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Flames sign forward Adam Klapka to two year contract extension ($1.25 million AAV)

There are few players in the Calgary Flames system, or even the entire National Hockey League, that boast the physical gifts of forward Adam Klapka. After getting a prolonged look at the NHL level in 2024-25, it seems like Klapka will be here to stay.

The Flames announced on Tuesday afternoon that they’ve signed Klapka to a two year contract extension with a $1.25 million cap hit. Klapka was set to become a restricted free agent on July 1, and he’ll become an RFA when his new deal expires after the 2026-27 season.

A product of Prague, Czechia, Klapka is listed at 6’8″ and 230 pounds. The right shot winger came over briefly to North America during his junior days, but primarily played in his home country and dabbled in pro hockey with stints in the Czech Extraliga and second-tier Czech 1.Liga.

The Flames’ European scouts recruited Klapka and he signed a two-year entry-level deal during the 2022 off-season. He spent 2022-23 adjusting to North American hockey with the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers, posting 25 points over 60 games – with his production primarily in the 2023 half of the schedule. In the following season, he made his NHL debut, playing six NHL games (and scoring a goal) and posting 21 goals and 46 points over 65 AHL games with the Wranglers.

The 2024-25 season was the final waiver-exempt year of Klapka’s NHL career as he played on a one-year contract. The Flames floated him back and forth from the NHL to the AHL frequently. If there was a spot in the lineup that needed someone, Klapka often got first crack at the gig. His confidence and consistency seemed to grow over the season, and he finished the campaign as a fourth-line fixture alongside Ryan Lomberg and Kevin Rooney, with the trio playing big parts in the Flames’ late-season push for a playoff spot.

In 2024-25, Klapka had 10 points over 31 NHL games and 26 points over 33 AHL games. When he was with the Wranglers, he was one of their standouts, and the quality of his play while he wore the Flaming W led to him spending half of the season with the big club. Heck, he was good enough that he was invited to play for the Czech national team at the World Championship, too.

Klapka’s waiver eligible for the first time in 2025-26. He’s on a one-way deal with a $1.25 million cap hit. He’s 6’8″, 230 pounds, and he moves like a much smaller player. Suffice it to say, Klapka has passed his audition. Unless he plays his way off the roster in the fall, we’ll likely see Klapka as a full-time NHLer to start the 2025-26 season.

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Flames and Rasmus Andersson to exchange contract extension numbers this week: report

Gang, in case you haven’t noticed, the Calgary Flames’ roster has changed quite considerably since Craig Conroy became general manager back in 2023. The general trend has been older players on expiring contracts moving elsewhere, and younger players joining the team.

With that in mind, let us direct you to Frank Seravalli’s Trade Targets board over at Daily Faceoff. On Wednesday morning, Seravalli updated his board with some new information regarding several players that could be on the move.

Among them? Flames blueliner Rasmus Andersson, who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2025-26 season.

Here’s Seravalli:

This is a big week for the Andersson conversation, as the two sides are expected to trade initial numbers for the first time to see what an extension might look like. The tenor of those talks will determine what happens next. Fish or cut bait? Andersson presents great trade value, even after a relatively down year, for a right-shooting defenseman with an edge, double-digit goal scoring ability and a very reasonable cap hit. The Flames aren’t in a rush. They’d have no problem hanging onto him until the trade deadline to potentially watch his stock rise even higher.

So here’s the deal with Andersson: he’s a well-respected right shot blueliner who is an alternate captain and one of the most-tenured members of the Flames team. He’s a big piece of the team both on and off the ice. Heck, he played a dozen games with a broken bone in his leg. He is a good hockey player, his spooky-bad plus/minus this past season notwithstanding.

However, Andersson is on a contract that expires after one more season (with a $4.55 million cap hit next season), and he and the Flames are eligible to ink an extension starting on July 1 – as the final year of his deal begins. Andersson is an October 1996 birthday, and he would be celebrating his 30th birthday during the first month of the first season of his next deal.

This contract is a big chance for Andersson to, as the kids say, get that bag – and get financially set up for life. Hockey’s a contact sport and injuries happen, so this could be Andersson’s last chance to get that bag. When we looked at market comparables, the general ballpark on a long-term deal would be something like seven or eight seasons at $8 million per season (or thereabouts).

The Catch-22 for everybody involved is roughly as follows:

  • The Flames may really like Andersson, but may not like how his contract ages as he gets deeper into his 30s and so they have an incentive to go shorter-term (or find ways to get Andersson’s cap hit down). They might not like Andersson at the number the market dictates he could get as a free agent.
  • Andersson may really like the Flames, but with where he is in his career he’s got incentives to lock in as long a contract as he can get. He might not like the Flames at the number they would be comfortable at giving him on a long-term deal.

As Seravalli alluded to: once the two sides exchange numbers and concepts, then we’ll see what the next steps are, and whether or not Andersson is locked into a new deal… or finds himself on the trade market. Andersson’s deal has a six team no-trade list, so he has a small amount of control over where he may end up, if it comes to that.

We’ll have more on the Andersson saga is it develops.

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A history of the 80th overall pick, the Flames third-round pick in the 2025 draft

There are a surprising number of notable players selected 80th overall.

The Calgary Flames’ fourth pick in the 2025 draft and their final one until the 144th overall pick is the 80th overall pick. So far, we’ve looked at the history of the 18th overall pick, as well as the 54th overall pick. The Flames will have another pick, the 31st or 32nd overall pick, depending on who wins the Stanley Cup.

In this article, we’ll look at the history of the 80th overall pick, both players the Flames have drafted, and some of the more notable players from around the league.

Flames select Willi Plett in 1975


The first two players the Flames picked with the 80th pick were when they were in Atlanta. In 1975, they selected Will Plett in the fifth round.

Plett played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League, scoring 222 goals and 437 points in 834 games. Seven seasons were spent in the Flames organization, scoring 122 goals and 244 points in 452 games. Only two seasons were spent in Calgary, scoring 44 goals and 93 points in 156 games. On Jun. 7, 1982 (his 27th birthday), he was traded to the Minnesota North Stars.

Flames select Gord Wappel in 1978


Another player the Flames picked when they were in Atlanta was Gord Wappel in 1978. Unlike Plett, Wappel only played 20 NHL games, scoring a goal and two points, along with playing two post-season games. In total, Wappel played two games with the Atlanta Flames and 18 games when they moved to Calgary.

His final season before retiring was in 1982-83 with the Central Hockey League’s Colorado Flames, where he scored 10 goals and 44 points in 70 games.

Flames select Goer Johansson in 1985


The first time the Flames picked 80th overall after moving to Calgary was in 1985. They selected left-shot defenceman Roger Johansson with that pick, with the Swede playing 161 games with nine goals and 43 points.

His best season came with the 1990-91 Flames, scoring four goals and 17 points in 38 games. Johansson’s career-high in points came in 1992-93, also with the Flames, where he scored four goals and 20 points in 77 games.

Johansson finished his career in Sweden after the 2000-01 season.

Flames select Jake Boltmann in 2020


There is only one Flames’ prospect selected 80th overall who hasn’t played in the NHL yet – Jake Boltmann.

The right-shot defenceman played five collegiate seasons from the 2020-21 season until the 2024-25 season, with the first four seasons coming with Notre Dame. Last season with Northeastern University, Boltman scored two goals and 12 points in 35 games.

Moreover, the 23-year-old was involved in the trade that landed the Flames the 22nd overall pick, used to select Connor Zary.

Flames select Aydar Suniev in 2023


The Flames traded Tyler Toffoli to the New Jersey Devils for Yegor Sharangovich, as well as a third-round pick in the 2023 draft. That third-rounder turned out to be the 80th overall pick, used to select Aydar Suniev.

Suniev, 20, was selected from the British Columbia Hockey League’s Penticton Vees and played two seasons at UMass. In his rookie season, he scored 12 goals and 25 points in 36 games. Last season, he increased his goal total to 20 and his point total to 35.

After UMass was eliminated from the National Tournament, Suniev joined the Flames for the final game, taking a penalty. He’ll start next season with the American Hockey League’s Calgary Wranglers.

Notable players selected 80th overall


Plett happens to be one of the most notable players selected 80th overall, playing 834 games, the fifth-most for 80th overall picks. Bob Rouse, selected by the Minnesota North Stars in 1982, holds the record for most games played with 1,061, scoring 37 goals and 218 points.

However, the most notable player selected 80th overall by far is Esa Tikkanen, who was selected by the Oilers in the 1983 draft. The Finnish forward went on to win four Stanley Cups with the Oilers and one with the New York Rangers in 1994. His 244 goals and 630 points are the most for any player selected 80th overall.

