A.J. Greer was happily living in Boston, where he had lived when he was younger during his year and a half at university. “A very nice place for me and my family,” in his words.
On the ice too, the Joliettain found his account, within the team which set a record for the number of points in a season.
But then, overnight, life changed. The Bruins placed him on waivers at the end of camp, the Calgary Flames claimed him and here he is, a month later, in the visitors’ locker room at the Bell Centre, at the end of his club’s morning skate , a few hours before a duel against the Canadian.
“It wasn’t fun,” Greer recalled Tuesday morning. I loved playing there. I was very disappointed, especially with the fact that last year, I had held my own, I had been a good teammate, I had waited my turn. This year, I was ready to take another step. These are business decisions, it’s boring. »
To add to their woes, the Bruins continued their momentum from last season and are the best team in the NHL thus far, with a record of 14-1-2. Meanwhile, the Flames are weathering one storm after another and come in 30th overall, ahead of only the Oilers and the destitute Sharks.
But Greer still gets what he wants.
“I knew there was interest in me elsewhere in the league, I know what I can bring to a team. The Flames took a chance on me. I’m happy to be in an organization where there is room, and which values what I bring to a team. So far, things are going very well, I’m bringing my power forward game and I’ve produced some attack. I try to bring toughness to all three zones every night. »
Greer, a 6-foot-3, 209-pound colossus, has four points (two goals, two assists) in 13 games so far. Although his usage is limited (8:55 per game), he has handed out 23 hits. The Quebecer should form a duo with Dillon Dube and Yegor Sharangovich on Tuesday evening.
The 26-year-old forward will do it in an amphitheater where he has only played twice in the NHL, but which he has often visited in plenty of contexts. “It’s a really nice feeling. I played here when I was young, a novice and a pee-wee, in matches organized by the Canadian. My brother [Christopher James] was in Disney on Ice, I saw his shows. Every time I come here, it’s childhood memories. »
It will be another reunion night for Sean Monahan and the Flames. The Canadiens center faced his former team for the first time last fall; he had arrived at the Saddledome with a protective boot on his foot. A week later, he raised the white flag and had not played again all season.
This season’s Monahan looks healthy so far. Even though his line is currently experiencing a slump, Monahan ranks 2nd among the Canadiens with 13 points in 15 games, he plays in all phases of the game and wins 59% of his faceoffs.
Ryan Huska, new head coach of the Flames, was previously an assistant in Calgary. In his first season behind the bench, in 2018-2019, he saw Monahan pile up 82 points, his best offensive season in the NHL. Health problems then slowed down number 91.
“We know he draws quickly, his shot is elite,” said Huska. But he added to his game in a lot of ways, on faceoffs and playing a little more shorthanded. When he was with us, he was an important part of the team and a very good person. His level has risen this year and I’m happy to see that, even if I hope it doesn’t happen tonight. He’s a good person. »
Jacob Markström takes his place in front of the Flames net for this duel. The giant is not having the start hoped for so far with a record of 2-6-1 and an efficiency of .896.