Flames notes: Teammates relieved to hear Pelletier’s injury is minor

Flames coach Ryan Huska on left-winger Jakob Pelletier: ‘We’re anticipating we’ll see him back sooner rather than later’

Kevin Rooney was wondering the same thing.

Which is why, as the Calgary Flames retreated to the visiting locker room for Monday’s first intermission in New York, the fourth-line forward was immediately searching for team physiotherapist Kent Kobelka.

Just like Jakob Pelletier, Rooney is freshly from recovered from shoulder surgery. So when Pelletier exited after absorbing a heavy hit from Rangers captain Jacob Trouba, his pal had a knot in his stomach.

“It was obviously a really tough first period for the whole team, and it’s something that was on my mind throughout the entire period is, ‘Hopefully, Pelts is OK,’ ” Rooney said. “The first thing I did when we got off the ice is go straight to the training room and ask Kent, ‘Is it the same thing?’ ”

It is not.

While Pelletier wasn’t on the ice for Wednesday’s practice at the Saddledome, the 22-year-old buzzsaw dodged serious injury on that hit from Trouba. He told fans at a meet-and-greet earlier this week that his left shoulder is no worse for wear. He is officially listed as day-to-day.

“We’re anticipating we’ll see him back sooner rather than later,” reported Flames head coach Ryan Huska. “Which is really good.”

Indeed, that’s a sigh of relief.

For a guy who’d missed nearly four full months, another extended injury absence would have made this a lost season.

“He’s put in a lot of work to come back,” said Flames forward Jonathan Huberdeau, who has become a close friend and mentor to his fellow Quebecer. “I was happy for him that it was minor, and not being a hard one. Gotta take care of my son.”

If there’s a positive to come out of Monday’s thump from Trouba, even if it means he’ll miss a short spell, perhaps it proves to Pelletier that his surgically repaired shoulder can withstand that sort of jolt.

“I think it was more just a mental thing — same shoulder, and trying to get over that,” Rooney said. “I was definitely really nervous for him. But maybe it’s good he got hit like that and now the whole surgery thing, he can be like, ‘OK, it’s all good.’ ”

WARM WELCOME

During a hilarious media scrum after Wednesday’s practice, Andrei Kuzmenko told reporters he is a big fan of the weather in his new home city.

The Russian right-winger arrived as part of that bye-week blockbuster with the Vancouver Canucks. On his previous visits to Calgary, he admittedly hadn’t done much exploring.

“I don’t walk, I stay in the hotel,” he said. “But now that I see, I like it. Every day, sun …

“But minus.”

Ah yes, it can be a little chilly.

So a curious reporter asked if Kuzmenko preferred a mix of sunshine and cold to … let’s say … more mild temperatures but frequent rain?

You know, like Vancouver.

Kuzmenko, 28, wasn’t touching that one. He giggled, made a zigzagging motion with his hand.

“What is this question?” he quipped. “Sorry, I don’t understand.”

Everybody howled.

If you followed the Flames during their four-game road trip, you already know that Kuzmenko brings a life-of-the-party personality.

He’ll formally introduce himself to the Saddledome crowd in Thursday’s showdown with the San Jose Sharks (7 p.m. MT, Sportsnet One/Sportsnet 960 The Fan).

“I do believe he’s going to be a fan favourite,” Huska said. “When people see the energy that he brings to the table … He’s always smiling, and people like that. It’s infectious.

“He has a skill-set about him, too, that I think will endear him to people around here. When the puck is on his stick, he wants to score and he knows that he can score, and that’s a good thing for an offensive player to have. He gives us another threat that we didn’t really have before, especially on our power-play.”

Kuzmenko has so far tallied twice with the Flames, but the new guy in No. 96 promised he has more to offer.

“First four games, for me, it’s some good plays, but I hope there is better,” Kuzmenko said. “My form, it’s a little not good, but every day I work. I understand what I can show on my ice. It’s not my maximum.”

ICE CHIPS: The Flames recalled Cole Schwindt from the AHL’s Wranglers. The 22-year-old forward was back with the farm team for just 24 hours, enough time to pot a power-play goal in Tuesday’s victory over the Manitoba Moose. He’ll sub for Pelletier against the Sharks … Backup goaltender Dan Vladar, currently on injured reserve with a lower-body injury, skated solo Wednesday morning.