On the Rise: Jakob Pelletier
The Flames' new spark plug
Roster upheaval. Darryl Sutter’s grating personality. Jonathan Huberdeau’s record-setting point drop. Poor goaltending. There was no shortage of reasons for the Calgary Flames’ disappointing 2022-23 campaign.
No matter the culprit, the team just seemed…flat last season. Like it was running out the clock on its bench boss.
Jakob Pelletier ran on a different wavelength. Despite modest production (7 points in 24 games), his late-January call-up provided a jolt to whichever line he joined—and the Flames would do well to embrace that energy if they wish to reenter the playoff picture under new head coach Ryan Huska.
Here’s how the 22-year-old drags his teammates into the fight.
Puck Pursuit
At 5’9” and 170 pounds, Pelletier isn’t the prototypical forechecker. However, his motor is the great equalizer. The 2019 first-round pick proved such a dogged and fearless competitor following his arrival from the AHL that he vaulted from the fourth line to the top six within two games.
The young winger compensates for his limited reach and strength with feet that never stop churning. He has to dive headlong into the fire to give himself a chance in battle, but he appears to welcome the heat. It’s no wonder he fell into Sutter’s good graces so quickly. Any coach would be swayed by that level of commitment to their cause.
Pelletier (CGY 49) couples his dizzying work rate with a finely tuned nose for the puck, and he sticks it right in the middle of the action:
This is the definition of going the extra mile. His blistering pace, nimble hands and unwavering determination fluster more imposing opponents. They’re overwhelmed at the point of attack.
It’s not all hustle, though. Timing is a key part of the equation. Since the diminutive Pelletier is unlikely to win many 50/50 engagements, he’s developed a talent for swooping in at the opportune moment. He uses his wheels and shorter stature to his advantage, only springing forward when he can outrace his mark or dip around them to claim the inside track.
He may not always grab the biscuit himself, but that’s neither here nor there. His main concern is disruption. He’s a fun-sized agent of chaos.
Pelletier generated plenty of it in his 24-game stint last year. Defenses were often caught between recovering the puck and breaking it out, which allowed the Flames to turn their forecheck into scoring chances:
On this sequence, Pelletier zips into the corner to contest Scott Harrington’s (ANA 17) retrieval. He then occupies Anaheim’s defenders long enough for Elias Lindholm (CGY 28) to throw his hat in the ring. Sensing that his linemate has sealed off the left wall, he slides over to the right side, intercepts Derek Grant’s (ANA 38) pass and dishes to Tyler Toffoli (CGY 73) in the slot.
While he doesn’t knock opponents off the puck, he deploys his smarts and elbow grease to drown them in pressure. As a result, he ranked second among Flames forwards in takeaways.
More importantly, the team itself dominated the shot attempt battle during his 5-on-5 shifts:
Calgary performed at its very best—and at a level that rivaled the Hurricanes’ otherworldly CF%—when Pelletier was on the ice because he wouldn’t take or afford his opposition a breather.
His all-gas, no-brakes ethos forced his linemates out of second gear.
Close-Range Offense
Pelletier’s too-close-for-comfort habits apply to his offensive contributions as well. Consider where his shots originated from in 2022-23:
He may have produced at a stellar clip in the minors (99 points in 101 games) and carry first-round pedigree, but he’s well aware that his collar is blue. He drives the net with reckless abandon, hunting for tips, rebounds and the sort of tight-area looks that cause scramble drills.
Once again, he doesn’t back down from anyone. You’ll routinely spot him jostling with the big trees, getting knocked to the ice, getting back up and getting back to business. He refuses to quit.
As you might expect, that persistence is difficult to contain:
Equipped with excellent hand-eye coordination and a chip on his shoulder, Pelletier established himself as the club’s top net-front presence as a rookie. He’s just as active in these situations as he is on the forecheck, spinning away from defenders to present his blade as a viable deflection target or swiveling his hips open to settle onto his shooting platform.
His liveliness in the trenches ensures that he’s ready and available for whatever comes his way. Of course, he doesn’t merely stand at the lip of the crease and wait. His slight build would doom him to failure.
Instead, Pelletier slips in and out of focus, flooding the deep slot for a few beats and then regrouping to attack with more velocity. His tempo and location are fluid, and this keep defenders guessing.
Watch his clever pathing against the Bruins:
He’s initially covered by Tomas Nosek (BOS 92) on the weak side, but he notices that the forward intends to collapse toward the backdoor option. Rather than overloading that plot and smothering an entry pass, he cuts in on a dime to reveal a cleaner corridor.
Pelletier combines stubborn net-front play with slippery off-puck movement. He’s endlessly probing, jabbing, feeling defenses out from a variety of (close) ranges.
Consequently, he ranked third on the club in high-danger chances. Better yet, his offensive tendencies manufacture premium bids for his entire five-man unit. The Flames were most threatening when he hopped over the boards:
Although Pelletier may not pile up the points, they should trickle in at a steadier clip going forward. After all, do we really expect him to post a team-worst OISH% every year? A full season in the top nine should unclog his output and offer a clearer idea of his ceiling.
His impact extends beyond the score sheet anyway. Much like in puck pursuit, he’s there to tenderize the opposition and let his teammates eat.
Calgary won’t find another Matthew Tkachuk or Johnny Gaudreau in the near future, but it can fill those voids by returning to—and rallying around—its roots. It can play harder, faster, grittier.
Pelletier is one player who can help lead that charge. The shortest player on the ice never short-changes you on effort.