Grading Yegor Sharangovich’s early performances with the Calgary Flames
By Raz Devraj
4 months agoThe past couple of off-seasons have been rough for the Calgary Flames, and after losing both Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk during the summer of 2022 they lost another key player the following summer.
Last summer Tyler Toffoli made it clear that he did not want to sign a contract extension with the Flames, requesting a trade two weeks before the NHL Draft per The Athletic. What made that news sting a little more for the organization and their fans was that they would once again have to move on from a top player. Toffoli finished off the 2022-23 season leading the Flames in goals with 34 and points with 73. It was also a career-high for Toffoli both goals and points-wise.
On June 27, the Flames parted ways with the forward, sending him to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a 2023 third-round pick and forward Yegor Sharangovich. It was the first trade Craig Conroy made as general manager of the Flames and it was a bit underwhelming considering the player they brought in return for a player who put up 73 points had only reached a high of 46 points in an NHL season. It also didn’t help that Toffoli got off to a great start in Jersey while it took a little while for Sharangovich to get things rolling.
Based on the fact that Sharangovich is 25 years old and has only played 235 games through three seasons in the NHL you can assume that Conroy made the trade for him with the thought that there is a higher ceiling for him and lots of capability for him to build his game and get better and better especially with his age.
So far, it looks as if Conroy’s first trade was a very solid move as Sharangovich has been everything this Flames team has needed from him if not more, especially as of late.
It’s been great to see Sharangovich take control of his game and be a positive driving force for this team not only offensively but also defensively. He has easily been the best Flame recently and whether he is positioning himself in the right place, blocking shots, using his speed (entries on the power play), or utilizing that wicked shot of his, there is versatility in his game that has made him not only a threat in multiple areas on the ice but has also allowed for him to be trusted in multiple scenarios throughout the game. He is on the first line playing alongside Elias Lindholm and Andrew Mangiapane and has earned a spot on the first power play unit as well as the second penalty kill unit.
He is playing in every situation and is playing well. Sharangovich leads the Flames in goals with 10 and has the fourth-most points on the team with 18. He has even been able to produce shorthanded scoring one-third of the Flames’ shorthanded goals so far this season with two. In the last 12 games, he has 12 points and is currently riding a five-game point streak with five goals in his last four games.
According to NHL Edge, when Sharangovich is on the ice all strengths considered, the puck is in the offensive zone 41.7% of the time which is more than it is spent in the other two areas of the ice (neutral zone and defensive zone).
To shine even more light onto just how good Sharangovich has been so far according to Elite Prospects, after earning 18 points through 30 games he is on pace to have a career high in goals with 27 and points with 49. That is three more goals and three more points than his previous career high.
As a fifth-round pick, and a player who is only making $3.1 million, his performance a third into the season has been great and it goes to show just how important it is to receive production from role players. If certain players like Jonathan Huberdeau, Elias Lindholm, and Dillon Dube were able to produce up to their expectations along with the support the Flames are getting from players like Sharangovich, Blake Coleman, and Connor Zary, then this team would definitely be in a better position then they are in right now.
With all things considered, point production, leading the team in goals, how he is utilized in different scenarios, playing on both the power play and penalty kill, tied for first on the team with the most shorthanded goals, and projected to have a career year, I give Sharangovich a letter grade of an A- for how he has performed as a Flame so far. I truly think with the confidence he is playing with and the opportunities that have been given to him to showcase that skill his game is only going to improve and I wouldn’t be surprised if he hits 50 points when everything is all said and done at the end of the season.
BRING ON THE TEAM SPIRIT! Unleash your inner MVP with the game-changing Varsity Collection from Nation Gear! Embrace the winning spirit by repping your fave team with pride! Shop the Varsity Collection and more at nationgear.ca
Recent articles from Raz Devraj
