Looks as though Calgary’s tapped the brakes on the Johnny Gaudreau hype train.
Gaudreau, who’s gone pointless through five games this season, is expected to be a healthy scratch when the Flames take on the Blue Jackets in Columbus on Friday.
The reigning Hobey Baker winner hasn’t definitely been dropped from the lineup, though -- at least that’s what Calgary head coach Bob Hartley said during his pregame media availability. Hartley was coy about who’d be in and who’d be out; that said, the Flames did announced that recently-recalled Josh Jooris will draw in and make his NHL debut tonight while Gaudreau was skating with the extras during morning line rushes.
The 21-year-old phenom wowed onlookers during Calgary’s rookie camp and exhibition campaign, but has struggled to find similar form during the regular season. He played a season-low 10:21 against Chicago on Wednesday night and hasn’t registered a shot on goal in four games.