Head coach Glen Gulutzan isn't expecting Klimchuk to shoulder a heavy offensive workload should he draw into the lineup. Instead he'll be looking for reliability from the 22-year-old.
"From talking to our guys down there, they thought it was well-deserved for him to come up, just how steady he's been all season," said Gulutzan after the team's morning skate on Saturday. "Hopefully he gets into a game and bring that consistency that he brought there [in Stockton], that good two-way hockey. We'll see how we go here in our next week, we've got a bunch of games here coming up so hopefully he can get into one here and give us some of that energy that, especially at this time of year, you need."
That expectation is just fine with Klimchuk.
"I think as a young guy, coming up here and getting this opportunity, you have to be trusted on the ice, first and foremost. I think it's pretty rare to come up here and [be] a guy that's trusted in all situations so you gotta earn that," he said. "I think that's going to be the first thing I focus on is obviously, one, getting in the lineup but then when I do, making sure that I'm trusted on the ice and responsible enough to play and then you can kind of settle into your own and start contributing in other areas as well."
Klimchuk was recalled from the Heat as Marek Hrivik was placed on the injured reserve. While he won't draw into the lineup for Saturday's tilt against the Panthers, he'll be prepared for his regular-season NHL debut at a moment's notice.
"Things happen throughout the course of a game and it's a business and things like that," said Klimchuk. "So you gotta be ready and handle yourself like a pro and make sure every day you're doing everything you need to to show the coaching staff and show your teammates that if that opportunity does come, you're going to be ready and there's no doubt in their mind."