Flames recall Hunter Brzustewicz, await injury update on Jake Bean

The Calgary Flames’ last defence call-up has emerged as a major success story.

Hunter Brzustewicz, who was summoned Monday from the AHL’s Wranglers, is now aiming to write a similar script.

For the past month, Brzustewicz has been watching as his blue-line buddy Yan Kuznetsov has established himself as a full-timer with the Flames.

“It’s awesome to see him,” Kuznetsov beamed Monday after Brzustewicz received a promotion of his own. “I think he deserves it big-time.”

For a big chunk of last season, these two skated side-by-side on the Wranglers’ top pairing.

They won’t be reunited as partners, with Kuznetsov now entrenched alongside MacKenzie Weegar, but this is a prime opportunity for Brzustewicz to show that he, too, is ready for an every-night role in the NHL.

While the 21-year-old righty — he celebrated a birthday in late November — was a healthy scratch for Monday’s matchup with the Buffalo Sabres, head coach Ryan Huska promised “he will get his chance soon.”

The timeline could hinge on the health of Jake Bean. According to Huska, Bean is “dealing with something” and was “being evaluated” during morning skate.

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“(Brzustewicz) has been playing well for the Wranglers,” Huska praised. “He’s a good young prospect that we have. I think over the stretch of a regular season, you want to, one, reward guys for playing well and, two, see if he has improved the things that we’ve asked him to work on.”

Brzustewicz has registered four goals and a dozen points in 23 games this fall at the AHL level. When you ask about his improvements as a sophomore pro, there is one word that he always mentions — “maturity.” As he told Postmedia last month: “I think I’ve taken a big step in that area.”

The Wranglers were in California this weekend when Brzustewicz learned he’d be flying home a little earlier than the rest of his minor-league teammates.

“It’s good to be noticed,” he said. “I feel good about my game right now, and hopefully just keep building.

“Anytime you get in this league, you never know when it’s going to be your last (opportunity) so you just have to make every single day count and just be joyful to be here. I’m just super grateful. Honestly, it’s just awesome.”

Brzustewicz has, to date, logged one NHL appearance.

Sound familiar?

When Kuznetsov was called up in early November, he had that same number on his stat sheet.

While they play a much different style, with Brzustewicz less of a shutdown sort and more of a factor in the offensive zone, Huska believes that he can learn a thing or two from Kuznetsov’s recipe for NHL success.

“One is the patience that you have to stay with it and keep believing in yourself when you’re not with us,” Huska said. “And two, stay in your lane, if you will. There is a certain style that we expect him to play when he’s here. You don’t have to be something different than what you are, even at the American League level. We expect him to move the puck really well when he’s here and we expect him to play with pace.

“But he doesn’t have to go out there and do something that is extraordinary that wows everybody every single time he steps on the ice. That’s not it. And Kuzy has done an excellent job of that, really recognizing the player that he is and how he can help our team be successful.”

wgilbertson@postmedia.com

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