It’s difficult to find critics when it comes to Martin Pospisil and his three-year, $7,500,000 deal with the Calgary Flames signed last week.
Carrying an annual average value of $2,500,000, Calgary’s resident burner already provides his dollar value just by winning pucks and flattening opponents for his teammates. The scrappy Slovak led his team for the second year in a row with 301 hits in 81 games. Flames General Manager Craig Conroy weighed in on Martin’s intangibles during an interview with Logan Gordon and Patrick Dumas on Sportsnet Today 960 on July 30.
“It’s just so important to be able to get in on forechecks, turn pucks over, and that’s what he does so well.”
While the organization and fans are already satisfied with Pospisil’s value away from the score sheet, the bar is set low for improving on just four goals and 21 assists for 25 points in 81 games in 2024-25.
Breaking out from a four goal season shouldn’t take much for Martin Pospisil, who found himself contriving plays all too often last season. Conroy weighed in on the 25 year old’s low goal production.
“Well, he needs to be selfish,” said the second-year GM. “That’s the problem. Like, I think he defers right at the end all the time.”
Given that Pospisil most frequent unit last year (291:30 TOI) was the first line with Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri; the coaching staff recognizes his value. Next comes getting to the net and potting a few more.
Most Common Linemates – Martin Pospisil – 5v5
Huberdeau & Kadri: 291:30
Kuzmenko & Kadri: 101:12
Frost & Sharangovich: 101:06
Zary & Kadri: 98:36
“That is what I (said in the) end of year meeting,” added Conroy on Martin’s latent scoring ability. “I said, “hey, four goals. I know I watch you every day in practice. You can score; you score all the time in practice. You got a great shot, great release, but you hesitate in a game or you don’t do it, or you try to force plays or force pucks.””
Extracurriculars
It also appears that the team plans to increase Martin Pospisil’s deployment on special teams. After all, his average time on ice last year, 13:48, was a little low for a guy whose most common line was L1.
“I think he could be a great penalty killer,” chimed Conroy during that same interview. “And you know, in the American league, he was really good at the net front and the power play. So you might even see him there. So, he’s just a versatile guy that can play pretty much anywhere in your lineup and special teams too.”
Last season, Pospisil played a meagre 0:50 per game on the power play—ranking him 15th among forwards. The 25 year old played a total of 68:02 over 81 games and put up five power play points. One goal and four assists. With a defined role and increased repetition, we can expect to see a jump in all categories.
As for his time killing penalties; it barely existed last season. With a defined group of Backlund, Coleman, Kevin Rooney and Huberdeau, Pospisil was an out of the rotation. Martin played a total of 5:58 and averaged four seconds of PK per game. For what it’s worth, Martin survived that limited amount of time without allowing a goal.
Kevin Rooney’s departure leaves a 131:53-sized hole of PK time to be replaced internally in 2025-26. Time will tell whether it’s Pospisil, Joel Farabee, or even Yegor Sharangovich seizing that fourth spot, but it’s fair to say that management sees the future Olympian as a contender.
On the shots that he did take, Pospisil carried a questionably low 3.5 shooting percentage. The season prior, he shot at 6.8%, which is still notably low. It would be a challenge to continue firing below 5% next year. With what Craig Conroy and Co. appear to have planned for the 2018 fourth round pick in terms of deployment, we could be in for a big year from Martin Pospisil.
“So, I’m hoping he starts to take that and we get him on some of those special teams as we move forward this year.”
Stats via Puckpedia, Elite Prospects, and the National Hockey League.
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Thanks for the content Fry!!!
Pospisil on the PK should work well. I wonder if he did not have some sort of upper-body injury last year that affected his shooting. 3.5 shooting percentage is very low.
I think Honzek will make the team again out of camp. He was great last year till he was injured. Is there anyone else who steps up and makes Conroy’s life more difficult?
Are the Flames any tougher/meaner this year?
It’s a great question. Maybe Adam Klapka grows into his frame a little more. Chances are good that Lomberg dresses for 60 or less games.