Other players with over 800 games played are Kris King, the Washington Capitals’ 1984 draftee, and Greg Gilbert, who was selected in the 1980 draft by the New York Islanders.

Two active players have played over 500 games that were selected 80th overall: Bryan Rust and Anthony Duclair. The former, selected in the 2010 draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins, has scored 203 goals and 437 points in 639 games, winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017.

Duclair hasn’t won a Stanley Cup, but has played 607 games with 153 goals and 314 points. His career-best season came in 2021-22 with the Florida Panthers, scoring 31 goals and 58 points in 74 games.

The Canucks selected Elias Pettersson in the 2022 draft, and the defenceman became a regular in the second half of last season. Another 80th overall pick who may see action in the future is 2019 select Graeme Clarke, who has played three NHL games and scored 16 goals and 37 points in 64 American Hockey League games last season.



Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for FlamesNation, Oilersnation, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf voted unanimously to NHL’s All-Rookie Team for 2024-25 season

The National Hockey League unveiled its final few award winners for the 2024-25 season on Thursday.

Among the honourees was Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf, who was named to the league’s All-Rookie Team as that group’s goaltender, as selected by voters from the Professional Hockey Writers Association. Per the league’s balloting summary, Wolf was the only rookie goaltender that received any votes (and thus, was voted unanimously to the team).

A seventh-round selection way back in the 2019 NHL Draft, Wolf has consistently been one of the top netminders in his age group but constantly doubted due to his relative lack of size – listed at 6’0″, he’s considered small for a goaltender. Regardless of his stature, he’s been one of the best at stopping the puck in every league he’s played in.

Wolf was the Western Hockey League’s top goaltender in 2019-20 and 2020-21, his final two seasons with the Everett Silvertips. He was the American Hockey League’s top goaltender in 2021-22 with the Stockton Heat and 2022-23 with the Calgary Wranglers, also being named the AHL’s most valuable player in 2022-23. He split the 2023-24 season between the NHL and AHL before coming a full-time NHLer this past season.

Wolf ended up splitting netminding duties with Dan Vladar for half of the season, then became the Flames’ de facto starter in the second half. Overall he played 53 games and posted a record of 29-16-8 with a 2.64 goals against average, .910 save percentage and three shutouts. Statistically, he was among the top NHL goaltenders at even strength this past season.

Wolf was the runner-up in Calder Trophy voting for the league’s top rookie, behind Montreal’s Lane Hutson. He’s the 10th Flames player to be voted to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team since the award was created in 1982-83, and the first Flames rookie netminder to do so. (Mike Vernon, oddly enough, never received much Calder or All-Rookie consideration in his two rookie seasons of 1985-86 or 1986-87. He was the last great Flames rookie netminder.)

The prior Flames members of the All-Rookie team were forward Hakan Loob (1983-84), defender Jamie Macoun (1983-84), defender Gary Suter (1985-86), forward Joe Nieuwendyk (1987-88), forward Sergei Makarov (1989-90), forward Jarome Iginla (1996-97), defender Derek Morris (1997-98), defender Dion Phaneuf (2005-06) and forward Johnny Gaudreau (2014-15). Suter, Nieuwendyk and Makarov all also won the Calder Trophy in their rookie seasons.

In addition to finishing first in All-Rookie Team voting among goaltenders and second in Calder Trophy voting, Wolf received a second-place vote and two third-place votes as goaltender for the All-Star Team, one third-place vote for the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender and one fourth-place vote for the Hart Trophy as the player most valuable to their team league-wide.

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Adam Benák is one of the smallest and fastest players in the 2025 NHL Draft

The Calgary Flames and Czech players haven’t found much common ground over the years at the NHL Draft. In fact, Calgary hasn’t selected a Czech player since 2002, when they took Jiri Cetkovsky in the fifth round.

This time around the Flames could opt to end this unique drought of Czech draftees, by drafting the offensively dynamic Adam Benak early on day two of the Draft.

Scouting report​


Benák, a native of Plzen, Czechia, is a left-shot centreman standing at 5’7″ and weighing a little over 160 pounds. Though small in stature he plays a fast-paced, tenacious style of hockey that allows him to take on any defender, nearly all of which possess a significant size advantage over him.

After rising through the ranks of minor hockey in Czechia, Benák debuted in his country’s top league, Czech Extraliga, where he played for his hometown Plzen HC. Heading into his draft year this past season, he made the move over to North American play by way of the USHL, taking a similar route to many other draft-eligible European skaters.

Despite lacking the physical characteristics of a centreman, Benák played down the middle this season for the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL. However, his low face-off percentage and small frame raise questions as to whether he’ll be able to play centre at the NHL level.

Benák’s one of the more intriguing players in the 2025 class and owns a couple of unofficial superlatives. He’s maybe the smallest player and also potentially the best skater available in the draft.

Two minutes of Adam Benák group stage highlights from the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Consistently driving play, pushing the pace and creating offence through his intelligence and quickness. Really excited to see what he can do during the medal round. #2025NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/6UywHLC3CO

— Lassi Alanen (@lassialanen) August 9, 2024

What really stands out in Benák’s tape aside from his tremendous skating, is an incredibly high IQ. His ability to see the play and identify passing lanes most others can’t, helped him accrue the second most assists in the USHL in 2024-25. Additionally, according to scouts, he has a strong shot that he underutilizes due to his ‘pass-first’ mentality.

The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler had this to say on Benák.

“Benak is tiny but he’s also one of the best skaters and smartest forwards in the draft and the more I’ve watched him and asked around about him the more inclined I’ve been to trust he has a real chance to defy the odds of his size. His skating, skill and smarts all get very high marks, with a standout quickness from a standstill that matches his quick reads of the ice.”

The numbers​


Benák got his first crack at pro hockey in the 2023-24 season in Czech Extraliga, playing for Plzen HC, he logged 18 games and registered two assists as a 17-year-old.

He also led Czechia to back-to-back silver medals at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2023 and 2024. Benák boasted 21 points over those two tournaments and broke the all-time scoring record by an astounding six points.

Benák journeyed across the pond for his first draft-eligible campaign to play for the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL this past season. His move was a success, leading the Phantoms in scoring. He put up 17 goals and 42 assists for a total of 59 points in 56 games while adding three assists in three playoff contests.

His draft ranking varies from the mid-30s to late-50s depending on the outlet, with NHL Central Scouting being the lowest on him, slotting him in at 58th on their North American skaters board.

Availability and fit​


Though he may be better suited as a winger in the NHL based on several factors, his experience at centre is at least worth something for a Flames team that is fairly anemic down the middle of the ice. But if he were drafted by Calgary it likely won’t be for his two-way game, instead, it’s his elite playmaking abilities that make him an attractive prospect.

Benák is already a polished distributor and possesses an uncharacteristically heavy shot for his size, long story short, he could be an asset for the struggling Flames’ power play unit. He projects to be a middle-six scorer with a touch of upside and an inherent ability to create on the power play. His outstanding skating, vision and puck handling make him a threat off the rush, which is another area Calgary must improve in.

Size is of course a concern, but the Flames already have an abundance of experience drafting and developing undersized forwards into superstar status. Plus, there’s no shortage of success stories regarding small players in the league today, as recent as Logan Stankoven and Lane Hutson.

There’s a good chance Benák is available at Calgary’s second-round selection at 54th overall, and his size could dictate an even further slide into the third round. By buying the size dip, the Flames could get back into the Czech market and further diversify their prospect pool.

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Luca Romano is a centre the Flames could target with the 54th overall pick

The Calgary Flames need some centre prospects.

One centre the Flames could target with their late first-round pick or their second-round pick is Kitchener Rangers centre Luca Romano.

Let’s take a look at what the 17-year-old has to offer!

Scouting report​


Romano was born in Toronto, Ontario, and will turn 18 years old on June 25, two days before the NHL Draft. He’s a right-shot centre and stands at 5’11”, 177 lbs.

Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff ranks Romano as his 45th-best draft-eligible prospect, having this to say about the right-shot centre:

Romano has hovered around this spot for me for a while. He’s a good skater, puts a lot of mustard behind his shot and can hold his own physically despite being a mid-sized center. What makes him intriguing is just how energetic he is and how he chases everyone around the whole game. I think he’ll be a decent bottom-six forward, and some added muscle will help. I was hoping for better numbers this year, but Romano established himself as a legit OHL goal-scorer.

Sportsnet’s Jason Bukala ranked Romano similarly at 47th, noting this about the 17-year-old:

Ability to play quick and fast and deployed in a variety of roles.

