KLAPKA WORKING HARD FOR A SECOND CHANCE
Big Wranglers winger impressing Flames with physical play and improving offence
Long after his Calgary Wranglers teammates had left the ice at Winsport, Adam Klapka skated alone.
On this particular day, Klapka obsessively fired shots at the net and then skated — hard — up and down the ice. To an outsider's eyes, the 23-year-old looked like a man possessed.
And maybe, to a certain extent, that's exactly what Klapka is.
He's having a great season with the Wranglers and has taken a big step from his rookie year in the AHL.
His play earned him a call-up to the Calgary Flames in January, when he appeared in four games for the NHL club.
It was an eye opener, as you might expect.
But the experience has been fuelling Klapka ever since. It's his motivation for that extra time on the ice and in the gym.
“It showed me there's so much work to do,” Klapka said. “For me, I think I could do a little bit better than I played. I was a little disappointed with myself after a couple games.
“Obviously, it's the best league in the world and we're playing with the best guys in the world. I'm just trying to do my best to get on that level and hope that one day I get one more call-up and I can show what I can do.”
That Klapka struggled to make an impact during his first run of NHL games is no indictment of his talent or potential. The league's relentless pace of play and the talent that every single player possesses makes it a tough transition for most of the young guys who are trying to make the leap.
In his four games with the Flames, Klapka didn't record a point. His ice time was limited, but there were definite positives and a few moments where he managed to effectively use his big 6-foot-8, 235-pound frame.
The challenge now is finding ways to do that on every single shift at the NHL level.
That's where the work comes in.
“I really appreciate the chance to play and it showed me the little things I have to work on,” Klapka said. “That's what I'm trying to do at practice, just get back all the things I think I should be better at.”
Fortunately for Klapka, putting in the work has never been a problem.
Wranglers coaches raved about the strides he took in his first season as he learned to be a professional and found his game at the AHL level. That has continued in Year 2 as he's found his footing as a more reliable offensive contributor.
He's already soared past his season total numbers from last season, scoring 14 goals and adding 19 assists in 33 games for the Wranglers. That he's a plus-11 and has added four game-winning goals is impressive, as well.
“There's a big learning curve, for sure, for a young man like him,” said Flames head coach Ryan Huska back in January. “What he's done in the games is try to finish hits, you see him handling the puck a little bit more. We have to make sure that it's every shift that he's consistent with that, and that's part of learning and growing as an NHL player.”
It's worth noting, too, that Klapka has been absolutely redhot for the Wranglers recently.
If the Flames need a call-up, he's surely on the shortlist, especially after he picked up seven points in four games before Sunday afternoon's contest at the Saddledome between the Wranglers and the Ontario Reign.
That's the type of stretch that gets people's attention and doesn't happen without the work Klapka continues to put into his game.
It's the best league in the world ... I'm just trying to do my best to get on that level and hope that one day I get one more call-up.