Followers will bear in mind Darryl Sutter’s quip final season: ‘What quantity is he?’
It was a playful, and but simply pointed sufficient, shot on the outdated coach.
Pelletier needed to chunk his tongue on the time — Sutter was, nonetheless, slammed by many followers and analysts and the higher-ups on the Saddledome have been definitely not amused — however provided up a hilarious retort when requested Monday about his low season swap to No. 22.
“I believe it’s simpler for the coaches to know the No. 22 to the No. 49,” he quipped, flashing a large smile. “It’s a joke. I’m simply kidding, I’m simply kidding.”
There was loads of witty banter about Pelletier’s quantity swap, together with questions on whether or not the 22-year-old left-winger could be responsible of attempting to butter up one of many new bosses.
Fact is, when he requested for No. 22, he wasn’t conscious Craig Conroy had donned these digits for almost all of his NHL profession.
“I known as him in the summertime and I mentioned, ‘What quantity would you like?’ ” mentioned Conroy, now calling the pictures because the Flames’ basic supervisor. “And he mentioned, ‘Properly, if I may decide any quantity, I’d take 22.’ I mentioned, ‘Oooh, you could be kissing somewhat butt right here.’ He’s like, ‘What?’ I informed him, ‘That was my quantity!’ He didn’t know that.”
Pelletier’s new quantity is, certainly, a nod to one in every of his childhood heroes. Nevertheless it wasn’t Conroy.
As a teen in Quebec Metropolis, he rooted for the QMJHL’s Remparts. Round that point, Alexander Radulov was dazzling the gang on the Colisée.
Pelletier was 5 years outdated when Radulov led the Remparts to a Memorial Cup crown in 2006.
“He was my first idol,” Pelletier beamed. “When he was enjoying in Quebec Metropolis, he was like one of the best participant I’d ever seen. He was scoring all these targets and celly-ing like a loopy man and folks liked him.
“So after I was younger, I at all times wore No. 22. And my grandma (Anne-Marie), she loves it. Once I modified the quantity, I known as her and I mentioned, ‘ what? I simply received No. 22.’ And she or he mentioned, ‘Wow, that is superb. It’s going to be your 12 months!’ ”
That’s what everyone, from GM Conroy to Grandma Anne-Marie, is hoping for.
Whereas Pelletier remains to be classed as an NHL rookie, he launched himself with three targets and 4 assists in 24 appearances final season on the big-league degree. With the Flames dedicated to including some youthful exuberance to their every-night lineup, many assume he’s a shoo-in for a full-time spot this winter.
A primary-round decide within the 2019 NHL Draft, Pelletier has averaged practically a point-per-game within the minors and devoted additional time this summer time to bettering his shot.
“He is among the gamers that, once we have a look at him, can go up and down your lineup,” mentioned Ryan Huska, who succeeded Sutter as Calgary’s bench boss. “He has a very good skillset. He’s a really cerebral participant. He understands the sport very well, so you possibly can belief him along with your prime gamers and his potential to make performs.
“He’s additionally a man that we’re going to have a look at to create vitality. We’ve got talked lots concerning the guys who should push, and he’s one in every of them. He’s within the class of somebody that should carry that daily or another person will probably be ready to do it. In order that’s how we’re going to create some competitors. He’s an excellent participant who can play wherever in our lineup, I really feel like. Now, it’s as much as him to point out that all through the exhibition season.”
That’s Pelletier’s plan.
He was within the lineup for the house half of Monday’s spilt-squad matchup with the Seattle Kraken.
“My most important purpose is to start out the 12 months within the NHL,” he declared. “However for me, I believe it’s simply to daily be one of the best participant and be the man that works the toughest. After that, I believe issues are going to go properly.
“It’s bringing positivity, enjoying with tempo, attempting to create offensive probabilities. And simply to point out, whether or not I’m on the primary or fourth line, be a job man and present that I belong within the NHL and to go away little question for the coaches.”
The coaches have already observed one factor — that Pelletier is feeling extra comfy, extra like his chatterbox self, on this NHL setting.
Monday’s zinger is one other instance of that. It’s a distinction to final fall, when he appeared to tip-toe his manner by way of an underwhelming training-camp efficiency. As Huska put it: “While you checked out him final 12 months, he wasn’t himself early on as a result of he didn’t wish to ruffle feathers.”
“Once I’m shy, it’s not good for me,” Pelletier mentioned earlier this week. “ me, I’m a loud man. I’m a man who likes to joke round, to make individuals chortle. However once you don’t know the older guys, you don’t wish to be an excessive amount of, what I imply? I felt on the prior camps, I used to be not myself.
“If I’m extra like me off ice, I believe I’m going to be extra like me on the ice.”
He definitely had individuals laughing along with his one-liner after Monday’s morning skate.
That definitely received’t damage his standing as an rising fan favorite. You continue to see some No. 22 sweaters within the stands on the Saddledome, however perhaps it’s time for a brand new title on the again.
“He picked a very good quantity,” mentioned Conroy, who wore No. 22 for the Flames from 2000-04, with a wink. “Now, he has to stay as much as it, although.”