Calgary Flames

Fight at Practice Suggests Calgary Flames Finding Their Edge

Two Flames teammates went at it in practice — a scuffle Huska loves. Does this spark mean Calgary’s edge is finally back?

by
Old Prof
January 22, 2026

Sometimes the most revealing moments don’t 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 and Kevin Bahl — good friends off the ice — squared off in a spirited scuffle. Flames coach Ryan Huska didn’t blink. In fact, he smiled. He called it “exactly the kind of edge we’ve been missing.”

Two Teammates Punching It Out Makes the Team Notice

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 — and the group — 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.

Klapka and Bahl are friends, but even the closest of teammates can’t hide competitiveness. The moment is small, yes — not a game, not a fight on the ice during a match — but it’s 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’t about bad blood; they’re about raising the ante, about letting everyone know the bar has been nudged up.

Huska Wants His Team to Be Hungry

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 — friend versus friend, practice versus performance — 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’s watching the scoreboard.

Small moments like this can fly under the radar, but they often set the tone for the week — or even the season. A quick scrap in practice gets everyone’s attention and reminds the team what it’s like to really battle for every inch on the ice.