gaudreau placeholder; Ruzicka appears to be a Lucic placeholder; Gawdin and Phillips appear to be placeholders for Dube and Mangiapane, respectively.)
Dillon Dube and Buddy Robinson weren’t on the ice for either group. Per the club, they were “unable to participate.” As noted, clubs will not be providing any information about player absences beyond that during Phases 3 and 4.
When asked about the composition of the groups – it’s a bit odd that Johnny Gaudreau wasn’t with his usual linemates, for example – interim head coach Geoff Ward noted that it was dictated by “circumstances that became apparent last week” and then he answered a follow-up question by noting that he’s unable to elaborate. So interpret that as you will.
Noted by Postmedia’s Kristen Anderson: goalie coach Jordan Sigalet was the only on-ice coach wearing a facemask. Sigalet has multiple sclerosis, so him wearing a facemask makes complete sense.
Matthew Tkachuk, via Webex, from the Saddledome ... which is also where we are.
#Flames F Matthew Tkachuk noted that he's been helping Mikael Backlund out with NHLPA duties for the last couple years. With Backlund in Sweden, Tkachuk took the lead for his club on Return to Play and CBA discussions. That speaks to how highly he's viewed by his teammates.
#Flames head coach Geoff Ward noted in his chat with the media that they haven't yet got a roster composition in mind for Phase 4. Wants to give everybody a chance to show what they can do in first 3-4 days before drilling down on anything.
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