The 25-year-old was recalled on Feb. 21 after a brief stop on the farm. He scored a big goal and picked up an assist in his first game back, and now has three tallies and four points in 12 games with the big club this year.
The numbers are one thing - and, certainly, for a team that rolls four lines and relies on a balanced offensive attack, his contributions in that regard cannot be overstated.
Instead, consider the totality of it all: The speed. The physicality. The way that he wins battles, leans on his opponents and brings energy to a unit that's built on straight lines and straightforward action in the trenches.
The Flames are getting more from their fourth line these days and Duehr's a big reason for it.
"Both Looch (Milan Lucic) and Lewy (Trevor Lewis) have been big mentors to me. They're role models. They're champions," Duehr said. "Looking at what they do day in and day out is something that I look up to. They play a simple game and they're really predictable players - you know what they're going to do and they're usually in the right areas, so they've made my life really easy."
The relationship goes both ways.
On Tuesday, Duehr made a lovely play to gain the zone and create a 2-on-1 with Lucic. He protected the puck well, reached around the kneeling efforts of Dmitry Orlov and set up his linemate with a beautiful, backdoor pass.
Unfortunately, Lucic hit the post, while the rebound - somehow - bounced back under the pads of Ullmark.
Still, these are the types of plays we're now seeing on the regular with Duehr, the first-ever South Dakotan to play in the NHL.
And he doesn't plan on stopping.
"Being up earlier this year and then going back down to the AHL and coming back up... I don't want to say I missed a beat, but the guys were really welcoming and nothing really changed," said Duehr, who had two shots in 12:11 of ice time against the B's.
"Stepping up and picking up where I left off, I think that definitely helps the confidence."