Elite Prospects ranks him as their 40th best prospect, with his scouting report noting:

A transition forward, first and foremost, he can catch a puck in his zone and take it all the way to the offensive end, outracing defenders and dangling under sticks. Once he breaks in, Romano cuts inside, kicking pucks wide to teammates, and driving the net or firing while keeping his feet moving. He fights for rebounds along the walls, displaying advanced physical abilities that enable him to win battles despite his average size.”

The numbers​


Romano was drafted 11th overall in the 2023 Ontario Hockey League draft by the Kitchener Rangers. He’s played his entire junior career with them, scoring 10 goals and 22 points in 56 games in 2023-24. In the post-season, Romano picked up five assists in 10 games.

The right-shot centre’s numbers improved in 2024-25, potting 25 goals and 51 points in 67 games, along with six goals and 11 points in 16 post-season games. Ideally, a draft-eligible prospect is around point-per-game, but Romano still improved from his rookie year to his sophomore season.

Availability and fit​


Romano will almost certainly be available when the Flames pick with either the 31st or 32nd overall pick. The question is, will he be available when they select 54th overall?

Elite Prospects ranks Romano the second-highest from any publication at 40th. The publication that has him ranked highest is Recruit Scouting at 33rd. That said, Romano’s consolidated ranking is 51st, with his lowest ranking by TSN’s Craig Button. Smaht Scouting has Romano ranked as their 54th-best prospect, while most sites have him in the 44-47 range.

Romano doesn’t seem like the type of player the Flames should target with the 31st or 32nd overall pick, but if he falls to the second round, it may be worth selecting him.



Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for FlamesNation, Oilersnation, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/luca-r...lames-could-target-with-the-54th-overall-pick
 
Swedish forward Thomas Bjuhr holds a unique place in Flames draft history

In the annals of Calgary Flames franchise history, longtime general manager Cliff Fletcher cemented himself as probably the organization’s best executive. How did he do that? Among other things, Fletcher was amazing at finding value in the NHL Draft, especially in the late rounds.

On occasion, though, these gambles didn’t quite pan out. In 1975, Fletcher and his scouts thought they were being extremely clever when they selected Torbjorn Nilsson from Sweden, thinking they were drafting Kent Nilsson. Turns out Kent Nilsson wasn’t old enough to be drafted yet and so when the Flames tried to draft a forward named Nilsson from the Swedish national team… they got Torbjorn Nilsson instead. (The Flames ended up drafting the Nilsson they really wanted in 1976.)

16 years later, a late-round gamble by Fletcher also didn’t pan out, and resulted in the only disallowed selection in Flames franchise history: Thomas Bjuhr.

A left wing from Stockholm, Sweden, Bjuhr came up through the AIK system in Sweden, and was selected by the Flames in the 11th round, 230th overall, in the 1990 NHL Draft.

One problem, though… Bjuhr was already property of the Detroit Red Wings.

Bjuhr was selected in the seventh round, 134th overall, by the Red Wings in the 1985 NHL Draft. After spending his Draft+1 (1985-86) season with AIK, primarily playing in the Elitserien, he played his Draft+2 (1986-87) season with the Western Hockey League’s Portland Winterhawks. The Detroit Free Press reported that he signed a pro contract with the Red Wings and he spent the 1987-88 season playing with their minor league affiliate, the American Hockey League’s Adirondack Red Wings.

Evidently Bjuhr didn’t fall in love with the North American game, as he returned to Sweden and AIK for the 1988-89 season and ended up playing the final 10 seasons of his pro career back in his home country.

Looking to take a flyer on Bjuhr and perhaps thinking they could lure him back over to play in their system – as they have been since forever, the Flames’ system was chock full of Swedes – the Flames decided to take him with their second-last selection of the 1990 draft. At the time, the Flames were presumably aware that Bjuhr had been drafted by Detroit but unaware that they had signed him to a contract in 1987 and still held his North American rights – it’s not like HockeyDB or Elite Prospects existed in 1990, so teams had to rely on yearly NHL publications and their own diligent notes to keep track of such things – and so the league declared the pick invalid and went on with the draft.

Coincidentally, the Edmonton Oilers also made an invalid 11th round pick in 1990, attempting to select Russian blueliner Vladimir Malakhov at 227th overall, three spots ahead of the Flames’ own invalid selection. Malakhov had been drafted by the New York Islanders the year before. (Whoops.)

Anyway, when we discuss the 490 players the Flames have selected over their long, illustrious drafting history… let’s not forget the one that got away.

Because he had already been drafted and signed by another team several years earlier.

(We love obscure weird stuff here at the site, and we’d be remiss if we didn’t give a shout-out to The Leader-Post out of Regina, as they were one of the few outlets that picked up a Canadian Press wrap-up of the 1990 NHL Draft and actually covered the Flames’ and Oilers’ disallowed picks.)

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Top 20 draft picks in Flames history: counting down their 15th to 11th-best selections ever

The 2025 NHL Draft is a couple weeks away, and we’re taking a trip down memory lane as we count down the 20 best draft selections in Calgary Flames history.

We’ve already counted down through the 20th through 16th-best selections in franchise history. Now it’s time for another five, the 15th through 11th-best picks.

Let’s dive in!

#15: Gary Roberts​


1st round pick, 12th overall, in 1984 NHL Draft; 257 goals, 505 points in 585 games with the Flames

When online Flames writing fixture Kent Wilson describes “functional toughness,” he may be thinking about Gary Roberts. A mid-first-round pick in 1984, Roberts became one of the best players of that era of the franchise. He was never the play-driver – that was usually Theo Fleury – nor was he the distributor – that was usually Joe Nieuwendyk – but man, Roberts was one heck of a puck retriever. He won the Stanley Cup with the Flames in 1989.

Equally proficient at crashing and banging in the corners to get the puck as he was using his shot, Roberts had seasons where he scored 38, 39, 41 and 53 goals. The latter stages of his 10 seasons with the Flames featured a few injury-ravaged seasons – he played just eight games in 1994-95, for instance – but he was a well-respected figure on the team and received regular consideration for the Selke Trophy and the year-end all-star teams.

After Roberts missed the entire 1996-97 season with an injury, the Flames sent him and Trevor Kidd to Carolina in exchange for Andrew Cassels and Jean-Sebastien Giguere, with the idea being that the East’s lessened travel schedule would prolong Roberts’ career. (It worked; he played another 11 seasons before retiring.)

#14: Rasmus Andersson​


2nd round pick, 53rd overall, in 2015 NHL Draft; 47 goals, 231 points in 536 games with the Flames

Alright, we know that there’s some question regarding Andersson’s long-term future with the Flames. And we don’t need to litigate the pros and cons of a contract extension. But let’s call a spade a spade: man, he’s been a really good Flame. A standout in the OHL, he was selected with a draft choice the Flames received from trading Sven Baertschi to Vancouver. Andersson was initially criticized for his fitness coming out of junior, as he was talented enough that he didn’t need to be in incredible shape at prior levels of hockey.

Well, Andersson responded to the criticisms and got himself into great shape. As a consequence, he worked himself onto the Flames’ roster and has been a full-time NHL player since 2018-19. Moreover, Andersson has brought a swagger and confidence to the club; he plays with a chip on his shoulder, and is arguably the most notorious chirper on the club. An alternate captain for the past few seasons, Andersson has become a really important player on and off the ice for the Flames.

Time will tell where his future lies, but you cannot deny Andersson’s impact on the Flames or the value of his selection.

#13: Eric Vail​


2nd round pick, 21st overall, in 1973 NHL Draft; 206 goals, 452 points in 539 games with the Flames

One of the first gems that Cliff Fletcher found outside of the first round, Vail impressed in the OHL and gave the Flames confidence that he could be an impactful NHLer. He became a full-time Flame in 1974-75, winning the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie – becoming the first player in franchise history to win a major award.

Vail spent nine seasons with the Flames, scoring with regularity and flirting with the 30-goal mark seemingly every season – he potted 39 as a rookie, and then had two more 30-plus campaigns and two where he scored 28 and just fell short. Vail never quite grew his game beyond being a very good player, but he was a really consistent contributor to the Flames during his time with the club.

Early in the 1981-82 campaign, the Flames made a change, sending Vail to Detroit in exchange for Gary McAdam, a 1982 fourth-rounder and a 1983 fourth-rounder.

#12: TJ Brodie​


4th round pick, 114th overall, in 2008 NHL Draft; 48 goals, 266 points in 634 games with the Flames

An Ontario product, Brodie was selected by the Flames in the 2008 draft, utilizing a conditional pick they received from Boston in the Andrew Ference trade – Brad Stuart didn’t re-sign with the Flames, so they got the pick they used to select Brodie.

