News Flames Team Notes

[Calgary Flames]

5 players signed their first NHL deals with the Flames over the past few weeks

We’re into the second round of major junior playoffs throughout Canada, while the NCAA has concluded their national championship tournament (with Western Michigan capturing the crown).

Meanwhile, there has been a ton of news relating to Flames prospects lately.

First off, the Flames have signed five different players to their first NHL contracts over the last while:

• The Flames signed free agent centre Carter King to a one-year entry-level deal out of the University of Denver on Monday
• The Flames signed goaltender Arsenii Sergeev, their 2021 seventh-rounder, to a two-year ELC out of Penn State University on Monday
• The Flames signed winger Aydar Suniev, their 2023 third-rounder, to a three-year ELC out of the University of Massachusetts on Apr. 2
• The Flames signed winger Jacob Battaglia, their 2024 second-rounder, to a three-year ELC out of the Kingston Frontenacs on Mar. 29
• The Flames signed free agent goaltender Owen Say to a one-year ELC out of the University of Notre Dame on Mar. 24

The Flames also called up Zayne Parekh, their 2024 first-rounder, to the big club after his OHL post-season ended with the Saginaw Spirit. And we also saw the long-rumoured college commitment of Sudbury Wolves blueliner Henry Mews, the Flames’ 2024 third-rounder. He’s headed to the University of Michigan in the fall, joining 2024 sixth-rounder Eric Jamieson as the second Flames prospect from his draft class to commit to college now that the NCAA’s rules are relaxed. (Jamieson is going to the University of Denver.)

With all that catch-up completed, lets delve into the updates!

Jonathan Aspirot – D/LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL​

25; signed as a free agent; 6’0″, 200 pounds; shoots left

GP	G	A	P	P1	5v5 P	5v5 P1	SH	NHLe
Season to date	63	5	23	28	13	16	8	79	17.71
2023-24 (AHL)	66	6	27	33	19	12	9	94	19.93

Aspirot had an assist this week.

Andrew Basha – LW/C, Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL​

19; Calgary’s second round pick (41st overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 5’11”, 174 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 5th-ranked prospect 2024

GP	G	A	P	P1	5v5 P	5v5 P1	SH	NHLe
Season to date	23	9	20	29	24	12	9	73	31.22
2023-24 (WHL)	63	30	55	85	69	52	41	189	33.41

Basha is still injured, and a long-shot to play at all this playoff year. But his Tigers are up 2-0 on Prince Albert in the second round of the WHL playoffs.

Jacob Battaglia – LW, Kingston Frontenacs, OHL​

18; Calgary’s second round pick (62nd overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 196 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 11th-ranked prospect 2024

GP	G	A	P	P1	5v5 P	5v5 P1	SH	NHLe
Season to date	68	40	50	90	67	57	45	239	35.06
2023-24 (OHL)	67	31	34	65	54	39	34	168	25.70

Battaglia has 10 points through seven playoff games thus far. Kingston trails Barrie 2-1 in their second round series.

Parker Bell – LW/C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL​

21; Calgary’s fifth round pick (155th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 192 pounds; shoots left

GP	G	A	P	P1	5v5 P	5v5 P1	SH	NHLe
Season to date	61	7	5	12	9	12	9	67	7.84
2023-24 (WHL)	59	33	31	64	50	35	31	231	26.86

Bell left Saturday’s Wranglers game against Abbotsford after eating a punch from Canucks forward Ty Glover. We’ll see if Bell’s able to play in the final weekend of the regular season.

Hunter Brzustewicz – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL​

20; Vancouver’s third round pick (75th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Vancouver; 6’0″, 190 pounds; shoots right; FN’s 3rd-ranked prospect 2024

GP	G	A	P	P1	5v5 P	5v5 P1	SH	NHLe
Season to date	69	5	26	31	18	20	13	75	17.90
2023-24 (OHL)	67	13	79	92	46	65	34	140	36.37

Brzustewicz had two points this week. He’s continuing to have a really solid first pro season.

He was called up on Wednesday.

Lucas Ciona – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL​

22; Calgary’s sixth round pick (173rd overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 210 pounds; shoots left

GP	G	A	P	P1	5v5 P	5v5 P1	SH	NHLe
Season to date	66	7	13	20	17	16	14	88	12.08
2023-24 (AHL)	55	4	2	6	5	6	5	67	4.35

Ciona was named the Wranglers winner of the AHL’s IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award – every team has a recipient, and then there’s a league-wide winner later on. The award salutes players that have made humanitarian contributions in their communities.

