On Monday night in Chicago, the Calgary Flames elected to deploy a forward line consisting of a former ECHLer, a 26-year-old Belarusian riding a 15-game goalless streak, and a first-round pick who cleared waivers in October. They ended the game with seven points between the three of them.

Rory Kerins and Yegor Sharangovich both looked very much at home on that line, but it was Jakob Pelletier, the 2019 first-rounder himself, who stole the show. Playing in his 16th game since being recalled from the AHL on Dec. 2, Pelletier scored twice on four shots, threw three hits, and logged 18:26 of ice time — the most of any Calgary forward — in a 3-1 win at the United Center.

It was a showstopping, career-best performance for Pelletier, whose positive energy and enthusiasm has thoroughly permeated this Flames team since his recall. It’s hard to conceptualize where this Flames team would be without him, especially if he’d been claimed off waivers back in October.

Yes, it bears repeating that Pelletier was very much available to every single one of the NHL’s other 31 teams — for free! — just over three months ago. It just so happened that Monday’s game fell on the 100th day since the Flames elected to dangle Pelletier on the waiver wire. Now, the prospect of Pelletier returning to the AHL at any point this season is just about unthinkable.

Flames fans all over got their first taste of what Pelletier could do at the NHL level during his brief stint with the club late in the 2022-23 season. He brought much-needed speed and acted as a spark plug to energize an otherwise dreary and defeated Flames team doomed to miss the playoffs by two points.

This year, Pelletier has been even better. He’s done everything he can to rebound from an injury-plagued 2023-24 season, fighting tirelessly to escape the AHL after his early assignment and making himself an indispensable part of this Flames team since his return. At this point, everything Pelletier does is found money, and the Flames are picking up more and more nickels each game.

Pelletier has eight points in his first 16 NHL games this season. The Flames have outscored their opponents 10-4 with Pelletier on the ice at 5-on-5. Those numbers are no joke, and his underlying metrics have been just as good: Calgary has controlled 57.72 percent of the expected goals during Pelletier’s 5-on-5 shifts, according to Natural Stat Trick, and he’s individually contributed 25 shots despite averaging barely over 12 minutes per game.

It’s been terrific to watch Pelletier rediscover the chemistry he once had with guys like Kerins and Connor Zary during their respective tenures in the AHL. The youthful energy they’ve created together has played a pivotal role in the Flames surging up the Pacific Division standings in recent weeks. The Flames have gone 9-5-3 since recalling Pelletier and now find themselves in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

It took until Sept. 13 of last year for Pelletier to finally agree to terms on a one-year, two-way deal to remain in the Flames organization for the 2024-25 season. He’ll be eligible to file for arbitration if he becomes a restricted free agent again this coming summer, but it’s in everyone’s best interests for a new contract to be hammered out far before that becomes a possibility.

Much like how they handled Brayden Pachal and Martin Pospisil, the Flames now have the opportunity to lock in Pelletier for another couple of years beyond this one at a decent raise from his current $800,000 cap hit while still not breaking the bank. Pelletier’s next contract will likely also be his first one-way deal as a pro, meaning he’ll be eligible to earn the same salary in the NHL and AHL — not that he’ll be returning to the Wranglers at any point in the near future.

If Pelletier continues to find his way in the NHL at his current pace, he’ll stand a chance of cementing himself as a bona fide middle-six winger for years to come. He has all the necessary attributes to become a captain in this league. Sure, he’s hit some speed bumps on the road to this point, but he’s back on track and is ready to help this Flames team grow.

Zary, Matt Coronato, and Dustin Wolf are the key components of this team’s young core, but Pelletier could join them in that group before long. He’s an excellent glue guy with underrated skill and an outstanding personal outlook. Underestimate him at your own risk!