Flames’ Elias Lindholm adjusts to life without old linemates

CALGARY — There had to be moments this summer when Calgary Flames center Elias Lindholm wondered if it was something he said.

After anchoring the NHL’s hottest line last season, the Swedish star watched from overseas this summer as his two linemates took turns leaving the organization.

And while Flames fans rejoiced as Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar and Nazem Kadri replaced Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk, the orphaned center knew he would return to Calgary with many unknowns surrounding his new wingers.

While the hockey world expects the man on his left to be Huberdeau, coach Darryl Sutter said a few weeks ago the first piece of the puzzle will determine whether the Panthers’ longtime playmaker is a better match for Lindholm or Kadri.

Huberdeau, Lindholm and Tyler Toffoli spent the first three days of camp together, and while all three are optimistic they’ll find chemistry together, Lindholm shrugged when asked if he’d felt it yet.

“Honestly, with the drills that we’re doing out there, it’s difficult to create the chemistry,” he said.

“But he’s a good player and it’s easy to play with good players. It will be fun to launch games soon. And from there we will see.”

The trio didn’t get much traction in Saturday’s scrimmage and hope to start the process Sunday night when the Flames host Vancouver to open the preseason with a split-squad game.

So what’s the key to trying to find some semblance of the magic Lindholm had with his former friends?

“Just have fun out there, get it going and get Johnny used to the new system and stuff like that,” said Lindholm, who posted a career-high 42 goals and 82 points last season.

“You could tell he’s a top player in the league with that extra puck security and plays. He also seems like a really nice guy. I look forward to starting with him.”

Sutter believes that building that chemistry involves getting to know each other off the ice.

“It’s no different than having your friends at school – same idea,” the coach said.

Speaking to reporters for the first time since the club’s summer disaster, Lindholm was asked what he thought of losing his two wingers.

“It was definitely a rollercoaster ride,” he laughed.

“Obviously Johnny had an opportunity to go somewhere else and Chucky wanted a new challenge and try something different. This is the NHL, this is the business part of it.

“I felt management did a really good job of putting us in a good position and having a really good team again this year.”

GREAT FIRST IMPRESSIONS

The Flames have their first standout performance at training camp, and it’s not just because he’s 6’2″ and weighs 245 pounds.

Adam Klapka picked up where he left off in the team’s prospect camp by opening Saturday’s first red-and-white scrimmage with a snipe that left the dozens in attendance grumbling.

The towering right winger entered the offensive zone with plenty of speed, stuttering the defender with a sweet move before targeting Dustin Wolf, a keeper he’s 75 pounds on, with a snapper shortside.

The sequence got everyone on Team White’s bench buzzing.

“He was pretty great at Penticton too – he was the best player at that camp for our group,” Sutter said of the 22-year-old Czech winger, who signed a two-year entry-level contract this summer.

“He moves really well for a big man. Usually, when you think of NHLers that size, tall guys often take two or three years for their skating to catch up with their bodies, and vice versa. At the moment that doesn’t seem to be a problem.”
Shockingly high praise from the boss.

Klapka was signed in May after scoring six goals and providing 12 assists in 44 games for the Czech league’s Bili Tygri Liberec.

Prior to that, the undrafted Prague native spent two seasons with the USHL’s Tri-City Storm.

Green as he is, no one expects him to be in contention for an NHL roster this season, but his size and accurate shot make him an intriguing addition to the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers this year.

SCRIMMAGE NOTES

The game ended 2-1 with Clark Bishop and Sonny Milano scoring for Team Red while Cody Eakin made a nice play from behind the net to set up Milano, his fellow PTO. Klapka’s goal was the only marker for Team White… Goaltenders Dan Vladar, Oscar Dansk and Wolf rotated at either end of the ice throughout the scrimmage, including several spontaneous substitutions… After a full period of 5-on-5 games, two teams played a shorter second period of 4-on-4 before returning to 5-on-5 for a shortened third period… Nikita Zadorov drew a lot of attention with his physicality while Klapka’s goal and hands caught the eye in the skills department… Matthew Phillips, still listed at an unfathomable 140 pounds, still has the silkiest mittens and is a delight to watch with the puck… Celebrities who didn’t dress included Chris Tanev and Kadri, who appeared throughout Camp also be used sparingly as injured Andrew Mangiapane and Oliver Kylington (not at camp due to personal reasons). Jacob Markstrom was also cleared… Only a few fans were in the building as the organization was holding a seat-buying event for Wranglers tickets.

SATURDAY LINE COMBINATIONS

team red
Huberdeau-Lindholm-Toffoli
Dube-Backlund-Coleman
Eakin-Zary-Milan
Sutter-Bischof-Duhr
Hanifin-Andersson
Mackey-Weegar
Poirier-Poolman

Team White
Lucic Rooney Ritchi
Pelletier-Ruzicka-Phillips
Pospisil-Schwindt-Lewis
McLain-Jones-Klapka
Zadorov-Meloche
Valimaki stone
Gilbert-DeSimone