Photo Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
When I got the notifications on my phone today about the recent injuries to Calgary’s players, I will admit that I literally sighed with defeat.
It seems that all of the best players on the team are working so hard on the ice that injuries are inevitable.
Let’s review…
On October 21, just as Mike Cammalleri returned to the Flames lineup after sustaining a hand injury, Giordano went on the IR because of a broken ankle and hasn’t returned to the lineup yet. November 6, Curtis Glencross was placed on IR with a knee injury and still hasn’t returned yet either. Galiardi was recently placed on the IR because of back spasms that he endured during practice at the beginning of the week.
And, after last night’s game, Wideman and Monahan are now added to that list. Wideman sustained a hand injury in the process of blocking a shot on the Flames net and Monahan skated the entire game with a hairline fracture in his foot.
I’m patiently waiting for the return of Giordano and Glencross as soon as possible, but I don’t want any of the players to push themselves so hard in recovery that they come back too soon and get hurt again.
The next few games will be a true test of the strength for the remaining Flames players. Because of all these injuries, some of the players on the Flames farm team in Abbotsford will get their chance to prove themselves once again at the NHL level.
Chris Breen was called up this week to take over a defensive position on the Flames blue line. As well, Paul Byron and Max Reinhart were called up within the past couple days to add some offensive depth. These guys have big skates to fill, but they’ve been solid players during their limited time with the Flames so far.
Good luck to the players who were called up – I know they will do their best to fill in the holes on the team.
And wishes for a speedy recovery to those who are on the injury list!