During the Flames’ final preseason game against the Winnipeg Jets forward Yegor Sharangovich suffered an injury. The injury appeared to happen late in the third period when a Jets player and Sharangovich fell to the ground together.
Yegor Sharangovich had a Jet player fall on his leg. Looked like he was shaken up on the play.
?: TSN | NHL pic.twitter.com/Gr3pf2UM8b
— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) October 5, 2024
On Monday morning, the Flames announced that Sharangovich is now week-to-week and has been placed on the injury-reserved list. Sharangovich is coming off a breakout season where he scored 31 goals and 59 points. Heading into the season, Sharangovich was going to be relied on to provide offence for the Flames. He plays on both sides of special teams and the Flames will now be looking for other players to step up in his absence.
Injury Provides Opportunity
Sharangovich has been playing on a line alongside Nazem Kadri and Andrei Kuzmenko in the Flames top nine. Now the Flames will be looking to find someone to fill the void from this injury. There are three young forwards who made the Flames’ opening roster, and each of them will have a chance to step up and solidify themselves as full-time NHLers.
Matthew Coronato
Coronato has been one of the Flames’ top prospects for the last two seasons. He profiles as a top-six forward with his offensive skills and great shot. However, at the start of training camp his options to make the Flames top nine didn’t look good. The Flames had enough proven veterans on the roster and the only open forward spots appeared to be on fourth line. Even if Coronato was one of the Flames’ best twelve forwards, it didn’t appear there was a spot for him. Despite this, Coronato put together a solid preseason in Calgary. He finished second on the team in points during the preseason and showed off his shot on multiple occasions. With the injury to Sharangovich, a spot in the top nine has opened up for Coronato. If he can take advantage of this opportunity and put up some points he’ll make the case he deserves to stay with the Flames all season long.
Samuel Honzek
No player had a better training camp than Honzek. Coming off an injury-plagued season last year, expectations for Honzek weren’t sky-high for this year’s NHL camp. However, Honzek surprised many and showed why he was a first-round draft pick in 2023. He led the Flames in preseason scoring tallying one goal and five assists. He used his size to his advantage all preseason long. Honzek uses his big frame to protect pucks offensively and his long reach to strip and retrieve pucks defensively. In the final games of the preseason, Honzek was being used on the penalty kill and even scored a short-handed goal. Based on his performance this preseason he could slide into Sharangovich’s spot on a line opposite Kuzmenko in the top nine and also take Sharangovich’s spot on the penalty kill. If the Flames elect to give Coronato a place in the top nine Honzek should still be in the lineup on the fourth line. Based on how he’s been playing it would be shocking not to see Honzek in the lineup for the Flames opener.
Adam Klapka
Adam Klapka is the third youngster to make Calgary’s opening-day roster. He played six NHL games last season and has been one of the best players for the AHL Wranglers the past two seasons. Klapka had a solid training camp and beat out Jacob Pelletier and Dryden Hunt to earn his spot with the Flames. He is the least likely to earn top-nine minutes while Sharangovich deals with his injury. Expect to see Klapka rotating through on the Flames’ fourth line. He’s a big physical presence something the Flames lack throughout their lineup.
Chance To Prove Themselves
The Flames open their 2024-2025 season on Wednesday night against the Vancouver Canucks. With the injury to Sharangovich, these Flames youngsters will get an early opportunity to prove themselves. If they can step up and have a positive impact to start the season they could solidify themselves as key pieces for the Flames as they continue their rebuild.
Main Photo: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