Brodie originally made the Flames as a 20-year-old and after splitting some time with the big club and their AHL affiliates for a few seasons, he cemented himself as a regular starting in 2013-14. A fantastic skater with a talent for connecting on breakaway passes, Brodie was arguably the platonic ideal of the high-end complimentary blueliner. He was never the player that the Flames built a defensive pairing around, but he was often part of the club’s top unit because he could play with just about anybody.

Brodie never quite reached the upper-tier of NHL blueliners, but he received occasional award and year-end all-star votes, and he was consistently very good. He left the Flames as a free agent during the 2020 off-season after spending roughly a decade on the NHL roster.

#11: Sean Monahan​


1st round pick, 6th overall, in 2013 NHL Draft; 212 goals, 462 points in 656 games with the Flames

In 2013, the Flames traded Jarome Iginla and Jay Bouwmeester, and were about to lose Miikka Kiprusoff to retirement. They were starting a rebuild. They selected Monahan at sixth overall, and man, Monahan was a home run at that slot.

Monahan made the Flames roster out of training camp right away. Yeah, he was a late birthday and so he was a bit more physically mature than a lot of first-rounders, but he was also able to learn the NHL game pretty quickly and figure out how to play his game effectively at that level. He was able to play with pace and details. He regularly scored 20 or 30 goals per season. He spent nine seasons with the Flames, receiving regular consideration for the Lady Byng Trophy for gentlemanly conduct and a high standard of play.

Monahan was a fantastic Flame, even when he was hampered by injuries late in his tenure. Heck, the only thing keeping him from cracking our top 10 was that the Flames had to send a first-rounder with Monahan to Montreal to free up cap space. (And even that was more about the Flames’ specific salary cap situation than anything about Monahan’s play.)

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/top-20...-down-their-15th-to-11th-best-selections-ever
 
Top 20 draft picks in Flames history: #10 – Matthew Tkachuk

As we delve into the top 10 of our t0p 20 Calgary Flames draft picks countdown, it’s rather appropriate that the #10 pick is still active in the Stanley Cup playoffs, albeit for a different team.

Let’s discuss the 10th-best draft pick in Flames history: Matthew Tkachuk, the sixth overall selection in the 2016 NHL Draft.

The eldest son of longtime National Hockey League player Keith Tkachuk, Matthew was born in Scottsdale, Arizona in 1997 (while his father played for the Coyotes) but was primarily raised in the St. Louis area. He followed his father into hockey and was part of a really talented cohort of young hockey players in that neck of the woods, playing on youth teams with the likes of Luke Kunin, Logan Brown and Clayton Keller. (Names like Trent Frederic, Joseph Woll and Matthew’s younger brother Brady went through St. Louis minor hockey a little later than Matthew.)

Tkachuk went on to play two seasons in the United States National Development Program, spending 2013-14 with their under-17 team and 2014-15 with their under-18 team, capturing gold medals at the Under-17 Hockey Challenge and the Under-18 World Championship. Despite previously committing to the University of Notre Dame, Tkachuk instead opted to play for the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights (who had drafted him in 2013) for his 18-year-old season, 2015-16. The Knights were a powerhouse already, and adding Tkachuk made them moreso. Tkachuk meshed really well with Christian Fischer and Mitch Marner, helping lead the Knights to capture the OHL crown and the Memorial Cup.

One of the most highly-rated players in the 2016 NHL Draft class, Tkachuk ended up falling into the Flames’ lap as a consequence of Columbus surprising many by selecting Pierre-Luc Dubois at third overall. (Dubois was highly-regarded, but not quite as high as third overall.) Tkachuk signed his entry-level deal a couple weeks later and ended up making the Flames roster out of training camp… and never looked back.

If we’re going to attempt to boil down Tkachuk’s rapid success with the Flames to two factors, it’s that he’s really smart and the Flames gave him a clear role. He spent his first four seasons on Mikael Backlund’s left side on the “tough minutes” shutdown line, usually flanked by Michael Frolik (2016-19) or Andrew Mangiapane (2019-20). Matched up against the other team’s top guns and being asked to try to out-score them, the challenge really seemed to suit the ultra-competitive Tkachuk.

Yeah, his competitive nature got him a rough reputation early on, as he was speaking rather frequently with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety during his first couple seasons. He was suspended three times during his first two seasons, but then he seemingly figured out where the line was separating competitive play and “Oh god Matthew please don’t do that.”

Let’s put this a different way: for five of Tkachuk’s six seasons with the Flames, he was put on a consistent line with a consistent role. For all five of those seasons, his line was the Flames’ best line and one of the top lines in the entire NHL. Was that because the Flames gave Tkachuk clear parameters under which to operate? Sure! Was Tkachuk going to make his line stronger regardless of instructions? Yeah, probably. He’s a really good player, and he probably got up to his potential faster than anticipated because he was given effective guardrails. By the time he was thrown onto a pure scoring line in 2020-21, his two-way play was rock-solid because of his experience playing with Backlund on a shutdown line. He didn’t need to change much.

In terms of production, Tkachuk kept growing his output over six seasons. His peak was 40 goals and 109 points in 2021-22, but he also had a pair of 20-goal campaigns (23 in 2019-20, 24 in 2017-18). Arguably the most impressive offensive accomplishment, given his role at the time, was scoring 34 goals and 77 points in 2018-19 while playing on the shutdown line with Backlund and Frolik. Tkachuk received votes for the Calder Trophy in his rookie year, finishing in seventh spot behind the winner, Auston Matthews. He returned to awards ballots in 2021-22, receiving votes for the Hart Trophy and Selke Trophy, and was voted to the Second All-Star Team.

A restricted free agent following the 2022 season, Tkachuk received pitches from a few teams and informed the Flames of his desire for a long-term future elsewhere. After a few days of negotiations, the Flames signed Tkachuk to an eight year contract extension, then traded him to the Florida Panthers (along with a 2025 fourth-round pick) in exchange for Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Cole Schwindt and a 2025 first-round pick. It was the NHL’s first-ever sign and trade deal.

Tkachuk played 431 games with the Flames over six seasons, posting 152 goals and 382 points. He was a driving force on the team’s best line for the majority of his tenure with the club. When he left, he helped orchestrate a scenario where he went where he wanted, and the Flames received a bunch of assets in the process. For a sixth overall selection, Tkachuk provided the Flames with an impressive amount of value.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/top-20-draft-picks-in-flames-history-10-matthew-tkachuk
 
Flames name long-time communications VP Peter Hanlon as assistant general manager

One of the Calgary Flames’ longest-serving employees will have a new job title on July 1. The club announced on Monday that vice-president communications Peter Hanlon will shift to the hockey operations side of things next month, becoming an assistant general manager.

According to the press release announcing the move, Hanlon “will be involved in all areas of hockey operations including player evaluation, player recruitment and strategic planning.” He’ll join Dave Nonis and Brad Pascall as assistant general managers under general manager Craig Conroy. (Jarome Iginla remains as a special assistant to the GM.)

The #Flames announce Peter Hanlon, formerly Vice President of Communications with the club, as an Assistant General Manager!

📄: https://t.co/58yye3cpEL pic.twitter.com/3v29EueyL9

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) June 16, 2025

Now, if you’re unfamiliar with Hanlon’s history or the Flames’ history, you may be asking yourself, “Someone making the switch from the communications side to hockey operations seems a bit odd. Is it odd?” And the answer to that is, “No, not really.”

Hanlon broke into the management side of hockey in 1991 (according to Elite Prospects), serving as team manager and head of media relations for the St. John’s Maple Leafs of the American Hockey League. After a stint at the AHL head office, he joined the Flames in 1997-98 and has served in the communications department ever since. If you’ve watched Flames TV coverage of any press conference or scrum with a player, Hanlon’s often standing in the background paying close attention to the proceedings. Being head of communications means you need to pay a close eye on everything league-wide, and as a result Hanlon has a great amount of relationships and knowledge of the hockey landscape.

In terms of Flames history, Hanlon isn’t even the only member of the Flames’ hockey ops department to make the jump from communications. Senior director of hockey administration Mike Burke originally worked in public relations for the Flames, and assistant GM (and vice-president of hockey operations) Brad Pascall worked in communications for Hockey Canada before shifting to hockey operations with that organization. Former Flames GM Al Coates also began his run with the Flames in public relations before making the switch.

