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Thirty-something … as a thirty-something.
Calgary Flames forward Blake Coleman, having already blown away his previous career-best in every major offensive category, is on the brink of an impressive milestone.
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With his next lamp-lighting, the 32-year-old winger will be a 30-goal man for the first time at the NHL level.
“Yeah, it would be special,” said Coleman, who notched his 29th of the campaign during Saturday’s 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. “It’s definitely a milestone that I don’t think people had pegged for me.
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“So anytime you can prove something to yourself and to other people that maybe didn’t see it coming, it’d be a good feeling.”
His doubters weren’t necessarily slagging his skill set.
It’s just that Coleman is best known for his defensive diligence and penalty-killing prowess — and while it’s not unheard of for a shutdown sort to snipe 30, it’s certainly not all that common.
Coleman’s previous career benchmark was 22 goals on behalf of the New Jersey Devils in 2018-19.
“I think it would be a really neat thing for him,” Flames head coach Ryan Huska said when asked about the possibility of 30 for No. 20. “I think it’s a feather in his hat. He’s aged … but I feel like he’s gotten better, this year in particular for us. So for him to be able to get himself to that number, I think it’s a cool thing, because he hasn’t lost who he is.
“That’s what I love the most about him — he has found a way to put the puck in the back of the net but hasn’t lost track of who he is, and that’s what makes him a really important player for us.”
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Coleman’s next crack at 30 will come in Tuesday’s date against the Anaheim Ducks at the Saddledome (7 p.m. MT, Sportsnet West/Sportsnet 960 The Fan).
His stat sheet in 73 spins so far this season shows four shorties and seven empty-netters.
Most impressive, Saturday’s tally against the Kings marked his sixth game-winner. The Flames have 34 victories, so Coleman has contributed the GWG in 17.6% of those.
A two-time Stanley Cup champion during his stint with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Coleman certainly would trade all 29 goals — and his 23 assists, too — for the chance to skate in the playoffs, but there’s no doubting that he has been a bright spot for this now-retooling team.
“Obviously, you see you’re at 29 and logically you’re like, ‘OK, we’re close. That’s the next step,’” Coleman said after Monday’s practice at WinSport. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have my mind go there, but I don’t want to change my game in any way.
“It’s just keep doing what I’ve been doing and if the results come, it would be a nice cherry on top.”
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