A young and promising player is back on the shelf.
On Thursday, the Calgary Flames announced that forward Jakob Pelletier is out day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
Pelletier was injured during the first period of the Flames’ game on Monday night against the New York Rangers. The 22-year-old was trying to exit the Calgary zone before he was met with a huge hit by Rangers captain Jacob Trouba.
Pelletier tried to return to the bench, but eventually went down the tunnel, and did not return to the game.
The collision was forceful, but the way Pelletier landed was awkward as well. The 2019 first-round pick was favoring his shoulder, which is a concern given how this season started for Pelletier.
Prior to the 2023-24 season, Pelletier underwent surgery on his left shoulder, the same shoulder Trouba ran into on Monday. Pelletier missed the first three months of the season, finally returning to action with the Flames’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Calgary Wranglers, last month. Pelletier played four games in the AHL, scoring two goals and an assist, before making his return to the Flames lineup on Feb. 6 against the Boston Bruins.
The Quebec native played in four games with Calgary, registering an assist against the New York Islanders in a 5-2 win last Saturday.
Pelletier is in the final year of his entry-level contract with the Flames, with an AAV of $863,333.
Pelletier has played just 28 games with the Flames across his first three seasons with the organization, scoring three goals and five assists. He has played 105 games in the AHL, dating back to when Calgary’s primary affiliate was in Stockton, California. He has scored 45 goals and 57 assists, including 17 points in 22 playoff appearances.
The Flames (25-23-5) return home on Thursday night to host the San Jose Sharks. They sit fifth in the Pacific Division, eight points back of the Edmonton Oilers for third, but are only three back of the St. Louis Blues for the last Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
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