Martin Pospisil has been a threat for the Calgary Flames since joining the roster, and he’s (thankfully) here to stay

One of the most enjoyable parts of this 2023-24 campaign for the Calgary Flames has been the influx of even more young players into the roster and, most importantly, their early success. Connor Zary has been way better than expected, and another player who has come up and made an immediate impact is Martin Pospisil.

In case his goal in his debut game didn’t catch your eye, it was hard to miss the combination of the Blasty alternate jersey worn at home and the tinted visor that Pospisil sports on a nightly basis. He has the style, and since he’s been inserted into the lineup, he has backed it up with his performance.

Through 11 games played, Pospisil has registered three goals and two assists for a total of five points. He also sits seventh on the Flames in goals above replacement (GAR) and fifth on the team in expected goals above replacement (xGAR). He’s doing all of this while averaging fewer than 14 minutes of time on ice.

Below is his regularized adjusted plus-minus chart from Evolving-Hockey, showing that he is scoring at an above-average rate and creating much more than he currently scores, which is a good indicator for his future production. It also helps his analytical value that his defence isn’t to far below the median line.

But what has Pospisil do that makes him such a threat to other teams now?

The goal that went viral (and put Pospisil on the map with other fanbases) was this beautiful tuck combined with the burst of speed through the neutral zone, which we’ve seen in other games where Pospisil hasn’t scored.

Although this play didn’t result in a goal, it’s a perfect example of what Pospisil can bring on the rush from the defensive zone. Also, the kind of power he can generate on his shot from that far out is very impressive and will certainly be an asset in the future.

And how about this gorgeous pass to Blake Coleman on an odd-man rush, showcasing Pospisil’s playmaking ability as well?

The Flames are seemingly getting used to their new system, and bringing in young players who are going to fight tooth and nail for a consistent spot in the roster is a perfect way to promote competition within the group and simultaneously help the offence produce more. Bringing in fresh faces isn’t bad, especially if they have been coached up through the system and are being taught what the organization wants their players to know.

Despite a tough loss to the Colorado Avalanche, where Pospisil didn’t play all that well, the Flames appear to be finding some movement upward in the standings. And Pospisil is one of the reasons for that. The hope is that he will keep up this kind of production to continue pushing Calgary up the ladder.