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Brad Treliving, during his weekly conference call with media members, indicated Friday that 18 of his players are already in Calgary — a dozen skating at the Saddledome, the others “holed up in the hotel” satisfying quarantine protocol.

The Flames general manager expects the rest of the gang to arrive in the next day or two.

Asked about the Flames’ postseason taxi squad, Treliving went as far as to (tentatively) name names. In addition to the regulars — and the presumably healed-up Juuso Välimäki (en route from Finland) — camp invitations have been issued to:

Forwards: Alan Quine, Austin Czarnik, Buddy Robinson, Byron Froese, Glenn Gawdin, Matthew Phillips, Adam Ruzicka

Defencemen: Alexander Yelesin, Connor Mackey (who, armed with a contract that does not kick in till 2020-21, is ineligible for game action)
Goalies: Jon Gillies, Artyom Zagidulin

Also on the list is winger Ryan Lomberg, who suffered a significant ankle injury during the season in Stockton. “I’ve got him as a question mark right now,” said Treliving. “His participation is up in the air.”

Also BT is all business going into this thing

In a further example of how real it’s beginning to get, Treliving fired a shot across his own team’s bow. Just in case players had lost sight of the grand plan.

“Because of the uniqueness of the situation, camp’s important — the top 20 play,” he said. “This isn’t one of these things where, ‘OK, let’s take the first third of the season and see how everyone does.’ I don’t care if you played in Stockton or if you played 10 games here or if you played 70 games here — can you help us beat Winnipeg? If the answer’s yes, you’re in.

“That’s what the focus is. This isn’t a development camp. This is a get-ready-to-get-into-the-playoffs camp.”

And he speculates about the expansion protection list and Valimakis status...its not set in stone yet.

The talented youngster, as everyone knows, is nearing primetime deployment. However, because of a summertime ACL injury — and subsequent surgery — Välimäki hasn’t handled a single shift this season. And should he not touch the ice in upcoming postseason, his official second year will not arrive till 2020-21, meaning he can duck Seattle’s poachers.

“But if he does play he wouldn’t be exempt,” said Flames boss Brad Treliving. “That is our understanding right now. I think that’s a little bit in pencil right now. As with everything else, there’s a batting order for what the league is going through — and (Välimäki’s case is) a little bit down, below the 9-hitter, a little bit lower on the list (of importance). So I hate to say this is gospel.

“My understanding right now is that if Juuso does not play, he, in essence, would be exempt. If he does play, he would not be. But it’s not law.”

https://theathletic.com/1895977/2020...urce=twittered