Hanlon’s paid his dues and developed a strong reputation within the league for his knowledge and work ethic. We’re excited to see how he does in his new role.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/flames...ons-vp-peter-hanlon-assistant-general-manager
 
Clark Bishop’s first year as Wranglers captain came with career numbers and NHL time

Clark Bishop had some big skates to fill going into this season. The Wranglers’ inaugural captain, Brett Sutter, made the decision to retire in the off-season and take on a coaching position with the team. This left his regular linemate, Clark Bishop, as best placed to replace him. While this wasn’t announced right away, Bishop still had a few games to show off his skill and get to know the newcomers. Beyond being named the second captain in team history, he also had some key moments in the season that helped drive his team to success.

Bishop was a fifth round draft pick of the Carolina Hurricanes, going 127th overall in the 2014 NHL Draft. He started the first few years of his professional career between the ECHL and AHL, winning a Calder Cup with the Charlotte Checkers in 2019. He followed that up with his NHL debut with the Ottawa Senators in the 2020-21 season. He played between them and the Belleville Senators for the seasons following before he came to the Wranglers in the 2022-23 season. He had 23 points in his first season in Calgary and 22 points in his second, leading into this year.

2024-25 expectations​


What was expected of Clark Bishop was pretty much the same of what we saw out of him in 2023-24. Be a leader on the team who can relate to NHL and Calder Cup experience to pass on tribal knowledge to the prospects. Also, contribute to helping the young guys coming in learn the style of play at this level and aid in their development. Bishop was typically a third or fourth liner on a veteran line and a similar role was anticipated for his third year in the organization.

2024-25 results​


Clark Bishop is one of the Wranglers who definitely exceeded the expectations for the season. Naming him captain to follow Brett Sutter felt right, but the level of play that followed was unprecedented. He had a career year with the team, putting up the most points he has in his whole professional career.

When he talked about leading this team he said:

“It was an honour to be captain. I’ve always seen myself as a leader, and, you know, we had a bit of a young crowd here this year, so it was it was good to kind of set an example for those young guys, you know, I had some great older guys next to me to help me out.”

He went on to talk about how he was prepared to take on the role when Sutter’s intentions for his hockey career were known. Bishop said:

“I think it was always in the back of my head that I could step up and take over that role, but, you know, there was other guys that were just as good as me, and you know, the guys, I think joked around over the summertime, like calling me captain and stuff like that when we were at Alex Gallant’s wedding. So, you know, I wasn’t thinking about too much or trying to take over, just like I said, going about my day as I do normally. And, you know, when my name was called to receive that captaincy from Sutts, it was something pretty special.”

Bishop put the play behind his veteran leadership and was a clutch player in the first half of the season. His efforts got him noticed by the NHL squad, earning him his first NHL games in three years. He stuck around for six games and managed to find the back of the net in just his second game back.

🔥FLAMES GOAL🔥

Clark Bishop scores his first goal as a Calgary Flame!! That's his first NHL goal in 2,242 days!

🎥: Sportsnet | NHL#Flames #mnwild pic.twitter.com/ObKvmGKn5N

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) January 26, 2025

Time with the Flames this year on top of being at his best professionally with the Wranglers for a career year, made quite an individual accomplishment when he reflected on his season. He said:

“It’s something that I haven’t done in the past. I think I came out of the gates pretty hot and I kind of struggled when the team struggled a little bit, but, you know, I think that’s one of the positives that I can take out of my year.”

Bishop’s game declined with the teams during their rough patch of games through February, but once they were through the worst of it, he was looking more like himself. He finished the year with 66 games played, only missing time for the birth of his daughter. His stat line finished with 19 goals and 19 assists for number 19 for a total of 38 points on the season. He also picked up the most game winning goals on the team with seven.

Next season’s expectations​


Clark Bishop is an unrestricted free agent this summer as his last two year contract with the Flames has expired. Bishop raved about his time in Calgary so far and would very much take up the Flames organization on returning. He said:

“I love it here. My wife loves it here. It’s a great city, great organization. We love coming back to Calgary and joining the city and I love coming to the rink here with the guys.”

As a team that went through almost every situation an AHL squad could imagine, Clark Bishop coming back for consistency in their leadership group would be a welcome decision.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/clark-...captain-came-with-career-numbers-and-nhl-time
 
Conroy on resolving Rasmus Andersson’s future: ‘I don’t think there’s a deadline’

Was there a first-time general manager in recent NHL memory dropped into a more challenging first few months than Craig Conroy was?

In the spring of 2023, Conroy was promoted to GM of the Calgary Flames after nearly a decade as an assistant GM under Brad Treliving. And Conroy inherited a veritable house of cards from his predecessor, best encapsulated by seven prominent Flames entering the final year of their contracts (seven potential unrestricted free agents) and a ticking clock.

When the dust had settled by the 2024 NHL Draft, Conroy had opted to retain Mikael Backlund, allowed Oliver Kylington to leave in free agency, and traded away – deep breath – Tyler Toffoli, Nikita Zadorov, Elias Lindholm, Chris Tanev, Noah Hanifin, Jacob Markstrom and Andrew Mangiapane.

By contrast to what he inherited from Treliving, 2025’s off-season seems downright quiet. The big question looming over the next few months, and a frequent topic conversation among Flames fans, is the future of blueline Rasmus Andersson. A longtime Flame, the 2025-26 season will be the final one on Andersson’s current contract.

Speaking with Ryan Pinder and Dean “Boomer” Molberg of Barn Burner this past week, Conroy provided an update on how things have been going in terms of talks with Andersson’s camp.

“When he left he wanted to just take a mental break, not talk about any of this, so now over the last week we’ve reached out to them and now we’ve started the dialogue,” said Conroy. “So it’s the beginning of the process. We definitely have a term and number that we like and they have a term and number they like, and that’s where it begins. But you know that’s part of the process and I think when you’re looking how this goes it will determine a little bit of what path we’re going to go down.”

For context, the 2023-24 season was a bit messy. The team got off to a rough start under new head coach Ryan Huska, culminating with a flat performance at the 2023 Heritage Classic against the Edmonton Oilers. It seems pretty obvious that having so many big pieces of that team on expiring deals caused a bit of a distraction for the Flames. While it wasn’t the only reason the season went off the rails, it certainly didn’t help things.

So if the Flames can’t come to terms with Andersson on an extension by a certain date, like the upcoming NHL Draft or the start of the season, would the Flames need to make a trade?

“I give Raz a lot of credit, he’s just very honest,” said Conroy. “And he just said, ‘hey if we can’t come to a deal or we do come to a deal, like, I’m a Calgary Flame. Even if i come back next year and i don’t have a deal, like, I’m here, I’m gonna play hard, you know, I’m gonna do everything I can for the team.’ So if anything he’s been real open to, beforehand, those conversations. I don’t think he would be upset, I don’t think there’s a deadline for me. ‘Oh, you don’t get him signed, he has to go,’ like Rasmus isn’t in that mindset. Rasmus knows he wants to have a great year next year because that helps his contract, like we all do. Every time I went in a final year, you’re thinking ‘oh I want to have a big year here.'”

Given the situation and Andersson’s contract status, is Conroy listening on offers for Andersson?

“Well that’s just part of the job, you have to do that with every player.” said Conroy. “I mean, you really do, because you don’t know what’s going to come up. What someone’s needs, maybe there’s a great fit I never thought of it, the other guy did, and that that’s part of it. If there’s a way someone just calls and says ‘hey we would be willing to do XYZ,’ and it’s ‘oh that that makes total sense for the next 10 years for our team,’ you would look at it. But it’s not just Raz, it’s everybody.”

Would keeping Andersson long-term or moving on from Andersson cause the Flames’ current retooling process to change course?

“I don’t think so,” said Conroy. “I don’t think one leads the other, because the goal is always to continue to get better.”



Tune in for The Sheet Draft Special, streaming live on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel on Friday, June 27th at 7 PM EST. Hosted by Jeff Marek, this live special will cover all the action from the 2025 Draft, including expert analysis of top prospects, team-by-team breakdowns, and real-time reactions to every pick. Whether you’re tracking your team’s future stars or just love the drama of draft night, this is your go-to destination for all things Draft.

Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/conroy...erssons-future-i-dont-think-theres-a-deadline
 
Craig Conroy ‘would love to do something’ with head coach Ryan Huska on a contract extension

The Calgary Flames have gone through some pretty significant changes since the spring of 2023. We’ve discussed from time to time the contractual house of cards that general manager Craig Conroy inherited, but it feels like we don’t truly appreciate what head coach Ryan Huska had to navigate when he ascended to the top coaching job prior to the 2023-24 season.

While Conroy had to navigate several complex contract negotiations with players on expiring contracts, and then had to deal with trade negotiations on many of them in-season, Huska had to field a competitive hockey club with aspirations of qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoff. Huska did all of this while running his own bench as head coach for the first time in the NHL, and first time at any level since 2017-18.

