Flames’ culture of accountability could leave veterans as healthy scratches

Follow| Archive

There was a time in the not-so-distant past when Calgary Flames players who were healthy scratches would sometimes elect not to skate on optional practice days, and a place in the lineup was given rather than earned.

In the 13 months since getting rehired by the franchise, head coach Darryl Sutter has sought to upend that culture into one of accountability, while general manager Brad Treliving has provided him with roster pieces to support that culture.

With the additions of Tyler Toffoli, Calle Jarnkrok, and, more recently, Ryan Carpenter, the Flames look like one of the deepest forward groups in the league, which might lead to respected veterans finding themselves on the sidelines.

Carpenter, billed as a defensively-responsible depth forward who can kill penalties, was skating on a line with Milan Lucic and Brett Ritchie at Thursday’s practice. Longtime Flame Sean Monahan and veteran Trevor Lewis were the extras ahead of tomorrow’s tilt versus the Arizona Coyotes.

Monahan was once a franchise centre, but could find himself on the outside of the lineup looking in. He has spent almost the whole season on the fourth line and has eight goals and 22 points in 63 games while going pointless in his past 14. Monahan started his Flames career by scoring 20 or more goals in seven consecutive seasons and is eighth in franchise history with 212 goals.

After the Toffoli acquisition, Monahan was bumped off the top power-play unit and has not seen any ice time on the man advantage the past two games. If he is out on Friday, it would be the first healthy scratch of Monahan’s nine-season career. Monahan was not made available to reporters on Thursday.

“Not the season he would like to have,” assistant coach Ryan Huska