The Calgary Flames farm system has had some pretty impressive performances lately. So when Anthony Mantha was hurt in this week’s win over the Montreal Canadiens, Flames fans immediately started salivating over who they may seen join the big club from the Calgary Wranglers.
Not many had Dryden Hunt at the top of their list.
Younger players like Rory Kerins, Jakob Pelletier, the recently demoted Sam Honzek and William Stromgren have been having success with the American Hockey League club and are all intriguing prospects on the verge of more NHL action. Even Walker Duehr and Adam Klapka have more appeal based on their style as aggressive fourth-line wingers.
Bringing Hunt up — in spite of his very respectable two goals and 10 points in 12 games this season — was a move most fans consider ‘meh.’
A common thread on social media after the announcement on Thursday ahead of the Calgary Flames’ contest against the Boston Bruins in Beantown was that youth is still being snubbed.
That’s simply not the case.
Related: Flames Recall Experienced Forward as Anthony Mantha Lands on Injured Reserve
There was lots of uproar when Matt Coronato was sent down in what was essentially a transactional move until they could bring him back up. On Thursday, bringing Hunt up was a depth move to fill the 13th forward spot.
With Martin Pospisil moving into Mantha’s spot on the wing beside Jonathan Huberdeau and Yegor Sharangovich, Justin Kirkland filled in on the fourth line with Kevin Rooney and Ryan Lomberg. Hunt could fill in for Rooney or Kirkland if needed, but it made little sense to bring in a developmental player for this replacement.
Does anyone really think playing limited minutes on the fourth line or watching from the press box is good for the likes of the prospects previously mentioned?
Pelletier (1-10-11 in 12 games) is playing heavy minutes and rediscovering his confidence with a strong Wranglers team. Kerins, the team’s scoring leader, is having a stellar season with nine goals and 12 points in a dozen games. Klapka is still developing and Duehr hasn’t shown he’s ready to make the jump. Honzek is going to be inched back in, and Stromberg needs to elevate a bit more at the AHL level before getting an NHL look.
Hunt was the perfect guy to come up on this road trip. Sometimes the timing and situation is as, or more, important than just injecting more youth into the lineup.
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