Oh, and some pretty big pieces of his team were swapped out throughout the season, causing Huska’s staff to change things up on the fly. They somehow remained within a stone’s throw of the playoff cut line for most of the campaign.

Even though the 2024-25 Flames roster was, on paper at least, weaker than the 2023-24 edition, Huska was able to field a consistent lineup for the entire season. And while external expectations were pretty low for the Flames heading into the season, Huska got buy-in from the Flames’ veterans and they ended up having a pretty good season, missing the playoffs by just the regulation wins tiebreaker against St. Louis.

The 2025-26 season will be the third on Huska’s current contract. And while coaching contracts generally aren’t public knowledge, the expectation is that it’s the final year on Huska’s original contract as Flames head coach. Speaking with Ryan Pinder and Dean “Boomer” Molberg on Barn Burner this past week, Conroy certainly made it sound like an extension for Huska won’t be a hard sell.

“It’s definitely something that I prioritize,” said Conroy. “But for me him going into the last year doesn’t do it. I said it a long time ago: he’s my coach, we’re building this together and I think we need some continuity. We’ve had a lot of coaching change here and I think that’s it’s hard to keep systems and coaches and then just philosophy.”

Conroy had a lot of praise for Huska’s performance as head coach.

“I think Ryan has done an amazing job,” added Conroy. “We took a step and now, we’re always hoping to take another step. That’s the goal, take another step, get better. But as far as timing, I don’t think it for me it doesn’t mean as much. I don’t think it’s like, ‘oh my god,’ it’s something bad. He’s not lame duck coach. He’s done a great job for us and when when we do get time and we both can agree on a deal, I would love to do something with him.”

Conroy became an assistant GM during the 2014 off-season after previously serving as a special assistant. The same summer that Conroy was made AGM, Huska was recruited to coach the Flames’ AHL team. Huska has been on the NHL coaching staff since 2018-19. It probably goes without saying that Conroy and Huska know each other well after that many years working in the same orbit.

If you give Huska the benefit of the doubt on the chaotic 2023-24 season, the team’s performance during 2024-25 provides a nice benchmark for what the Flames could build with Huska behind the bench. Time will tell what Huska’s next deal with the Flames looks like, but it certainly sounds like one is coming before too long.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/craig-...head-coach-ryan-huska-on-a-contract-extension
 
Calgary Wranglers hire former captain Brett Sutter as head coach

The Calgary Wranglers have announced who will be taking over head coaching duties for the team in 2025-26 and it is a face familiar to the team and the organization: Brett Sutter.

Sutter has been with the Wranglers since their inaugural season in 2022, serving as their captain for the first two seasons up until 2024. Last summer, he made the decision to retire as a player and was offered an assistant coaching job with his former team.

Brett Sutter has been named head coach of the @AHLWranglers!

📄: https://t.co/dntpaTzdXI pic.twitter.com/Jxi9ozb0EP

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) June 20, 2025

In the 2024-25 season, Brett Sutter received a temporary promotion to Interim Head Coach when Trent Cull was called up to the Flames to cover Brad Larsen’s leave of absence and Interim Head Coach at the time, Joe Cirella, needed to take a couple of weeks away from the team to recover from a routine eye procedure.

Sutter ended up coaching for the better part of February. He also filled in for Cirella to Coach Team Pacific at the AHL All-Star game on February 2nd and 3rd. He was joined by Rory Kerins and Devin Cooley, who also represented the team at this event.

In his first year as an Assistant Coach and briefly Interim Head Coach, the Wranglers finished fifth in the Pacific Division and qualified for the first round of playoffs. They were then knocked out by the Coachella Valley Firebirds in game two of a best-of-three series. Trent Cull re-joined the team for playoffs at the conclusion of the Flames season and his Assistant Coaching position has been made permanent as of late May.

As a player, Brett Sutter played 60 NHL games and 1,090 AHL games. He celebrated his 1,000th game with the Wranglers on December 21, 2022 against his former team, the Ontario Reign. As if the night wasn’t memorable enough, he was also scored the game-winning goal.

Brett Sutter was drafted by the Flames back in 2005, going 179th overall in the sixth round. In his playing career, he put up 463 points in the AHL and 10 points in the NHL. Sutter played 18 games with the Flames and yes, he is the son of former Flames Head Coach Darryl Sutter. His roots run deep in this organization and he is the best placed person to continue on his personal legacy and the legacy of his family with a key developmental piece of the club.


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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/calgary-wranglers-hire-former-captain-brett-sutter-as-head-coach
 
Pyotr Andreyanov is another Russian netminder the Flames might target

The Calgary Flames like to draft Russian netminders.

Four of the past five drafts have seen the Flames go down the pipeline that is Russian netminders. In 2020, they selected Daniil Chechelev, followed by Arsenii Sergeev in 2021. They took a draft off from picking Russian netminders in 2022, but that was probably because they had three picks. In 2023, the Flames were right back at it when they picked Yegor Yegorov in the sixth-round. Finally, they picked Kirill Zarubin in the third-round of last year’s draft.

During the season, I did the mid-season prospect update for Sergeev, Yegor Yegorov, and Zarubin, so is it any surprise I’m doing Pyotr Andreyanov’s profile? Probably not.

Let’s get to know the 18-year-old netminder.

Scouting report​


Andreyanov is a left-handed catching goalie who stands at 6’0”, 207 lbs. The 18-year-old was born in the town of Volsk, Russia, along the banks of the mighty Volga River.

According to Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff, the netminder ranks as the 58th-best draft-eligible prospect, right around where the Flames will pick in the second round. Here’s what Ellis had to say about Andreyanov:

Andreyanov, the top-rated international-based goaltending prospect, has been truly dominant in the Russian junior league. His save percentage has been above .940 for most of the season, and while his team does score a lot, he seems to thrive when he faces more action. His glove hand is quick, he’s reactive when he needs to be, and he doesn’t get frazzled when he lets a goal in.

In early May, Neutral Zone released a scouting report that said this about the Russian netminder:

Andreyanov combines elite puck-tracking, high-level athleticism, and statistical dominance in one of the best junior leagues in Europe. While he’s not the biggest goaltender in his class, he compensates with technical structure, agility, and compete. His game requires refinement—especially in terms of rebound control, glove reliability, and movement efficiency—but the tools are undeniable. He is draftable in the middle rounds for teams who prioritize athletic goalies and are willing to invest in long-term technical development. A goalie development staff that can polish his structure and reduce his overactivity will find a strong foundation to build on.

Lastly, his Elite Prospects bio has this to say about Andreyanov:

Pyotr Andreyanov is one of the most impressive skaters and athletes at the position. He has strong footwork and explodes well to the top of the crease to take away time and space from shooters, while also not giving up too much where an easy pass will beat him. His play reading and tracking combined well with those mobility skills, as Andreyanov is often beating the play to its spot and makes difficult situations look easy.

The numbers​


Andreyanov has yet to make his professional debut, spending his last two seasons in Russia’s junior league. A product of CSKA Moscow, Andreyanov had a .916 save percentage and 3.04 goals against average in 20 games played last season, finishing the year with a 9-8-1 record.

He was one of the better goalies in the MHL this past season, finishing with a .942 save percentage and 1.75 goals against average, with a 23-6-6 record in 37 games played. Andreyanov’s save percentage was second-best for all netminders in the league, while his goals against average was fourth-best.

The 18-year-old’s strong play continued into the post-season, as he finished with a .929 save percentage and 2.36 goals against average in six games, although CSKA Moscow lost in six games.

Availability and fit​


Starting with availability, it seems as if Andreyanov will be available in the second round and perhaps even the third round. His consolidated ranking on Elite Prospects is 59th, but the site itself ranks him 79th. Sportsnet’s Jason Bukala and Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis have him at 57th and 58th, respectively. So he’ll almost certainly be available in the later rounds.

The more pressing issue is fit for the Flames. That then becomes a question of “how many goalies, specifically Russian goalies, is too many goalies?” With Dustin Wolf, the Flames have their goalie of the future, and no, he’s not Russian.

Add in Arsenii Sergeev, who recently signed his first professional contract, and they could have a good duo whenever Sergeev is ready. They also signed collegiate netminder Owen Say, who performed well for Notre Dame last year (also not Russian).

All that said, the Flames do have a type – they love their Russian netminders. These kinds of picks, namely Zarubin and Yegorov, could pay dividends later down the road as the National Hockey League teams never lose their rights to Russian players.

Perhaps down the road, one of these Russian netminders breaks out in the Kontinental Hockey League in his mid to late 20s and decides to come to North America. Who knows how the Flames will look in 5-10 years? Think Ilya Sorokin.



Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for FlamesNation, Oilersnation, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/pyotr-andreyanov-another-russian-netminder-flames-might-target
 
Top 20 draft picks in Flames history: #5 – Al MacInnis

When we set about ranking the top Calgary Flames draft choices, one of the things we tried to figure out was how to handle first-round picks that panned out really well. When teams are drafting, they hope that their picks will become pretty good NHLers.

Well, the top-ranked first-rounder on this list became a Hall of Famer.

The fifth-best draft choice in Flames franchise history is Al MacInnis, the 15th overall selection in the 1981 NHL Draft.

A Cape Breton product, MacInnis became a star in Canadian major junior, primarily with the Ontario Hockey League’s Kitchener Rangers. (He also briefly played in the WHL with the Regina Pats before moving to Ontario.) He was drafted by the Flames in 1981, after a rookie season in the OHL that saw him produce 39 points in 47 games. He spent two more seasons with Kitchener, blossoming into an offensive powerhouse that produced well over a point per game. (He also had a few quick stints with the Flames, playing two games in 1981-82 and 14 in 1982-83).

Going pro full-time in 1983-84, MacInnis was a full-time NHLer by early December 1983, and never really looked back. He quickly carved out a role for himself as a really effective offensive blueliner, capable of making crisp, accurate passes to teammates… or absolutely cranking a slap shot from the point. (He was responsible for a lot of broken end-zone plexiglass across the National Hockey League during his career.)

MacInnis was a full-time Flame for 11 seasons. He’s responsible for the best offensive season by a blueliner in Flames history, 103 points in 1990-91. He received Norris Trophy votes in six different seasons, including finishing second in 1989-90 and 1990-91 and third in 1988-89 and 1993-94. He received Hart Trophy votes in 1990-91, too. He was part of the Flames teams that went to the Stanley Cup Final in 1986 and 1989, and he was the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP when the Flames hoisted the Cup in 1989.

The Flames drafted MacInnis and banked on him becoming a good NHL player. He ended up becoming arguably one of their best players of all-time, ending up as their all-time leader in goals, assists, points and games played at one point. (As of this writing, he remains their all-time leader in assists.) But by 1994, MacInnis seemingly had no other worlds to conquer in Calgary – he had won a Cup and led the franchise in everything – while the team had to grapple with MacInnis’ age, rising salary expectations, and the financial realities of operating a small market team in Canada.

In the 1994 off-season, MacInnis ended up accepting an offer sheet from the St. Louis Blues – his compensation from the Blues was too much for the Flames to comfortably match. To complete the transaction, MacInnis and a fourth-round pick in 1997 were sent to St. Louis in exchange for Phil Housley, a 1996 second-round pick and a 1997 second-round pick. (The Flames used the picks to select Steve Begin in 1996 and John Tripp in 1997).

It’s hard to really find qualms with MacInnis’ time in Calgary. Yeah, it would’ve been nice if he had won a Norris Trophy as a Flame, rather than as a Blue. Yeah, it would’ve been nice if he and the team had more playoff success during his run. But when you make a first round selection, you essentially daydream about them making contributions to your hockey team anywhere close to what MacInnis did with the Flames.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/top-20-draft-picks-in-flames-history-5-al-macinnis
 
Russian blueliner Kurban Limatov would fit nicely into Flames’ future plans

Early in his tenure as the general manager of the Calgary Flames, Craig Conroy has already displayed an affinity for Russian players, of which he’s acquired quite a few either through the draft or by way of trade.

Come June 27, Conroy will get yet another opportunity to add some Russian talent. One of the names that Flames’ brass may be interested in at the draft is Kurban Limatov, a left-shot defenceman produced by the MHL, Russia’s top junior league.

Scouting report​


Limatov was born in Moscow in March of 2007 and has played in Russia for the entirety of his minor and junior hockey career. Most recently, the 6’3″, 198-pound blueliner was playing for MHK Dynamo Moskva of the MHL.

Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis ranked Limatov 42nd in his final rankings and had this to say:

“There’s a lot to like about Limatov’s complete package. The 6-foot-3 defender is mobile, hits as hard as anyone and is a great puck distributor. He’s one of the best skaters playing in Europe right now, using his mobility to beat players at speed and get himself out of danger. Limatov can put anyone on their rear end, and if you get him first, he’ll get you back with a hard shot. I think he needs to be smarter at distributing the puck under pressure, but the raw talent is there.”

Dobber Prospects had Limatov at 35th in their midterm rankings and gave this scouting report:

“With a lack of eyes on Russian prospects (especially more so with the departure of Ivan Ryabkin) the scouts still watching will still see value in Russia’s hockey system, starting with Kurban Limatov. He won’t win any awards for flash, but Limatov has a high effort level and may be one of the most pro-style defenders in this class for how calm and collected he is in his own end. Despite being a top point producer among draft-eligible defenseman in the MHL, Limatov’s still working on how to take on an offensive role more often and with his focusing on playing a safer game, he doesn’t take many risks that may lead to a turnover. He is safe enough to be a bottom-pairing defenseman in the NHL.”

Samuel Tirpák of Future Considerations gave this synopsis on Limatov:

“Limatov is a prototypical modern two-way defenseman. He has the size, reach, and strength to excel in battles, winning many along the boards and in the net-front area, which is crucial. His skating allows him to keep up with the pace of the game and, based on this viewing, potentially even push the pace when he has the puck on his stick.”

The numbers​


Kurban began his junior hockey career in the 2023-24 season, playing 30 games for his hometown MHK Dynamo Moskva. His rookie MHL campaign yielded a goal and five assists in those 30 contests, he was a +11. He also went pointless in five playoff games in 2024.

In 2024-25, his first full MHL season, he posted a much healthier point total, registering eight goals and 15 assists for 23 points in his 46 regular season games, he’d add an additional five points in seven playoff games.

After showing immense growth to begin his sophomore season, Limatov was rewarded with an appearance in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), playing in one game for Dynamo Moskva, albeit in a limited capacity.

Availability and fit​


The Flames should be in on some left-handed defenceman of Limatov’s prototype, considering the disproportionate amount of smaller, offensively inclined, right-handed prospects they already have in the system.

As I previously mentioned in my profile on a similar defenceman in this year’s draft named Simon Wang, current top defensive prospects Zayne Parekh, Hunter Brzustewicz and Henry Mews will each need a big, left-handed partner to balance out their game.

Along with Wang, Limatov is another versatile defender who can provide some stability on a future pairing with any of Calgary’s offensively-gifted backend prospects.

Various outlets rank Limatov in the mid-30s to late-60s, indicating that he’ll likely be a second-round pick. The Flames currently own one second-rounder at 54th overall, don’t be surprised if they opt to spend it on Limatov or someone similar, in an attempt to build out their future blueline.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/kurban-limatov-would-fit-nicely-into-flames-future-plans
 
Sweden’s Viktor Klingsell has elite playmaking potential and could be a steal at the draft

With the 2025 NHL Draft approaching, conversations around who should be picked where are ramping up. While it’s fun to focus on first-round picks — as they typically offer the highest reward — it’s important to look beyond the opening rounds. It’s not unusual to find hidden gems later in the draft.

Currently in the NHL, players like Brad Marchand and Kris Letang were selected in the third round, while Jamie Benn and Kirill Kaprizov were taken in the fifth. There are steals to be had if you play your picks right.

An intriguing player who could be worth taking a chance on is 18-year-old Swedish forward Viktor Klingsell.

Scouting report​


Hailing from Järfälla, Sweden, Klingsell is a five-foot-10, left-shot right-winger. His hockey upbringing came through his hometown club, Järfälla HC. He spent 2022 to 2025 with Skellefteå AIK’s junior team, appearing in 58 games before earning a brief three-game stint with the club’s senior squad to close out the season.

Steven Ellis from Daily Faceoff had this to say about the young forward:

“Klingsell is an interesting one. On one hand, you can see the obvious skill. He’s only 5-foot-10 (and a bit on the heavier side for that size) but he makes high-quality plays on the rush and can actually land some decent hits. He put up some good numbers in the Swedish U-20 league but it feels like he passed the puck more than he needed to. He can be fast at points but there’s still work to be done to become at least an average skater.”

Donesh Mazloum of FC Hockey praised Klingsell’s playmaking abilities:

“I don’t think he had an equal in the passing department at this tournament, showing all the hallmarks of an elite playmaker. He has the proverbial ‘eyes in the back of his head,’ and maximizes that vision with perfect precision and execution of his ideas. Sweden’s forward depth was, at times, uneven, so they leaned heavily on Klingsell and his line to earn the Hlinka Gretzky Cup bronze medal.”