Matvei Gridin – RW, Shawinigan Cataractes, QMJHL​

18; Calgary’s first round pick (28th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 182 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 6th-ranked prospect 2024

GP	G	A	P	P1	5v5 P	5v5 P1	SH	NHLe
Season to date	56	36	43	79	58	40	32	236	32.85
2023-24 (USHL)	60	38	45	83	67	49	42	208	31.76

Gridin has 13 points through eight playoff games. Shawnigan leads Sherbrooke 3-0 in their second round series.

Artem Grushnikov – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL​

21; Dallas’ second round pick (48th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Dallas; 6’1″, 203 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 17th-ranked prospect 2024

GP	G	A	P	P1	5v5 P	5v5 P1	SH	NHLe
Season to date	60	1	4	5	3	4	3	43	3.32
2023-24 (AHL)	63	1	5	6	5	6	5	65	3.80

Grushnikov continues to be a reliable shutdown defender for the Wranglers.

Sam Honzek – LW/C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL​

20; Calgary’s first round pick (16th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 186 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 4th-ranked prospect 2024

GP	G	A	P	P1	5v5 P	5v5 P1	SH	NHLe
Season to date	50	8	13	21	17	12	10	78	16.74
2023-24 (WHL)	33	10	21	31	22	16	11	86	23.26

Honzek’s been playing up the middle lately.

Axel Hurtig – D, Calgary Hitmen, WHL​

19; Calgary’s seventh round pick (208th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 202 pounds; shoots left

GP	G	A	P	P1	5v5 P	5v5 P1	SH	NHLe
Season to date	55	5	11	16	12	14	10	66	7.20
2023-24 (J20)	27	3	8	11	7	11	7	54	15.10

Hurtig has three points through seven playoff games. The Hitmen trail Lethbridge 2-1 in their second round series.

Eric Jamieson – D, Everett Silvertips, WHL​

19; Calgary’s seventh round pick (208th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 200 pounds; shoots left

GP	G	A	P	P1	5v5 P	5v5 P1	SH	NHLe
Season to date	66	14	22	36	26	27	19	175	13.51
2023-24 (WHL)	66	10	22	32	21	27	18	174	12.01

Jamieson has two points through eight playoff games. Everett leads Portland 2-1 in their second round series.

Joni Jurmo – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL / Rapid City Rush, ECHL​

22; Vancouver’s third round pick (82nd overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Vancouver; 6’3″, 190 pounds; shoots left

GP	G	A	P	P1	5v5 P	5v5 P1	SH	NHLe
AHL season to date	17	0	0	0	0	0	0	10	0.00
ECHL season to date	12	2	8	10	7	6	4	17	19.13
2023-24 (Liiga)	46	1	4	5	3	4	3	63	4.03

Jurmo has played sporadically lately, and primarily slotting in as the Wranglers’ seventh defender when he does dress.

Rory Kerins – C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL​

22; Calgary’s sixth round pick (174th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 5’10”, 175 pounds; shoots left

GP	G	A	P	P1	5v5 P	5v5 P1	SH	NHLe
Season to date	61	33	27	60	51	40	35	131	39.20
2023-24 (AHL)	54	16	16	32	27	22	18	115	23.62

More like Scorey Kerins, amirite? Kerins continues to chip in points on a consistent basis.

Adam Klapka – RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL​

24; Free agent signing; 6’8″, 235 pounds; shoots right; FN’s 15th-ranked prospect 2024

GP	G	A	P	P1	5v5 P	5v5 P1	SH	NHLe
Season to date	33	14	12	26	21	16	14	101	31.40
2023-24 (AHL)	65	21	24	45	34	31	22	182	27.59

Klapka is in the NHL. (And playing really well!)

Demetrios Koumontzis – LW/D, Idaho Steelheads, ECHL​

24; Calgary’s fourth round pick (108th overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft; 5’10”, 183 pounds; shoots left

GP	G	A	P	P1	5v5 P	5v5 P1	SH	NHLe
Season to date	35	6	9	15	8	11	8	60	9.84
2023-24 (ECHL)	47	9	10	19	11	14	10	84	9.28

Idaho missed the playoffs. Koumontzis played in about half of their games. His NHL rights lapse in August.

