Calgary Flames New Recruit: Hunter Shinkaruk

Already a lot has been said of the trade that saw the Calgary Flames acquire local boy, Hunter Shinkaruk from the Vancouver Canucks.

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It’s never a bad thing to bring a home town boy back to Calgary; even better if he eventually can suit up as a Calgary Flames player.

There’s something to be said about playing for the team you grow up supporting, as opposed to being drafted to a team and having to form an emotional connection purely through being in their employ.

Shinkaruk grew up in Calgary and in fact many Calgary Flames fans were a bit peeved at him seemingly being snubbed as an option in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

To now acquire him in a deal that definitely seems to be titled in the favour of the Calgary Flames doesn’t right that pick necessarily.

What it does do though is make somewhat of a mockery of the Vancouver Canucks, who acquired a player in Granlund that was somewhat average and would’ve been stuck behind Sean Monahan and Sam Bennett long-term.

It’s safe to say that most people believe that the clear winner in the trade for Shinkaruk was the Calgary Flames.

Brad Treviling, the General Manager of the Calgary Flames was quick to stem any hype emerging out of the trade, in an interview with the Calgary Herald.

“We think there is a really high ceiling with Hunter, but again, there’s still maturation and development that needs to take place,” said Treviling after announcing the trade.

Indeed, there is a high ceiling. Shinkaruk certainly has been living up to point-scoring potential in the American Hockey League this season. He has netted upwards of twenty goals and thirty-five points so far this year with the Utica Comets.

Whilst AHL scoring prowess doesn’t always translate to the NHL, there is certainly hope amongst the Calgary Flames faithful that it will in Hunter’s case.

He could find himself a comfortable spot alongside Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau on the right wing, or likewise alongside Sam Bennett in a similar role depending how his potential pans out.

That combination, should they all reach their fullest potential, would surely strike fear into the opposition any time they faced the Calgary Flames.

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Will Hunter Shinkaruk be able to make an impact at training camp this year and secure his spot on the Calgary Flames roster?

Or will he become another Canadian player that headed home and couldn’t do his home town justice on the ice?

Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

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