At six-foot-8, 235 pounds, it is not really hard for Adam Klapka to stick out.
Any place.
But it is not just his body that has the 22-yr-previous Calgary Flames hopeful turning heads.
In Penticton, B.C., he was heralded by coach Darryl Sutter as the most effective of all Flames prospective clients at rookie camp.
In the team’s 1st scrimmage, he set a sweet shift on a defenceman just before roofing the game’s prettiest aim.
In his very first pre-period recreation he experienced his initially struggle, and on Tuesday night time in Seattle he turned on the jets to outrace veteran Vince Dunn to develop a single of the team’s handful of Quality A scoring odds in a 3- loss to a veteran-laden bunch of Kraken.
Signed to a two-calendar year deal refreshing out of the top league in the Czech Republic, Klapka is a calendar year or two away from remaining able to challenge for an NHL glance.
But it’s effortless to get psyched about the package deal he delivers.
“Darryl is proper, he stood out (in Penticton), not only for his sizing but what caught our eye is his means to hold onto the puck and make some performs, and he has a rocket of a shot,” claimed assistant coach Kirk Muller.
“The combination, let’s be genuine, if you have acquired a significant winger like that who can cling onto the puck, and make performs and go to the net (and) is ready to go to the difficult areas … he’s uncooked, he’s got a good deal to discover about the North American activity. But there is stuff there that receives you enthusiastic.”
Even more so soon after chatting with the affable youngster who just can’t think the aspiration he’s residing.
“When I flew to Vancouver (for Sunday’s break up squad recreation) it was something – when I arrived to the airport and observed the aircraft I was like, ‘wow, what am I doing right here?’” beamed the chiseled Czech, who somehow dropped 10 pounds around the previous four months whilst skating in Calgary.
“It’s nice to be here and see in which you can perform and give you the drive to perform difficult.”
Not remarkably a lover of Zdeno Chara, his sport matches the Flames’ fashion.
“I need to participate in straight, hit the fellas, be in front of the web and be aggressive, defend teammates,” explained the right-shot winger.
“My sizing is perfect for my scenario.”
That sizing gained him an invite to struggle Canucks hard male Vincent Arseneau on Sunday night, which thankfully did not go much too badly for the mild huge.
“I was not anticipating, but he requested me if I want to go and I am not a guy who suggests no due to the fact I sense a very little little bit lousy when I say no,” chuckled Klapka.
“I did a few issues I have to function on. It was my initially fight right here, so I hope there is likely to be some other fights.
“In Europe, men and women are a tiny little bit terrified of preventing and when you combat in Europe you get suspended for the relaxation of the video game. No one desires to struggle in the Czech, and particularly with me mainly because I’m so significant versus other men.
“It’s aspect of my recreation but I have to be far more intelligent about when I can combat and when I can not.”
Wranglers admirers are confident to love observing Klapka develop in the AHL.
OPENING Evening Surprise?
If the period ended up to get started tomorrow, the most significant shock on the opening night time roster would likely be Nicolas Meloche.
Indeed, you examine that proper.
In the absence of Oliver Kylington, due to individual factors, the 25-yr-aged defenceman has been slotted from Working day 1 of camp to engage in on the ideal aspect of third-pairing anchor Nikita Zadorov.
The second-round draft choose of the Colorado Avalanche was signed by the Flames as a absolutely free agent on the initial working day of no cost agency this summer months for $950,000 on a just one-way offer.
Merely set, the Flames see him as their upcoming Erik Gudbranson.
“With Gudbranson leaving I could maybe just take his chair, perhaps not this 12 months, but naturally fill his footwear on the penalty get rid of and remaining a hard, physical defenceman,” stated Meloche, who performed 50 game titles for San Jose final time.
“For me, that is the objective I’m aiming for, actively playing those minutes and participating in the way he did previous yr. He was wonderful, and difficult to perform against final calendar year.”
At six-foot-three, 211 lbs he is just about as large as Gudbranson, who was preferred with supporters and teammates for his toughness and capacity to shut down the opposition.
“When we talked on the cell phone this summer months, (the coaches) stated, ‘we could see you using that purpose (Gudbranson) performed,” claimed Meloche, who led all Flames with almost 3 minutes of penalty get rid of time Tuesday.
“They gave me some film of him for the summer and I watched it closely. I see myself as being capable of accomplishing the similar factor.”
On Tuesday he looked stable alongside Connor Mackey, who several initially figured could possibly have been slotted sixth or seventh on the depth chart this calendar year.
Alas, Meloche looks to have an early observe on Kylington’s spot.
RUZICKA ON THE WING
With the addition of centres Nazem Kadri and Kevin Rooney, lots of have questioned the place Adam Ruzicka could possibly in shape in as a centre in the organization.
Turns out he could possibly not fit there at all, which is why the 6-foot-four, 220-pound, 23-calendar year-previous created his debut on the left wing on a reliable line with Connor Zary and Sonny Milano on Tuesday.
If he is in a position to make that transition, it could surely open up up some doorways for the youngster, who broke by final time with 5 goals and 10 points in 28 online games.
“I can play no matter what — centre, wing, I never definitely care, it would not matter to me,” he chuckled Tuesday early morning.
“If I’m going to make the NHL, I’ll (even) play in objective.”
SEATTLE NOTES
The person who did engage in web, Daniel Vladar, was probably the best participant on the ice for the Flames’ youthful squad Tuesday, stopping 32 of the 34 pictures he faced in advance of the club surrendered an vacant netter. It was a reliable encore effectiveness for the backup, who stopped all 15 he faced in the opening pre-year sport … The Flames went -for-6 on the electrical power perform, with Zary foremost all Flames with 7:05 of ice time on the gentleman edge. The Flames’ first rounder looked cozy alongside PTO hopeful Milano, who also saw more than seven minutes on the PP, recording three pictures … The Flames host Edmonton on Wednesday.
LINEUP
Forwards
Dube-Eakin-Duehr
Ruzicka-Zary-Milano
Pelletier-Jones-Phillips
Gallant-Schwindt-Klapka
Defence
Mackey-Meloche
Gilbert-DeSimone
Valimaki-Kuznetsov
Goalies
Vladar
Dansk