BURSTCALGARY — Calgary Flames players were welcomed into their dressing room Friday with a video loop on the big screen featuring Rasmus Andersson’s patented death stare as he sat motionless in front of a fireplace, comfortably wearing the gaudiest of Christmas sweaters.
The mood was lighter than a Jakob Pelletier weigh-in.
Which brings us to the poll question being asked by a Flames social team member as the players entered the room:
“Which teammate would you not want to cook your Christmas dinner?”
The overwhelming response?
“Pelts,” said one teammate after another.
The fact that the 23-year-old first-rounder was unanimously picked on says plenty about the popularity of the jocular winger.
But as he found when he was put on waivers before opening night, personality alone isn’t enough to keep someone in the bigs.
So, as Pelletier playfully wondered why he was being so maliciously singled out (“is it because I’m French?”), he did so with a grin, knowing his position with the club is on firmer ground.
The reason?
The penalty kill.
His newfound role on it has given him a new lease on life with the Flames.
“I think it’s a huge part of the game and if I can be good on that I think it can put me on the ice more and help me stay in the big leagues,” said Pelletier, who is back to being the confident sort he was before his future with the franchise was jeopardized by injuries and an inability to gain traction.
“Big time, big time.
“I think it shows in the way I’m playing. I think I feel more confident and myself. It feels good.”
Pelletier’s play on the third line alongside Connor Zary and Yegor Sharangovich has improved each of the last few games they’ve played together, to the point they were one of the more dangerous trios on the ice in Thursday’s overtime loss to Ottawa.
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But it was his almost three minutes of penalty killing in that game that reinforced where he’s more apt to contribute meaningfully.
It has been five games since the diminutive junior star started being sent out with Blake Coleman for the team’s second penalty kill unit, and the results have been empowering.
He’s played 8:18 of shorthanded minutes, allowing no goals, just three shots on goal and one high-danger chance against.
“Our PK has been better since he’s been on it, so I do think that’s a huge thing,” said Flames general manager Craig Conroy.
“As a player you need something.
“He’s clearing pucks, he’s clearing lanes and using his quickness to help us.
“I know everybody wants the power play, but if you can get penalty kills, faceoffs or defensive matchups it can kind of help you along.
“He’s come up, grabbed hold of it and given us a big shot in the arm on the PK.”
With only a few more games of eligibility before a demotion would require him to have to clear waivers again, the words from the GM that matter more to Pelletier are these ones:
“In the end, if he’s playing well enough to stay we’ll keep him, just like Costco (Justin Kirkland),” said Conroy.
“He’s helping the team and we’ll just continue to move forward.”
For a team that has languished amongst the league’s worst penalty kills most of the season, the improvement Pelletier has helped bring has played a crucial role in the team’s fortunes of late.
Against Ottawa, there was Pelletier playing a good chunk of a mid-game double minor assessed to Mikael Backlund that could have broken the game open.
Instead, Pelletier and the Flames held tight and managed to grab a much-needed loser point.
“It’s really trying to embrace that role and he’s done a good job of it so far,” said coach Ryan Huska, who said that seven games into his call-up Pelletier looks as comfortable as he’s ever been in the NHL.
“Maybe it’s because he’s not just a fourth line guy who doesn’t have a special team role.
“Sometimes when you feel like you’re bringing some value to the team you feel like you’re starting to put your stamp on it a bit. I also think it has helped his 5-on-5 play with the way he is now skating, showing more compete for the puck, on the puck.
“I think his game has come a long way.”
His cooking, apparently, not so much.
