Flames forward Ryan Strome looking forward to going duck hunting

Calgary Flames forward Ryan Strome will face off against the Anaheim Ducks for the first time since he was traded from the team.

Ryan Strome admits it’ll be a little weird when he steps onto the ice on Thursday night to face his former team, the Anaheim Ducks.

Strome joined the Flames a few weeks back in a trade deadline deal with the Ducks.

“I’m excited, for sure,” Strome said.

“I think we have a great thing going here, but they’re a great team and it will be fun for me. Maybe try to get after a few of the boys a little bit and get under their skin. It will be fun and every time you play a former team it’s kind of circled so it will be a fun time for sure.”

Something to prove

Strome didn’t see much playing time with the Ducks this season. In 33 games he had just three goals and nine assists.

The Flames picked him up for just a seventh-round draft pick in 2027 and the deal has already paid off. Since being acquired, Strome has two goals and five assists in 10 games. He says he’s not sure if he has anything to prove.

“Obviously you play with a chip on our shoulder and all of that stuff, but at the same time, I have nothing but great memories and a positive time there,” Strome said.

“You always try to bring your best effort but let the chips fall where they may and play hard and keep doing what we’re doing in here.”

Veteran presence

Strome was a first-round draft pick of the New York Islanders in 2011. Now 32 years old, he’s learned a lot over the years.

He’s happy with the way things have gone since he got to the Flames, but he says he can’t get complacent.

“This is a tough league,” Strome said. “You’ve got to bring it every day, and what I’ve learned over my time is the ebbs and flows (are) very tough to handle.”

“The more even keel(ed) you are every day and bring that same approach is what’s going to make you successful.”

Proud of former team

Strome has gone from one rebuild to another — he was with the Ducks through their struggles but now they’re in first place in the Pacific Division. Strome played a role in that turn around and he says it’s something he’s proud of.

“We went through some tough times the last few years and to see them kind of pull out of it is good,” he said.

“That’s what you hope to see in a rebuild. For me, it’s nice to see some of the guys that you tried to make an impact on the last few years doing well and obviously it feels good.”

The Flames and Ducks face off against each other at 7 p.m. on Thursday night.