Yegor Sharangovich will be back on the ice Friday night after watching the last two games from the press box.
The Calgary Flames forward returns to the lineup against the Winnipeg Jets after being a healthy scratch for the past two games, head coach Ryan Huska confirmed after the team’s Friday morning skate.
Forward Justin Kirkland will come out of the lineup to make room for Sharangovich.
Sharangovich, 27, has just an assist through the first six games of the season and is a minus-3. Last season, he had 17 goals and 32 points in 73 games, a noticeable dip from the 31 goals and 59 points he had in 82 games in the 2023-24 season.
His performance during the 2023-24 season earned him a five-year, $28.75-million deal ($5.75 million AAV) in July 2024.
Sportsnet analyst Kevin Bieksa criticized Sharangovich for failing to finish a check on William Karlsson late in the game during an intermission report on Saturday’s Hockey Night in Canada.
“I would absolutely lose my mind if I saw that on the bench,†said Bieksa.
“Thatâ€s a culture thing for me. I would show that clip in practice and say, ‘Where are my guys that care?†Play the guys that care. If youâ€re going to get an effort like that, get rid of him. Youâ€re disgracing the NHL with an effort like that. Be a little mad. Hate to lose. That guy doesnâ€t hate to lose.Â
“You have so many good young players … you have a young nucleus and you canâ€t have them poisoned by that type of behaviour.”
In some good news for the slumping Flames, Huska said Nazem Kadri is “totally good” after the forward missed practice on Thursday.
After winning their season opener against the Edmonton Oilers, the Flames have managed just one point over their last seven games and sit dead last in the NHL.
You can watch the Flames try and get back in the win column against the Jets live on Sportsnet West and Sportsnet+ starting at 8 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. MT.
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