It\u2019s pretty easy to notice Adam Klapka whenever he\u2019s on the ice.<\/p>\n
But the assembled media at Flames training camp let out a collective gasp Saturday when Klapka, carrying the puck through the neutral zone during a drill, tried a spin-o-rama in an effort to get past his defender.<\/p>\n
He was tripped, the rep went for naught, but the effort alone suggests that after 31 games in the Show a season ago, Klapka has returned to Calgary feeling pretty good about his game.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I feel good,\u201d the 6-foot-8 winger said with an ear-to-ear grin. \u201cYou know, it’s hard practicing, but it has to be like that. It’s a new season and new people came in, and they fight for a spot.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s the same, like last year, (I) just play my game and take it day by day.\u201d<\/p>\n
At 25, Klapka has progressed since arriving in the Stampede City three years ago as a free-agent signing. So much so, the Czech forward earned 31 NHL appearances in 2024-25, during which he chipped in with six goals and 10 points.<\/p>\n
But despite those NHL games played, Klapka\u2019s arrived at camp still feeling like he has a lot to prove.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne hundred percent,\u201d he said. \u201cI mean, I’ve just played 37 (career NHL) games, so I mean, it’s so much I have to prove.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe second (full NHL) season, it’s always harder, so I’m trying to be ready for it and we’ll see how it goes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Klapka\u2019s mix of size and skill offers a unique package within the Flames forward corps, though.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a sense of versatility with him – and other Calgary forwards – that excites head coach Ryan Huska, and also offers him the chance to tinker with different forward combinations to suit unique situations.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think up front, that’s basically what our team is: I think any given night, a player can be Adam Klapka, he can be bumped up to a first line play with Nazem Kadri, and end up scoring a goal and having a fight and having three big hits and being the first star in a game,\u201d Huska explained earlier this week. \u201cThere’s also situations where Adam’s going to be a hard, straight line fourth line guy, and I feel like we have a lot of players that fit that mould.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to play every way they\u2019re going to tell me, I\u2019m happy that I can play,\u201d Klapka added. \u201cIt doesn’t matter which line it is.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to be good, you have to play smart whether you play first or fourth line. So if the opportunity comes (to play up the lineup), I will be ready.\u201d<\/p>\n
This week at camp, Klapka has found himself on a line with Ryan Lomberg and Martin Pospisil, a three-man unit that has the makings of a group that can cause havoc on the ice and chip in at both ends of the rink.<\/p>\n
That suits Klapka just fine, too.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s awesome. I played a lot with Lomberg last year, I just played one game with Pospy, but we all know that if we’re gonna play our roles and what we can do on the ice, we can be successful, he said. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be fun to play with them because it’s going to be hard (for opponents) to play against, also.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean that’s the goal of our line – to be hard to play against -and I think we’re all able to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n