Folks, Monday is the final day of the annual Young Stars Classic prospect tournament in scenic Penticton. The Calgary Flames&#8217; youngest faces have played a couple games and close things out this afternoon. After that, it&#8217;s time to prepare for the arrival of the club&#8217;s veterans later in the week.
As we wait for main camp to begin, it&#8217;s mailbag time!
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Who are you liking to have a surprising breakout training camp for the Flames?
&mdash; Ed Helinski 🇺🇸🇵🇱 (@MrEd315) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrEd315/status/1835345852212084753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I&#8217;m not sure if it&#8217;ll be surprising, but often we see players that had short stints with the NHL club the prior season make off-season adjustments and take big steps in the following camp. So the players I&#8217;m kind of thinking could potentially take steps like that are Matt Coronato, Adam Klapka and Ilya Solovyov. They were all with the NHL club for decent chunks of the season and looked decent – and they were all really good AHLers during the season – but it&#8217;s just a question of if they can take their NHL experiences and use them as a springboard.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Hi Ryan,
Ideally where you would slot Pelletier and Coronato in the lineup this year?
&mdash; Montyrai (@Montyrai7) <a href="https://twitter.com/Montyrai7/status/1835370484944498792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Ideally, I&#8217;d love to see either of them play with Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman on the wing of the third line. Coronato would give that line a bit of an offensive pop, while Pelletier could add to the forecheck. Failing that, I think either of those guys could &#8220;settle&#8221; for being an effective fourth line winger, though I&#8217;d prefer to give them both a bit more runway and ice time than that.
Figuring out how all the wingers fit in and how to give ice time to all the young players pushing for NHL duty is going to be very interesting for the Flames brass to juggle over the next few weeks. (We&#8217;ll be writing more about the winger situation as camp unfolds.)
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Ryan, Sam Morton has impressed at the young stars. Where could a path forward be for him to make the main roster out of camp? Who could be his potential line mates? Keep up the great work! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/flames?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#flames</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yyc?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#yyc</a>
&mdash; Big Daddy (@bigdaddybustard) <a href="https://twitter.com/bigdaddybustard/status/1835336003365863612?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Two things:
One, I think Sam Morton was really effective for the Wranglers late last season and he&#8217;s been really good through the first two games of the Penticton tournament. He&#8217;s acquitted himself really well since joining the organization in the spring.
Two, Morton has yet to play a full professional season and at some point a lot of college players hit a wall due to the pro schedule being a lot heavier than they&#8217;re used to from their college experiences. I think Morton could be playing his way into the call-up conversation, but I think it&#8217;s better for everybody to figure out how he reacts to a full AHL season more than anything else.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
What is Honzeks ceiling? I feel like flames fans are being to critical of him
&mdash; Pospisil is HIM (Put #13 in the rafters) (@PospisliForHart) <a href="https://twitter.com/PospisliForHart/status/1835345060839223652?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Flames selected Samuel Honzek at 16th overall at the 2023 draft because they believed in his upside. And then he spent much of the 2023-24 season recovering from or playing through injuries. He seemed like a good bet to be a middle six or top six winger based on his size and skillset, and I don&#8217;t necessarily think one injury-filled season diminishes that potential.
That said, this season is hugely important for him and hopefully he can stay healthy and show what he can do on the ice.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Good am Ryan, do players on PTOs have to pay out of pocket for hotel, meals and insurance or is that picked up by the teams. Thanks have a good day
&mdash; Lino dimattia 🇨🇦 (@DimattiaLino) <a href="https://twitter.com/DimattiaLino/status/1835340160168247462?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I had to do some digging on this into parts of the CBA that I rarely read.
Flights and hotel are covered by the team, as are meals – everyone attending camp receives a per-diem of around $130 per day, but teams also provide some meals, too. I&#8217;m not entirely sure on the insurance piece, as it may depend on the specific wording of the professional try-out contract and might also depend on a player&#8217;s specific injury history. But suffice it to say, a player on a try-out gets most of their expenses covered during their time in training camp.
Got a question for a future mailbag? Contact Ryan on Twitter/X at @RyanNPike or e-mail him at Ryan [at] TheNationNetwork.com! (Make sure you put Mailbag in the subject line!)
<h2>The FlamesNation Monday Mailbag is presented to you by Village Honda</h2>
Looking to sell your vehicle? Village Honda wants to buy it. We offer complimentary, no obligation appraisals, payment in 24 hours, top value trade in values and best of all, no stress. Skip selling your vehicle privately and stop in Village Honda today. No appointment necessary.
Village Honda is proud to be your dealership for life in Calgary since 1987. We are located in the Northwest Auto Mall under the giant Canadian flag or online at <a href="http://www.villagehonda.com/">www.villagehonda.com</a>.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-116342" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/Village-Honda-for-Monday-Mailbag.jpg" alt="" width="727" height="404" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/Village-Honda-for-Monday-Mailbag.jpg 727w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/Village-Honda-for-Monday-Mailbag-300x167.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 727px) 100vw, 727px" />

