Calgary Flames recall forward Adam Klapka from AHL’s Wranglers

A product of Praha, Czechia, Klapka is a 23-year-old right shot forward. He’s a big boy, listed at 6’8″ and 235 pounds. He isn’t so much a crash-and-bang winger, so much as he’s a pretty mobile big man that uses his body size, along with his wingspan and stick length to play an effective 200-foot game. He won’t plow anybody through the end boards, but he’s good at angling, stick-checking, and just generally being big and a pain to get out of particular parts of the ice. (Daily Faceoff’s Mike Gould refers to him as a “golden retriever” in terms of temperament.)

Originally signed as a free agent by the Flames in the 2022 off-season, Klapka’s played two seasons in the Flames’ system and has progressed pretty nicely after an initial adjustment period. After posting 13 goals and 25 points in 60 games in 2022-23, he’s amassed 21 goals and 45 points over 64 games this season. He’s been recalled to the NHL previously, and has zero points over four games with the Flames this season.

In short: Klapka’s been equal parts effective and consistent for the Wranglers this season – and heck, basically since the calendar flipped over from 2022 to 2023. This recall gives him potentially a couple additional games to see how he could fit in with the Flames’ NHL group moving forward. The Wranglers don’t play again until the weekend, so it seems likely that Klapka will be returned to the AHL at the conclusion of the NHL season without needing to miss any AHL games.

Klapka’s recall bumps the Flames’ active roster to 27 players: three goaltenders, nine defencemen and 15 forwards. (This includes Dan Vladar, who’s out for the season.)

The Flames are back in action on Tuesday when they visit the Vancouver Canucks.