It’s clear Klingsell can pass the puck and make things happen on the ice. While there’s room for improvement in other areas of his game, if he fine-tunes his skills to match his vision and passing, he could become an excellent complement to a goal scorer and a productive middle-six forward.

The numbers​


Last season with Skellefteå AIK’s junior team, Klingsell recorded 17 goals and 22 assists for 39 points in 43 games. In the playoffs, he added seven goals and four assists in nine games — including two crucial goals that helped send his team to the finals.

International play has also suited Klingsell well. At the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, he posted four goals and eight assists. Later, at the U18 World Championship, he recorded eight points in seven games to help Sweden capture a silver medal. In February’s Five Nations Cup in Europe, he tallied four points in four games.

Availability and fit


Klingsell’s elite playmaking will be hard for teams to ignore as names begin to fly off the draft board. That ability may even be enough for clubs to overlook concerns about his size or skating.

Most scouting outlets project Klingsell to be selected in the third or fourth round. However, a few — such as Recruit Scouting and Draft Prospects Hockey — have him going in the late second round.

It’s possible some teams will wait and target other prospects first. But if a club manages to snag Klingsell in the third or fourth round, the reward could be significant — and he might end up being one of the steals of the draft.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/sweden...g-potential-and-could-be-a-steal-at-the-draft
 
The Flames have selected four Slovakians in the past decade, could netminder Michal Pradel be next?

The Calgary Flames have drafted their fair share of Slovakians in the past decade.

In 2023, they selected Samuel Honzek 16th overall. Five years before, they selected Martin Pospíšil in the fourth round, followed by Miloš Roman 17 picks later. In 2017, the Flames selected Adam Ružička in the fourth round.

The 2025 draft features another interesting Slovakian, goaltender Michal Pradel. Let’s get to know the 18-year-old netminder.

Scouting report​


Born in Dolný Kubínm, a town located nearly 300 kilometres away from Bratislava and just 45 kilometres away from the Polish border, Pradel stands at 6’4”, 195 lbs, and most recently played for the United States Hockey League’s Tri-City Storm.

Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff ranked Pradel as his 50th-best draft prospect, having this to say about the Slovakian netminder.

Pradel was one of the best goaltenders from start to finish at the U-18s, and a big reason why the Slovaks played for a medal for the third straight year. The 6-foot-5 goaltender takes up a ton of the net, and he’s also so quick and agile, too. He was applauded for his ability to steal games in the USHL and he carried that over to this tournament, too. Pradel battles hard, sees cross-crease passes well and doesn’t let a bad goal bother him. Pradel will be one of the first goaltenders taken this summer because his mix of size and mobility makes him a great player to have in the system.

Neutral Zone believes Pradel will be selected in a range from the end of the third round until the fifth round. Here’s what they said about the 18-year-old.

Pradel’s size, mental makeup, and foundation in zone tracking and sealing techniques give him a clear NHL toolkit—but he is not ready for high-level North American pro hockey today. He will need several years of tailored coaching — continued USHL/European development or the NCAA. That said, the combination of expected goals saved, performance against elite competition, and size-to-skill ratio make him a legitimate bet for teams willing to play the long game. Pradel is a draftable goalie prospect with long-term NHL upside, but at this point is far from a polished product. Monitor closely, especially as development occurs in a structured North American goaltending program.

The numbers​


Pradel started his junior career in Slovakia, playing for his hometown MHK Dolný Kubín’s youth team in 2021-22. He later played for Draci Liptovský Mikuláš and HC ’05 Banská Bystrica’s youth teams before heading to North America.

In 2024-25, Pradel played for the Tri-City Storm of the United States Hockey League, posting an .899 save percentage and a 2.41 goals against average in 14 games played. Pradel also played a post-season game, saving 34 of 36 shots for a .944 save percentage in a losing effort.

The Slovak is yet to commit to an NCAA school, but he most recently played in the Under-18 Worlds, posting a .914 save percentage and 2.46 goals against average in seven games as the Slovaks won the Silver Medal.

Availability and fit​


The Flames have selected a netminder in four of the last five drafts (all of whom are Russian), but it’s a position where you can never draft too many players, as they have a weird development path. If he goes around the 50th overall spot, it’s probably not worth it for the Flames.

That said, if Pradel is available in the fifth round, he could be worth taking a flier on as he’ll start to adapt to the North American game as soon as next season. Since he’s in North America, it’s more likely he’d play for their minor league teams, while Kirill Zarubin, Yegor Yegorov, and Daniil Chechelev all play in Russia.



Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for FlamesNation, Oilersnation, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/the-fl...-decade-could-netminder-michal-pradel-be-next
 
2025 Draft prospect Justin Carbonneau could help solve Flames’ offensive woes

The Calgary Flames have an extensive history of drafting players out of the CHL, in fact, 21 of their last 35 draft picks have hailed from one of the three major Canadian junior leagues (OHL, WHL and QMJHL).

There’s a high likelihood that they will continue this trend in the first round of this year’s draft, with an abundance of CHL talent set to hear their names called in the first 32 picks on Friday. Justin Carbonneau of the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League is one of those players, and he possesses tools that the Flames desperately need more of.

Scouting report​


Carbonneau was born on Nov. 25, 2006, just south of Quebec City across the St Lawrence River in the city of Lévis. He’s a right-shot winger standing at 6’1″ and weighing 192 pounds.

Carbonneau has garnered a ton of attention over the past two seasons for his dynamic offensive ability. He has an extensive skillset with the puck on his stick, something he put on full display in his first draft-eligible season, resulting in him finishing second in goals and points in all of the QMJHL.

Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff had Carbonneau at 14th in his final draft rankings, and he gave the Quebec native quite high praise in his report:

“Carbonneau doesn’t seem to get enough love for the season he just had. He scored 46 goals and 89 points while boasting one of the best shots in the draft class. He’s known for making high-end moves and can beat most players in 1-on-1 situations. The upside is massive here, but he can be prone to giving the puck away too easily and doesn’t engage much physically. Still, with the right players around him, Carbonneau looks like a future first-line winger who can score 30 goals a season.”

Sportsnet’s Sam Cosentino ranked Carbonneau at 15th back in May and had this to say about him:

“Exhibits a unique wide-skating style that is effective in driving to the net. It’s not as effective when he’s trying to get off the mark, but overall his skating is not an issue. Carbonneau possesses some of the best offensive instincts in this draft class and he has the skill to put them into action.”

Carbonneau landed at 18th on Jason Bukala of Sportsnet’s final draft rankings, this was his synopsis:

“Carbonneau has outstanding puck touch. He makes plays in small areas and he’s difficult to contain as a result. His skating could still go to another level, but he did produce 46G-43A for the Armada.”

The Armada winger dominates on the offensive side of the puck in multiple facets. He combines a great shot and puck skills with the size and speed to rush the net, forming a strong playmaking catalogue.

Check out Carbonneau’s offensive creativity on this solo effort goal.

Justin Carbonneau is one of the more skilled players in the #2025NHLDraft. He’s entertaining, blends tools, creates advantages & manages a mountain of puck touches in a given game.

Sometimes, tunnel vision takes over, & you get plays like this. 🤣

27GP-20G-22A-42P this season pic.twitter.com/5YelkS0Mhv

— Daniel Gee (@DanielGScouting) December 6, 2024

The numbers​


Carbonneau has improved each year he’s played in the QMJHL, going from 18 points in 30 games in 2022-23 to 59 in 68 last year and now an impressive 89 in 62 (46G, 43A) this past season.

He’s posted 11 points in 16 career playoff games with the Armada. Additionally, he registered two assists in two games during the USA/CHL Top Prospects Challenge in November.

Availability and fit​


Carbonneau represents a lot of what the Flames are looking for this upcoming draft, he’s a skilled goal scorer who also has the ability to distribute the puck and set up teammates.

He has room to improve defensively as well as physically and doesn’t play centre which are certainly drawbacks, considering Calgary’s need for support down the middle. However, he’ll be one of the premiere offensive players available should he slip to their first selection at 18th overall.

Carbonneau is practically stapled to the 10 to 20 range in expert draft rankings with virtually no variance outside of that window. He’s a consensus middle of the first-round pick so if the Flames want him he’ll need to have a small draft slide and they’ll need to use their top pick at 18 to take him.

Much has been made of Calgary’s search for a first-line centreman of the future, but the reality is they need help everywhere up front. Their only true right-wingers under contract are Matt Coronato and Adam Klapka, so if Carbonneau happens to be available to them on Friday, they’ll likely consider making him their first selection.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/2025-d...onneau-could-help-solve-flames-offensive-woes
 
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