Folks, Monday is the final day of the annual Young Stars Classic prospect tournament in scenic Penticton. The Calgary Flames' youngest faces have played a couple games and close things out this afternoon. After that, it's time to prepare for the arrival of the club's veterans later in the week.

As we wait for main camp to begin, it's mailbag time!

https://twitter.com/MrEd315/status/1835345852212084753

I'm not sure if it'll be surprising, but often we see players that had short stints with the NHL club the prior season make off-season adjustments and take big steps in the following camp. So the players I'm kind of thinking could potentially take steps like that are Matt Coronato, Adam Klapka and Ilya Solovyov. They were all with the NHL club for decent chunks of the season and looked decent – and they were all really good AHLers during the season – but it's just a question of if they can take their NHL experiences and use them as a springboard.

https://twitter.com/Montyrai7/status/1835370484944498792

Ideally, I'd love to see either of them play with Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman on the wing of the third line. Coronato would give that line a bit of an offensive pop, while Pelletier could add to the forecheck. Failing that, I think either of those guys could "settle" for being an effective fourth line winger, though I'd prefer to give them both a bit more runway and ice time than that.

Figuring out how all the wingers fit in and how to give ice time to all the young players pushing for NHL duty is going to be very interesting for the Flames brass to juggle over the next few weeks. (We'll be writing more about the winger situation as camp unfolds.)

https://twitter.com/bigdaddybustard/status/1835336003365863612

Two things:

One, I think Sam Morton was really effective for the Wranglers late last season and he's been really good through the first two games of the Penticton tournament. He's acquitted himself really well since joining the organization in the spring.

Two, Morton has yet to play a full professional season and at some point a lot of college players hit a wall due to the pro schedule being a lot heavier than they're used to from their college experiences. I think Morton could be playing his way into the call-up conversation, but I think it's better for everybody to figure out how he reacts to a full AHL season more than anything else.

https://twitter.com/PospisliForHart/status/1835345060839223652

The Flames selected Samuel Honzek at 16th overall at the 2023 draft because they believed in his upside. And then he spent much of the 2023-24 season recovering from or playing through injuries. He seemed like a good bet to be a middle six or top six winger based on his size and skillset, and I don't necessarily think one injury-filled season diminishes that potential.

That said, this season is hugely important for him and hopefully he can stay healthy and show what he can do on the ice.

https://twitter.com/DimattiaLino/status/1835340160168247462

I had to do some digging on this into parts of the CBA that I rarely read.

Flights and hotel are covered by the team, as are meals – everyone attending camp receives a per-diem of around $130 per day, but teams also provide some meals, too. I'm not entirely sure on the insurance piece, as it may depend on the specific wording of the professional try-out contract and might also depend on a player's specific injury history. But suffice it to say, a player on a try-out gets most of their expenses covered during their time in training camp.

Got a question for a future mailbag? Contact Ryan on Twitter/X at @RyanNPike or e-mail him at Ryan [at] TheNationNetwork.com! (Make sure you put Mailbag in the subject line!)
<h2>The FlamesNation Monday Mailbag is presented to you by Village Honda</h2>
Looking to sell your vehicle? Village Honda wants to buy it. We offer complimentary, no obligation appraisals, payment in 24 hours, top value trade in values and best of all, no stress. Skip selling your vehicle privately and stop in Village Honda today. No appointment necessary.

Village Honda is proud to be your dealership for life in Calgary since 1987. We are located in the Northwest Auto Mall under the giant Canadian flag or online at <a href="http://www.villagehonda.com/">www.villagehonda.com</a>.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-116342" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/Village-Honda-for-Monday-Mailbag.jpg" alt="" width="727" height="404" />

FlamesNation Mailbag: Discussing rookie camp and looking ahead to main camp

Recent articles from Ryan Pike

Breaking News