Egor Sharangovic credits the Devils coach for helping him through the AHL

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It was not easy for Egor Sharangovich when he first came to America.

He was only 20 years old and didn't speak English at all, which didn't help a young man trying to find a foothold in the New Jersey Devils organization.

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The first step in the process was with the Binghamton Devils of the AHL.

As Sharangovic's current team, the Calgary Flames, prepares to face New Jersey on Thursday night, the now 25-year-old looks back on his early years playing professional hockey in the United States and realizes how lucky he was to have one there. on his side.

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“I was lucky in the AHL, I had an assistant coach named Sergey Brylin, who is Russian and helped me a lot,” Sharangovich said. “He translated for me in the dressing room and it was very successful for me because I don't think there are many Russian coaches and he helped me a lot.”

Braylin is now an assistant coach with the Devils, but Sharangovich was with their AHL affiliate when he started in Binghamton in 2018.

Similar to how Sharangovich is perceived today, Braylin was known as a versatile, responsible forward during his 12-season NHL career with the Devils.

While Sharanovic had a lot of support around the Devils organization in those early days, he credits his patronage with helping him get where he is.

It's a big part of why nobody expects Sharangovic to say anything bad about the team that traded him to the Flames last summer in exchange for Tyler Toffoli.

“It was five years ago, I think, I came to America, I don't know English, nothing. “It's very difficult to communicate with guys and coaches, but I had an English teacher and lived with two Canadian guys who only spoke English,” Sharangovich said. “My English is better now, but I still need to work on it.”

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To this reporter's ears, Sharangovic's English is very good.

Since he arrived in a trade with the Devils this summer, no one around Calgary is complaining about his contribution to the Flames.

After an undisputed but brief start to the season, the Belarusian has emerged as a two-way threat for the Flames. He is tied for the lead with Blake Coleman with 20 goals and is also on pace for a career high with 15 assists.

Sharangovic also spent a lot of time on penalties.

When Elias Lindholm was traded to the Vancouver Canucks last week, he was given an even bigger role. For now, he's slotted in as the Flames' first-line center between Jonathan Huberdeau and Andriy Kuzmenko, who were acquired in the deal that sent Lindholm to Vancouver last week.

The trio skated for the first time in the Flames' 4-1 win over the high-powered Boston Bruins on Tuesday night, fueled by early returns. While Sharangovic didn't register a point, Huberdeau scored a goal and added two assists, and Kuzmenko got off to a hot start when Kuzmenko wasted no time opening the scoring 4:20 into the first period.

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If there's any concern about the line, it's probably on the defensive end. Sharangovic's performance against the Bruins earned him praise from his head coach.

“I thought (Sharangovich) did a really good job of making sure he was responsible and in the right position in our zone,” Flames bench coach Ryan Huska told reporters after the game in Boston. “Once they got the puck in the offensive zone, they made good plays and had other opportunities. It was a good start.”

NOTHING MORE

Martin Pospisil will not face further discipline for his hit on Tuesday night against the Bruins.

A five-minute major to Pospisil and what was considered a check against Brad Marchand broke the game.

On Wednesday morning, Sportsnet's Eric Francis reported that would be the extent of his punishment, so he will start Thursday night against the Devils.

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