Klapka will be the odd-man out of the lineup on Thursday to allow Kevin Rooney (concussion) to make his return from a five-game absence. The 24-year-old Klapka has zero points, five shots, and 15 hits in four games this season.
The surprising Flames, one of only four teams with a regulation loss early in the 2024-25 season (4-0-1), will continue their goalie rotation on Tuesday and turn to Wolf between the pipes against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 23-year-old Wolf has been excellent in two showings this season (2-0-0), boosting a stellar 2.02 GAA and .944 SV%. The Flames enter the action on Tuesday as slight -114 home favorites against a Penguins club that has been outscored 10-4 in their last two games (0-2-0).
Rookie Samuel Honzek is battling an upper-body injury and will be out of the Flames' lineup on a week-to-week basis. The 19-year-old Slovak was the 16th overall pick of the Flames in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. In four games this season, Honzek has zero points, six shots, and four hits while averaging 12:47 time-on-ice.
Tyson Barrie will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Bean to return to the lineup for his third game of the season. The 26-year-old Bean has two points (0G / 2A), a +1 plus/minus, and two shots on goal in two games this season.
Four games into the regular season, the Flames have evenly alternated between netminders and will turn to Wolf on Tuesday against the Chicago Blackhawks for his second start. Wolf was stellar in his first outing, saving 37 of 40 shots (.925 SV%) in a 6-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Before this season, Wolf was sporting an 8-7-1 with a 3.03 GAA and .896 SV% in 18 career games. The Flames enter Tuesday's contest as -148 home favorites against the Blackhawks.
Bean had two assists through Calgary's first two games but surprisngly will head to the press box as a healthy scratch for Tyson Barrie on Sunday in Edmonton. Bean signed a one-year, two-way contract in the offseason after three seasons in Calgary.
Dan Vladar started the Flames season opener but Wolf will get the home opener vs. Philadelphia. The highly regarded goalie prospect struggled with the Flames last year but once again posted outstanding numbers in the AHL. In 18 career NHL games, Wolf is 8-7-1 with a 3.03 GAA and .896 SV%. The Flames are -127 favourites against a Flyers team that played last night.
With Kevin Rooney (concussion) placed on Injured Reserve, Kirkland gets the opportunity to make his Flames debut. The 28-year-old Kirkland spent most of last season in the AHL, tallying 30 points (8G / 22A) in 43 games with the Tucson Roadrunners.
The Flames took a tough blow in their preseason finale on Friday when Sharangovich exited the contest with a lower-body injury. Sharangovich was expected to start the 2024-25 campaign on the Flames' top line with Nazem Kadri and Andrei Kuzmenko after scoring an impressive 59 points (31G / 28A) in 82 games last season.
Basha was Calgary's 2024 2nd-round pick (41st overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Flames on Sunday. The 18-year-old left-winger has already returned to Medicine Hat (WHL) for his fourth season of junior hockey this year after putting up 30 goals and 85 points as the Tigers third highest scorer in 63 games played in 2023-24.
The tallest forward in the NHL (6'8") has been signed by Calgary on Tuesday as they signed Adam Klapka to a one-year, two-way contract. The 23-year-old towering right-winger made his NHL debut with the Flames in 2023-24 and had a goal, 19 PIMs and a -1 plus/minus while averaging just 6:46 TOI/GP.
Calgary shored up its defensive depth on Tuesday as they signed Yan Kuznetsov to a one-year, two-way contract extension. The 22-year-old Russian defenseman was Calgary's 2020 2nd-round pick (50th overall) and made his NHL debut in 2023-24 but only appeared in one game. In 63 games played with the Calgary Wranglers (AHL) last season, he had five goals and 13 points.
Wolf made a career-high 17 appearances in 2023-24 and earned himself a two-year, $1.7 million ($850,000 AAV) contract on Tuesday. The 23-year-old is expected to be heavily leaned upon in 2024-25 after Calgary traded Jakub Markstrom in the offseason and will look to improve apon his 7-7-1 record, 3.16 GAA and .893 SV% from last year. Wolf has been one of the steadiest and most impressive AHL goalies since 2021-22, posting a .922 SV% and higher in all four seasons and a league leading .932 SV5 in 2022-23.
