In the heart of Calgary, Adam Klapka has been making waves, quite literally, as the towering 6-foot-8 Czech forward is vying for a spot on the Calgary Flames’ opening-night roster.
Klapka’s presence was felt as he notched his third goal in as many games and delivered bone-crushing hits to propel the Flames to a 4-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks in an NHL pre-season showdown on Saturday.
Speaking about his growing confidence on the ice, Klapka shared, “When I get here from Europe, every game I get more comfortable with the puck. Same thing here, I just feel more and more confident with the puck on my stick.”
Having been signed out of Europe as a free agent in 2022, Klapka is now in his third season with the Flames’ organization. With 125 AHL games under his belt and having made a mark in six NHL games last season with his first goal, Klapka has certainly caught the attention of his teammates.
“He’s impressed me,” remarked Ryan Lomberg, who also had a goal and an assist in the game. “I don’t even know how tall he is, however tall this ceiling is just about, and he can move, he can make plays, he can shoot, he’s physical. It’s exciting stuff.”
Klapka’s crucial goal late in the second period proved to be the game-winner, showcasing his offensive capabilities. But it was not just his scoring prowess that stood out; his physicality was a force to be reckoned with. From a bone-jarring hit on Nils Aman in the first period to a heavy collision with defenceman Akito Hirose in the third that saw Hirose needing assistance off the ice, Klapka’s presence was felt all over the ice.
Flames coach Ryan Huska lauded the effort of Klapka, Lomberg, and centre Kevin Rooney, emphasizing the importance of their gritty style of play.
“Tonight was a good snapshot of it. They’re a group of guys that have to be hard to play against,” Huska explained. “They have to make it uncomfortable on defencemen, knowing that, oh my goodness, these guys are coming again, and with that, I think they’re going to drag people into the game with them, like they did tonight.”
Looking ahead, Lomberg expressed his anticipation of playing alongside Klapka more, hinting at more exciting performances to come from the towering Czech forward.
