Flame for Thought
Fansided

5 Wranglers forwards who could enter Flames lineup this season

By Nathan Smith

EDMONTON, CANADA - OCTOBER 29: Matt Coronato #27 of the Calgary Flames skates with the puck against Brett Kulak #27 of the Edmonton Oilers during the first period of the 2023 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic at Commonwealth Stadium on October 29, 2023 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, CANADA - OCTOBER 29: Matt Coronato #27 of the Calgary Flames skates with the puck against Brett Kulak #27 of the Edmonton Oilers during the first period of the 2023 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic at Commonwealth Stadium on October 29, 2023 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images) /
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3. Adam Klapka

While the days of the Flames valuing nothing but size are likely over, it’s still a good option to have size on your roster, and when you combine that with skill and production, you get 23-year old Adam Klapka. While his first season in the AHL in 2022-23 was a rocky one, the opportunity left by the departing Pelletier, Zary, Pospisil and Phillips has allowed him to step up, and now, through 18 games with the Wranglers, he has six goals and 14 points, already more than half way to his season total of 25 points in 60 games last year.

It’s true that Klapka still has to learn how to use his size effectively against different type of opponents, he could be exactly what this Flames team needs, as his size, presence and grit alongside his goalscoring ability make him perfect for the third line. It’s likely that the team will want him to stay in the AHL and develop and continue scoring at his current pace for a few more months, and if he can do that, we could be looking at a mainstay of the Flames bottom six for years to come.

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