Yan Kuznetsov – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL​

22; Calgary’s second round pick (50th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 209 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 20th-ranked prospect 2024

GP	G	A	P	P1	5v5 P	5v5 P1	SH	NHLe
Season to date	70	6	15	21	12	16	10	93	11.96
2023-24 (AHL)	63	5	8	13	9	12	8	88	8.22

Kuznetsov is the only Wranglers player to appear in every game this season.

Etienne Morin – D, Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL​

19; Calgary’s second round pick (48th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’0″, 180 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 10th-ranked prospect 2024

GP	G	A	P	P1	5v5 P	5v5 P1	SH	NHLe
Season to date	62	14	44	58	29	40	24	222	21.79
2023-24 (QMJHL)	58	12	37	49	32	21	13	191	19.67

Morin has eight points through seven playoff games. Moncton leads Baie-Comeau 2-1 in their second round series.

Sam Morton – C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL​

25; Free agent signing; 6’0″, 185 pounds; shoots left

GP	G	A	P	P1	5v5 P	5v5 P1	SH	NHLe
Season to date	69	20	25	45	33	23	17	159	25.99
2023-24 (NCAA)	37	24	10	34	32	20	19	151	24.00

Morton has quietly had a really effective year for the Wranglers.

He was called up on Wednesday.

Zayne Parekh – D, Saginaw Spirit, OHL​

18; Calgary’s first round pick (9th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’0″, 179 pounds; shoots right; FN’s 1st-ranked prospect 2024

GP	G	A	P	P1	5v5 P	5v5 P1	SH	NHLe
Season to date	61	33	74	107	69	52	40	243	46.46
2023-24 (OHL)	66	33	63	96	66	54	39	224	38.53

Parekh is in the NHL.

Jeremie Poirier – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL​

22; Calgary’s third round pick (72nd overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 196 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 7th-ranked prospect 2024

GP	G	A	P	P1	5v5 P	5v5 P1	SH	NHLe
Season to date	69	5	34	39	21	24	13	128	22.53
2023-24 (AHL)	23	3	10	13	5	5	2	44	22.53

If nothing else, Poirier has maintained his scoring pace from last season. He’s been pretty solid.

Ilya Solovyov – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL​

24; Calgary’s seventh round pick (205th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 208 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 14th-ranked prospect 2024

GP	G	A	P	P1	5v5 P	5v5 P1	SH	NHLe
Season to date	57	6	21	27	11	22	9	78	18.88
2023-24 (AHL)	51	5	10	15	10	14	10	88	11.72

Solovyov has done a good job as a tough-minutes defender and a stabilizing presence for the Wranglers this season.

William Strömgren – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL​

21; Calgary’s second round pick (45th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 175 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 8th-ranked prospect 2024

GP	G	A	P	P1	5v5 P	5v5 P1	SH	NHLe
Season to date	68	13	35	48	34	24	19	105	28.13
2023-24 (AHL)	68	7	20	27	23	18	15	74	15.82

Strömgren has been wearing a facial shield for the last little bit, and he’s been a bit less effective, too. Coincidence? We’re not sure.

Aydar Suniev – LW/C, University of Massachusetts Minutemen, NCAA/Hockey East​

20; Calgary’s third round pick (80th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’2″, 198 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 12th-ranked prospect 2024

GP	G	A	P	P1	5v5 P	5v5 P1	SH	NHLe
Season to date	35	20	18	38	31	21	17	119	34.99
2023-24 (NCAA)	35	12	13	25	19	16	12	100	23.02

Suniev is in the NHL.

Waltteri Ignatjew – G, Calgary Wranglers, AHL​

25; Signed as a free agent; 6’3″, 200 pounds

GP	TOI	SV%
Season to date	26	1412	.890
2023-24 (SWE-1)	45	2614	.918

Ignatjew started both games against Abbotsford and played really well.

Over in Sweden, Expressen reported that Ignatjew is headed to join Linkoping HC next season.

Arsenii Sergeev – G, Penn State University Nittany Lions, NCAA/Big 10​

22; Calgary’s seventh round pick (205th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 192 pounds

GP	TOI	SV%
Season to date	33	1982	.919
2023-24 (NCAA)	16	934	.913

Sergeev played his final collegiate game, a heartbreaker of a loss to a powerhouse Boston University team, over the weekend. He signed with the Flames earlier this week.

