The Calgary Flames will scratch one of the team’s highest-paid forwards on Thursday as they host the San Jose Sharks at the Saddledome.

Yegor Sharangovich is in the first year of a five-year contract extension that pays him $5.75 million per season, but has just two goals through 16 games while twice being a healthy scratch.

Among Calgary forwards, only Jonathan Huberdeau, Nazem Kadri, and Matt Coronato have higher salaries. Sharangovich signed the extension after scoring 31 goals in the 2023-24 season.

On Tuesday in St. Louis, the 27-year-old played just 8:21, the third-lowest time on ice of his career. Sharangovich had just one shift in the third period, despite the team trailing.

“I don’t think the consistency in his game has been there,” head coach Ryan Huska said after the Flames’ morning skate. “I’d like to see him more competitive consistently, and when he is that way, that’s when I feel like he’s a dangerous player for us because the puck is on his stick much more often than what it was, especially that last game in St. Louis.”

Huska has mentioned Sharangovich’s competitiveness before and how he needs to be more engaged. The Flames have been outscored 12-5 at even strength with him on the ice so far this season.

“When we talk about that with him, it’s the strength in the puck battle,” Huska said. “A lot of the times, that’s what we look for…he’s a really good player when he has the puck on his stick, but how do you get it more? You get competitive in the battle and find a way to keep the puck more often.”

Calgary sits in last place in the league standings with a 4-12-2 mark. A lack of goal scoring is a big reason why, with the club also 32nd in goals per game (2.06).

Rory Kerins will replace Sharangovich in the lineup and attempt to give the Flames a boost offensively. Kerins, a 2020 sixth-round pick, is among AHL scoring leaders with 14 points in 13 games and has four assists in his first five NHL games last season. He will play on a line with veterans Nazem Kadri and Joel Farabee.

“I’m feeling good about my game and confident,” Kerins said.

Kerins, a natural centre, said he’s realized he may not produce in the NHL like he has in the AHL. He’s added different elements to his game that could help him remain with the Flames.

“Every year for me is about improving, whether that’s…being more of a 200-foot player or working on my faceoffs,” he said.

Kadri, with 11 points through 18 games, is the leading scorer on a team struggling to find the net. He feels that the process is sound. They just need a break or ugly goal.

“Got to get lucky,” he said. “Get into a scoring rhythm and obviously once you see [the puck] hit the back of the net, I think the floodgates would open. I know we’re creating a lot of opportunities and a lot of chances, which is encouraging, but at the end of the day, we’ve got to find the back of the net and we plan to do that.”

Flames projected lineup

Farabee-Kadri-Kerins

Huberdeau-Frost-Coronato

Honzek-Backlund-Coleman

Lomberg-Zary-Klapka

Kuznetsov-Weegar

Andersson-Bahl

Pachal-Bean

Wolf