3:14 p.m.: Calgary did indeed recall three forwards today: Pelletier is on his way back to the NHL, along with Kevin Rooney and Cole Schwindt, who will fill the team’s vacancies at center. The team also confirmed Greer’s IR placement in a team release.
2:34 p.m.: The Flames moved winger A.J. Greer to injured reserve on Sunday, per the NHL’s media site. Greer is one week into an eight-week recovery timeline for a foot fracture sustained on Jan. 25 against the Blue Jackets.
Today’s news doesn’t affect Greer’s return timeline. However, it does bring Calgary’s roster size back down to 20 out of the maximum 23 after claiming defenseman Brayden Pachal off waivers from the Golden Knights earlier in the day.
18 of those 20 players are skaters, but after moving Greer to IR, the Flames only have 10 forwards on the active roster. They now have roster space to recall as many as three forwards ahead of their Feb. 6 game against the Bruins, which marks their return from their bye week and the All-Star break.
One of those recalls will likely be 2021 13th overall pick Matthew Coronato, who has exploded for 32 points in 30 games with AHL Calgary during his first pro season. He’s scored only once in 15 NHL appearances this year in top-nine minutes, but he should get an extended look on the NHL roster for the rest of the season in the wake of the Elias Lindholm trade.
A center will likely be on his way up from the AHL as well, given Lindholm’s immediate replacement, Andrei Kuzmenko, will suit up on the wing. Offseason pickup Yegor Sharangovich, who’s tied for the team lead in goals with 20, will shift to center to close out the year in Lindholm’s absence.
Today’s news could also be a precursor to a Jakob Pelletier recall. The 22-year-old has two goals and an assist in four games with AHL Calgary after returning from a shoulder injury sustained late in training camp and, if the Flames feel he’s undergone enough conditioning at the minor-league level, could add to his NHL games-played total in the coming weeks.
Let the kids play. Tanev next to go.