By Cody Misyk,The Win Column
Copyright yardbarker
As the new hockey season begins, there are certain spots on the Calgary Flames roster that are up for grabs, specifically within the forward core. There will be plenty of forward battles to keep an eye on early in training camp. Lots of Flames forwards have something to prove this season. After just missing the playoffs, players will be hungry to solidify a roster spot as soon as possible. Let’s take a look at some forward battles to watch during training camp.
Top line winger
One of the roster openings is the first-line winger spot alongside Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau. This spot has had a wide range of occupancies in the past, but this year it is a battle between two players. Matt Coronato and Connor Zary will likely be the two forwards who are fighting for this spot. Both players are still young and have bright futures ahead of them. The progress they made in the offseason may be an early indicator of who will earn the spot.
Based on last season, it would easily be Coronato’s spot in the lineup. He appeared in 77 games with the Flames, recording 24 goals and 47 points. It was a bit of a breakout season for him last year, but I would bet he can easily hit the 30-goal mark this year. To make things even better, Coronato signed a seven-year extension with the Flames worth $45.50M. If he can earn the top-line winger spot out of training camp, it would be his to lose for many years.
Zary is coming off a tough season. He was injured a few times, which limited him to appearing in only 54 games. His health has become a concern for such a young player. Constant injuries can seriously affect how much a player progresses in the early stages of their career. The main priority for Zary this season is to stay healthy. If he can achieve that, he can earn some first-line ice time. The young forward still has great NHL potential. He just needs to have a breakout season soon.
Second line winger
Another open spot in the current forward core is the winger alongside Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman. These two veteran players have played together for the majority of their time as teammates in Calgary. Ever since Andrew Mangiapane was traded, the Flames have failed to find a consistent winger to fill that spot.
Going into training camp, some potential options for that spot include Connor Zary, Matt Coronato, and Yegor Sharangovich. All three of these wingers have scoring potential that could drive the offence on the second line.
Like I mentioned above, Matt Coronato most likely belongs on the first line in my opinion. This would leave it up for Zary and Sharangovich to battle for the second line spot. Both of these forwards have to bounce back this year. Sharangovich is coming off a terrible season where he scored 32 points after having 31 goals the season before. The 27-year-old bounced around the entire lineup last season, never finding a consistent spot.
Typically, I think this position should go to Zary. He is a younger player who needs a lot of ice time next season to continue his development. Sharangovich, on the other hand, is a bit of a toss-up. He has the potential to score 30 goals, but struggles with being consistent. This position could be filled by either forward, depending on their performance throughout the season. Who do you think deserves the second-line winger role?
12th and 13th forwards
As of right now, it looks as though the fourth line of the Flames will look like:
Lomberg – ? – Pospisil
That last spot is up for grabs, and a wide variety of players could earn that spot. Potential candidates include Rory Kerins, Justin Kirkland, Adam Klapka—Pospisil would move to centre—and even Matvei Gridin.
Kerins is coming off a fantastic year with the Calgary Wranglers, where he led the team in goals with 33. He made his NHL debut against the Chicago Blackhawks and recorded his first NHL point on his first shift. He made an instant impact with the Flames, which provided Flames fans with a good taste of what he can bring to the lineup. Going into next season, Kerins is a highly touted option for that last forward role.
Justin Kirkland was fantastic in the 21 games that he appeared in for the Flames. He was a phenomenal pick to shoot in the shootout, where he would pull off the signature Kirkland move. The longtime AHLer earned his spot on the team and won the hearts of Flames fans with his nickname, “Costco.” Unfortunately, a season-ending ACL injury put Kirkland on the sidelines for the rest of the season. He will be hungry to regain an NHL role.
The last two options include Adam Klapka, who spent some time with the Flames last year, and top prospect Matvei Gridin. The 19-year-old prospect has impressed during the first two rookie games. He drove the offensive rush and showed his capability as a playmaker. Gridin may be the player to watch during the preseason, as his current play could potentially land him one of the last roster spots on the team.
Who do you think should be the 12th and 13th forwards on the Flames?
