Flames recall Jakob Pelletier and Walker Duehr from the Wranglers, place Brett Ritchie on injury reserve

It’s the first recall of the season for both Pelletier and Duehr, and the first recall for Pelletier ever. Duehr was recalled for a spell last season.

Pelletier, 21, is in the second year of his entry-level contract. So far, he’s been excellent. A fixture in the top six for the Wranglers (and before that, the Heat), he’s accumulated 15 goals and 34 points in 31 AHL games this season, and 42 goals and 96 points in 97 AHL games in his short career. He was the Flames’ first-round pick in 2019, and has become first over the boards in most game situations in the AHL.

Duehr, 25, is in the second year of his ELC as well. He’s a really fun energy player, with great speed and occasionally really good hands. (His speed has been referred to by scouts as NHL-level, while everything else is at least decent.) He has 10 goals and 16 points in 31 AHL games this season, and 21 goals and 49 points in 90 AHL games in his career. He was a college free agent signing in 2021.

Ritchie suffered an upper body injury on New Year’s Eve, so his assignment to the IR is retroactive to the next day, Jan. 1. He’s already been hurt for the length of time players are required to be on the IR, so he can come off the IR whenever he’s cleared. In the meantime, the Flames get a little bit of roster flexibility for their trip.

The Flames now have a full 23-player roster: two goaltenders, seven defencemen and 14 forwards. They begin their road trip on Sunday in Chicago.