Yegor Yegorov – G, HC Tambov, VHL / MHC Tambov, NMHL / MHK Krylia Sovetov Moskva/MHK Spartak Moskva, MHL​

19; Calgary’s sixth round pick (176th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 183 pounds

GP	TOI	SV%
VHL season to date	4	160	.870
NMHL season to date	8	449	.891
MHL season to date	20	1032	.904
2023-24 (MHL)	25	1319	.917

Yegorov is an extra goalie for MHK Spartak Moskva during the MHL playoffs.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/5-play...deals-with-the-flames-over-the-past-few-weeks

 

[Calgary Flames]

Flames Game Day 82: Closing out the 2024-25 campaign in Los Angeles (7:30pm MT)

Alright, once more with feeling! After being mathematically eliminated from the post-season on Tuesday night, the Calgary Flames (40-27-14, 94 points) close out their 2024-25 regular season with a game against an old divisional foe, the Los Angeles Kings (48-24-9, 105 points). It’s a game that doesn’t mean a thing for either club in the standings, but could be important as an audition for several young Flames and a tune-up for a Kings team prepping for the playoffs.

This game was originally supposed to be the Flames’ 41st game and scheduled for Jan. 8, but the wildfires in southern California led to it being postponed until now.

Today’s broadcast begins at 7:30 p.m. MT on Sportsnet’s national feed, Sportsnet One and Sportsnet 960 The Fan.

The Flames​

Projected lines, via Sportsnet’s Pat Steinberg:

Aydar Suniev – Nazem Kadri – Adam Klapka
Blake Coleman – Mikael Backlund – Matt Coronato
Yegor Sharangovich – Morgan Frost – Joel Farabee
Dryden Hunt – Sam Morton – Ryan Lomberg

Kevin Bahl – Zayne Parekh
MacKenzie Weegar – Daniil Miromanov
Brayden Pachal – Hunter Brzustewicz

Per Pat Steinberg, Dan Vladar starts against the Kings, backed up by Dustin Wolf. Also via Steinberg, it sounds like we won’t see Martin Pospisil, Kevin Rooney, Jonathan Huberdeau, Rasmus Andersson, Jake Bean and Joel Hanley.

Man, a lot of young Flames took steps this season. In addition to Wolf, who’ll likely be a finalist for the Calder Trophy, we’ve seen really nice seasons from Adam Klapka, Matt Coronato and Kevin Bahl. Heck, third-pairing blueliner Brayden Pachal carved out a really nice niche for himself as a physical stay-at-home blueliner after being claimed on waivers before the 2024 trade deadline. We’ll see how many of these young faces get a chance to close out their seasons against the Kings.

The Kings​

Tuesday’s lines, via Daily Faceoff:

Andrei Kuzmenko – Alex Turcotte – Adrian Kempe
Warren Foegele – Phillip Danault – Trevor Moore
Kevin Fiala – Alex Laferriere – Jeff Mallott
Akil Thomas – Samuel Helenius – Trevor Lewis

Vladislav Gavrikov – Jordan Spence
Jacob Moverare – Brandt Clarke
Caleb Jones – Kyle Burroughs

The Kings are carrying David Rittich and Darcy Kuemper in terms of goaltenders. The Kings rested Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty and Mikey Anderson against Seattle. We’ll see what kind of changes they make against the Flames. Per our pal John Hoven of Mayor’s Manor, it sounds like Adrian Kempe, Phillip Danault and Trevor Moore will be held out, and it sounds like prospect Taylor Ward will be brought up from the AHL and make his debut.

Keep an eye on old friend Andrei Kuzmenko. Since being acquired by the Kings prior to the trade deadline, he has 17 points over 21 games. When Kuzmenko is feeling confident, he’s a really dangerous offensive weapon.

Unavailable players​

The Flames are without Anthony Mantha, Justin Kirkland and Connor Zary.

The Kings were without Tanner Jeannot, Joel Edmundson, Quinton Byfield, Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty and Mikey Anderson on Tuesday night. (Jeannot, Edmundson and Byfield are likely injured, though.)

The numbers​

Flames	Kings
40	Wins	48
94 (.580)	Points (%)	105 (.648)
50.0% (17th)	xGF%	54.4% (4th)
21.2% (19th)	PP%	17.7% (28th)
76.2% (25th)	PK%	81.3% (8th)

Head to head​

This is the third and final meeting between these clubs this season. The Flames have beaten the Kings twice in Calgary – 3-1 in November and 2-1 in January.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/calgar...osing-out-the-2024-25-campaign-in-los-angeles