James: I Was Wrong About Jakob Pelletier

While they’re not astronomical numbers, Pelletier had six points (3G, 3A) in his final eight games with the Flames. For a player who played about 15 minutes per game, that’s not bad.

Then of course, the trade occurred. Pelleteir had visa issues, so he was unable to get cleared to come to America before play paused for the 4 Nations break, resulting in just under a month without playing competitive hockey. For a player who was just starting to catch his groove, that is just about as big of a setback you could suffer.

I followed up with Pelletier about that challenge the next practice after his initial comment. He said, “That is the biggest part (in the struggles). You get traded, then have to wait a month before playing a game. You change your city, you change your country, so it was tough.”

Pelletier said his teammates helped pull him back out and allow him to get to where he wants to be.

“I am playing more now, which helps me. Also, huge thanks to Poehls (Ryan Poehling) and Tip (Owen Tippett). They helped me catch a groove, and right now, I feel like I am where I was when I was with the Flames.”

It had been streaky, but since the line of Pelletier, Poehling, and Tippett was formed, Pelletier has six points (3G, 3A) in the last 10 games of the season.

Pelletier’s Promotion

It took until late March, with 12 games remaining in the season, but Jakob Pelletier finally got out of the basement and found his place on a scoring line for the Flyers.

When asked if that promotion helped him find his game again, he said:

“I think it helped me. Although with Deslauriers and Hathaway, Rodrigo (Abols) as well, we played well. I think we could have scored more, but I can score on offense. When you put me in roles where I can create offense, I can show it. It has helped me.”

Again, Pelleteir had closed out the season, primarily playing with Ryan Poehling and Owen Tippett, where he had six points in his final 10 games of the year.

If you watch that line play, the one thing you notice is how the three players skate at a similar pace. That allows them to create opportunities for one another. I like to show Pelletier’s final goal of the season as evidence of that.

The three players seem to just be on the same page when they’re on the ice together. Their puck movement seems so fluid, and the production came as a product of that.

I Was Wrong

So, back to what I was saying. I was entirely wrong about Jakob Pelletier.

He certainly is not the high-scoring player that will carry the Flyers to the playoffs, nor is he expected to be. Pelleteir has the purpose of a bottom-six energy guy who scores, and that is what he does.

The beginning of his Flyers tenure was a rough start; he had only two points in the first 15 games before the promotion. However, since being given the opportunity–more ice time and a role on a scoring line–Pelletier has excelled in his role.

Now that he’ll have the opportunity to have a full season with the Flyers, camp, preseason, and all, it will be exciting to see how Pelletier develops. Regardless, he deserves his spot in the NHL.