Jonathan Castagna and the Flames' Fourth Line Deserve Love

Every hockey team needs its stars to produce. That's part of the deal. But ask Calgary Flames fans what makes a team competitive over a long season, and they'll probably tell you there's more to it than what happens on the top two lines. Sometimes a game is decided by players who don't get nearly as much attention. Jonathan Castagna offered a pretty good reminder of that on Monday.

In Calgary's 2-1 win over the San Jose Sharks, Castagna picked up two assists, helping set up goals by Adam Klapka and William Stromgren. The Flames' fourth line did the offensive heavy lifting, and that's worth noticing.

Castagna Is Showing There's More Than One Way to Contribute.

Castagna hadn't recorded a point since making his NHL debut against Colorado on October 8. That makes Monday's performance a welcome development for the young forward. Through 12 games, he has three assists, nine shots, 23 hits and eight blocked shots. Those aren't eye-popping offensive numbers, but they tell us something about the role he's trying to fill.

He's playing fourth-line centre, and that's not always an easy assignment for a young player. There's plenty of responsibility without a lot of offensive opportunity. You have to compete for ice time, handle your defensive responsibilities and make yourself useful when the puck isn't on your stick.

Castagna appears to understand that part of the job. The two assists are a nice bonus. More importantly, they remind us he can contribute offensively when the opportunity comes along. Young players sometimes need a little patience while they learn where they fit in an NHL lineup.

Calgary Needs Contributions From More Than Its Top Players.

There's another reason Flames fans should appreciate Monday's performance. Calgary isn't going to win many games if it depends entirely on its leading scorers. Over an 82-game schedule, teams need different players to step forward on different nights. A fourth line that can provide energy, play responsibly and occasionally produce a little offence gives a coach another option.

That's where Castagna has an opportunity. Nobody should expect two assists to suddenly change his place in the lineup or turn him into an offensive difference-maker. That's not the point. He's 12 games into his NHL season and still learning. But if he can keep doing the less glamorous things well and add the occasional offensive contribution, he's giving Calgary something useful.

For Flames fans, that's worth appreciating. Not every promising young player has to become a top-line scorer. Sometimes finding a dependable role and making it your own is a pretty good start.