During his short time with the Calgary Flames, Jakob Pelletier became a fan favourite among the younger players. His close relationship with fellow Quebec product Jonathan Huberdeau, along with his unique goal celebration of kissing his teammates on the head. Pelletier was drafted 26th overall back in 2019 and spent parts of three seasons with the Flames since making his debut on January 21, 2023.
After a season back in major juniors and a season of pro hockey under his belt, Pelletier was called up to the NHL midway through the season on January 7, 2023. He would spend six games as a scratch before making his NHL debut on January 21, 2023, against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“What number is he?”
Pelletier played seven minutes in his first game, during which he recorded one shot on goal and delivered one hit. After the game, both fans and media were unimpressed with then-head coach Darryl Sutter’s treatment of the young forward. When asked about Pelletier’s debut, Sutter questioned, “What number is he?” and merely recited his stat line without offering any congratulations for his first NHL game.
The reaction to Sutter’s comments, along with Pelletier being a healthy scratch for six games between his call-up and his debut, did not sit well with many fans. This situation drew some comparisons to how Matthew Phillips was managed earlier in the season.
On February 11, 2023, in a 7–2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, Pelletier scored his first NHL goal, sparking a seven-goal explosion after being down 2–0 at the end of the first period.
Pelletier would alternate in and out of the lineup during the remaining games that season, which included some time back in the AHL. He played 24 games, scoring three goals and totalling seven points.
Pelletier’s injury hurdles
Near the end of the 2023 preseason, Pelletier suffered a shoulder injury during one of the final games and would require three months to recover after undergoing shoulder surgery. Following his recovery, he made his return to the NHL after a conditioning stint with the Wranglers. Unfortunately, his comeback was short-lived. He re-injured his shoulder after receiving a hit from Jacob Trouba, having appeared in just 13 games with the Flames.
Full of love
After a lacklustre preseason to start the 2024–25 season, the 23-year-old was placed on waivers and sent down to the AHL. Many fans, including myself, were anxious that we would lose the former first-round pick for nothing. Fortunately, Pelletier cleared and joined the Wranglers to start the season.
He was red hot with the Wranglers, scoring three goals and recording 19 points in 20 games before being recalled by the Flames in December. Fans were excited to see the young player back with the big club and looked forward to the excitement he would bring to the team.
The heartwarming father-son dynamic between Jonathan Huberdeau and his infectious laughter, especially in response to his two-goal performance earlier in January against the Chicago Blackhawks. Fans were also excited about the winger’s new tradition. This season, after scoring goals, Pelletier would give a big kiss on the goal scorer’s helmet. However, the most notable kiss occurred when he kissed the head of Sportsnet’s Ryan Leslie following a post-game interview.
Although it’s sad to see this fan favourite traded away, I am excited to see what the addition of Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee will bring to this team.
Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire
