Calgary Flames forward Martin Pospisil has found himself trudging through the infamous “sophomore slump.” His lack of consistent production has caused him to bounce around the lineup and not have a permanent home. Could the lack of production be a cause for concern or is this part of the development ride?
The first impression is everything
Pospisil’s call-up to the NHL was unexpected. The then 23-year-old was called up from the Calgary Wranglers after Jakob Pelletier and Kevin Rooney both required surgery that would sideline them for months.
There was no indication he would be the next man up as he missed most of the previous season recovering from his fifth concussion. He and Connor Zary were recalled from the Calgary Wranglers on November 3, 2023, and made their debut the next day against the Seattle Kraken. As fate would have it, Pospisil recorded his first NHL goal. He then earned eight goals and sixteen assists through 63 games.
There was a sense of life breathed into the Flames lineup upon his arrival. Not only did he bring a sense of urgency and energy to the lineup, but he brought a physicality that had been sorely lacking. That comes at a cost.
Pospisil was no stranger to throwing big hits or extracurricular activities a la Matthew Tkachuk. He earned his first suspension after a dangerous boarding hit on Vince Dunn. He got acquainted with the penalty boxes around the league. Pospisil racked up 109 penalty minutes in 63 games.
His production did become more sporadic and inconsistent as the season went on. At times, it appeared he was more concerned with the physicality than scoring. Pospisil is not the Matt Rempe of the Calgary Flames. He can score and drive the net. There is no reason for headhunting to be the top priority.
The Sophomore Slump hits hard
His 2024–25 campaign has been underwhelming. He currently has just three goals and thirteen assists through fifty games. Recently, Pospisil was on a line with Yegor Sharangovich and recently traded Andrei Kuzmenko. Sharangovich missed a handful of games to start the season and has managed to surpass Pospisil with eighteen points in forty-seven games.
Based on the eye test alone, Pospisil isn’t shooting enough. There is some overpassing happening. This could be because he’s misreading the plays or what may be a lack of confidence.
According to Hockey-Reference.com, his shooting percentage is down from 6.8% to 4.5%. This is something that should be circled in red marker and underlined. The Flames’ main struggle is scoring and generating offence. It could be a serious issue if he continues to trend in this direction.
Pospisil has rotated through the lineup after struggling with consistency. Early on in the season, he took several costly penalties. The penalties were typically avoidable and undisciplined and came late in the game. The Flames couldn’t stay out of their own way.
The Flames have clawed their way out of the hole and are on the verge of third place in the Pacific. Ryan Huska is a big proponent of shaking things up even if they’re working and I am curious if we will see Pospisil back with his former linemates Nazem Kadri and Connor Zary at some point. It doesn’t need to be a long-term solution but it could be a good jumpstart for the second half of the season.
A cause for concern
Martin Pospisil has a lengthy concussion history. The symptoms got so severe during his recovery that he contemplated retirement. All it takes is one bad hit and his career could be over. It isn’t a secret. He is fully aware of this. Could he be walking on eggshells and being extra careful? It could make sense for the lack of confidence. On the other hand, you would hope his experience would lead him to not make as many dangerous hits. There are consequences for his actions.
As the Flames continue through this transitional phase, they may need to reassess how they utilize Pospisil. He may not fit the middle-six role they originally intended, and Pospisil may never be a 30-goal scorer but there is certainly hope for him at the NHL level.
