{"id":422702,"date":"2026-01-23T01:34:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T01:34:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/422702\/"},"modified":"2026-01-23T01:34:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T01:34:14","slug":"fight-at-practice-suggests-calgary-flames-finding-their-edge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/422702\/","title":{"rendered":"Fight at Practice Suggests Calgary Flames Finding Their Edge"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sometimes the most revealing moments don\u2019t happen under the bright lights of a game, but on the practice ice, where scrimmages get a little real. That was the scene in Calgary recently, when Adam Klapka<\/a> and Kevin Bahl<\/a> \u2014 good friends off the ice \u2014 squared off in a spirited scuffle. Flames coach Ryan Huska<\/a> didn\u2019t blink. In fact, he smiled. He called it <\/a>\u201cexactly the kind of edge we\u2019ve been missing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Two Teammates Punching It Out Makes the Team Notice<\/p>\n

Think about that. Two teammates punched it out just enough to make the rest of the room notice, and the coach loves it. Why? Because it signals fire. It signals that players care, want the lineup, and are willing to push each other \u2014 and the group \u2014 to play with intensity. Huska pointed out that when one player brings that edge, it tends to spread. It drags others along, sharpens practices, and builds a culture of accountability.<\/p>\n

Klapka and Bahl are friends, but even the closest of teammates can\u2019t hide competitiveness. The moment is small, yes \u2014 not a game, not a fight on the ice during a match \u2014 but it\u2019s telling. It suggests that the Flames have some players who are ready to push, to demand more of themselves and each other. And sometimes that friction is exactly what a group needs. Practice scuffles aren\u2019t about bad blood; they\u2019re about raising the ante, about letting everyone know the bar has been nudged up.<\/p>\n

\"KlapkaKlapka Bahl Flames fight<\/p>\n

Huska Wants His Team to Be Hungry<\/p>\n

It also says something about hunger. Huska noted that one of the players involved knows he has to fight for a spot in the lineup. That tension \u2014 friend versus friend, practice versus performance \u2014 is a microcosm of what professional hockey asks of players every day. Intensity shows that the players care. A push to be better, to stay honest, to play hard when nobody\u2019s watching the scoreboard.<\/p>\n

Small moments like this can fly under the radar, but they often set the tone for the week \u2014 or even the season. A quick scrap in practice gets everyone\u2019s attention and reminds the team what it\u2019s like to really battle for every inch on the ice.<\/p>\n

Related: Are the Calgary Flames Considering Off-The-Radar Forward Trade?<\/a><\/p>\n

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