After off-season of change, the Calgary Flames hit the ice on Thursday
By Ryan Pike
10 months agoFor the first time since their final game of the 2022-23 regular season, the Calgary Flames hit the ice on Thursday for an organized, team-run practice. It was the first day of training camp and the beginning of a long march to the regular season after an off-season that saw the team’s head coach, general manager and leading scorer depart.
The change in the atmosphere around the club was evident enough to members of the media that newly-minted head coach Ryan Huska was asked about it. He had a simple summary of the team’s new vibes.
“There is no doubt about it. Any walk of life, if you enjoy going to work everyday your job is that much easier to do and it’s no different for these guys.”
Team Vernon
Via Sportsnet 960’s Pat Steinberg, lines:
Huberdeau – Lindholm – Sharangovich
Pelletier – Rooney – Duehr
Honzek – Zary – Coronato
Hunt – Schwindt – Pettersen
Bell
Pelletier – Rooney – Duehr
Honzek – Zary – Coronato
Hunt – Schwindt – Pettersen
Bell
Hanifin – Andersson
Zadorov – Weegar
Solovyov – DeSimone
Poolman – Gourley
Zadorov – Weegar
Solovyov – DeSimone
Poolman – Gourley
Markstrom
Vladar
Vladar
Parker Bell didn’t have a regular line, but he signed his first NHL contract on Thursday (so there’s that).
A lot of the media questions for Huska following the first day on-ice related to pairing Elias Lindholm and Jonathan Huberdeau together. Asked by Postmedia’s Danny Austin about what gives him the belief that they can bring the best out of each other, here’s what Huska answered:
“I see a top left-winger and a top centreman. And I think the other thing, when you have a right-handed centreman, there’s a tendency always to go the direction of his left-winger. So that’s something that when you look at the two of them and their characteristics and the traits that they both bring, it kind of fits for us. Now, whether or not that holds true down the road we’ll see, but finding a guy that potentially can play with them I think will be an important factor for that line for sure.”
Team Iginla
Via Sportsnet 960’s Pat Steinberg, lines:
Mangiapane – Backlund – Coleman
Ruzicka – Kadri – Dube
Bishop – Jones – Klapka
Ciona – Sutter – Stromgren/Pospisil
Ruzicka – Kadri – Dube
Bishop – Jones – Klapka
Ciona – Sutter – Stromgren/Pospisil
Oesterle – Tanev
Gilbert – Lyle
Morin – Kuznetsov
Aspirot
Gilbert – Lyle
Morin – Kuznetsov
Aspirot
Wolf
Dansk
Dansk
The club announced that Oliver Kylington wasn’t participating about two hours before the session was slated to begin. Speaking afterwards, Huska shared that he didn’t have more information that the team’s statement.
Team McDonald
Since the third group didn’t have the same NHL star-power, there’s a bit less to report, but Steinberg provided an update on Jeremie Poirier.
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