News Flames Team Notes

[Calgary Flames]

The Flames could reunite the Brzustewicz brothers by selecting Henry with the 32nd overall pick

Wouldn’t it be funny if the Calgary Flames drafted one of their prospects’ brothers?

No, I’m not talking about Michael Misa (whom I did write about). Instead, the Flames could and should have their sights set on a more realistic target, Henry Brzustewicz.

On Jan. 31, 2024, the Flames traded Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks for a sizeable package. On top of Joni Jurmo, Matvei Gridin, Luke Misa, Eric Jamieson, and Andrei Kuzmenko (and by extension, Joel Farabee and Morgran Frost), the Flames acquired right-shot defenceman Hunter Brzustewicz

His brother is draft eligible come Friday. Let’s get to know the 18-year-old right-shot defenceman.

Scouting report​

Brzustewicz stands at 6’2”, 203 lbs and is a right-shot defenceman from Washington, Michigan. He has spent the past two seasons with the prestigious London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, but more on that later.

Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis ranked the right-shot defenceman as his 38th-best draft prospect in the final draft rankings, having this to say:

“Brzustewicz is an all-around defender who may not be the most refined right now, but he doesn’t have many notable flaws. He had a solid year in London, which finished with a Memorial Cup championship. He’s a two-way defender who can shoot the puck, skate well and is willing to join in on the rush any time he can. The more he played, the better he played, too. Brzustewicz feels like a safe pick to become a second-pairing defenseman, but I’d like to see him take further steps in his own-zone play.”

The 18-year-old was ranked a little bit higher by Sportsnet’s Jason Bukala, saying this about the Michigan native:

“Brzustewicz was part of the Memorial Cup champion London Knights and played a significant role for the team. He quietly produced 10G-32A in the regular season and followed it up with some secondary scoring in the playoffs (1G-4A). He has the skill set to be used in a variety of roles and he’s trustworthy defensively. He engages his opponents and doesn’t cut corners searching for offence. I like his size, strength, detail and compete overall.”

Brzustewicz’s most recent Dobber Prospects observation was written in June by Luke Sweeny, and he had this to say about the defenceman:

“With size, puck-moving ability, and strong defensive instincts, Brzustewicz was a strong companion for Sam Dickinson on a competitive London blueline all season long. While he got pushed down the lineup as the games got more important, he still managed to contribute a critical stretch-pass assist in the Memorial Cup Finals. A larger role next season will be both a test and an opportunity.”

The numbers​

All Brzustewicz has done in junior hockey is win. He joined the London Knights for the 2023-24 season, playing 52 games and scoring two goals and five points. In the post-season, Brzustewicz matched his goal total from the regular season and added an assist in just 16 games. He was held pointless in four Memorial Cup games as the Knights fell to Zayne Parekh and the Saginaw Spirit.

Entering his sophomore season, Brzustewicz earned more opportunities, especially when Sam Dickinson and Oliver Bonk departed around the holidays to play for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships. The right-shot defenceman finished with 10 goals and 42 points in 67 games.

Like the season before, the Knights ran through the Ontario Hockey League, winning the J. Ross Robertson Cup in 17 games, compared to 18 games the year prior. Brzustewicz added a goal and five points in 17 post-season games, and even scored a goal and an assist in four Memorial Cup games as the Knights won their third Memorial Cup in franchise history.

Bonk, the Knights’ top right-shot defenceman, will be ineligible for the OHL in the 2025-26 season, meaning Brzustewicz should get top pairing minutes alongside Sam Dickinson, as long as the San Jose Sharks prospect doesn’t make their roster.

It’s worth noting that the Knights probably won’t be as dominant next season, as Bonk, Denver Barkey, Easton Cowen, Jacob Juelin, Landon Sim, and Blake Montgomery will be too old to play in the league next season.

In team scoring, Barkey ranked second in points, Cowen in fourth, Julien in sixth, Sim in seventh, Montgomery in eighth, and Bonk in 12th. The two top scorers who have the potential to come back are Dickinson and two Edmonton Oilers prospects, Sam O’Reilly and William Nicholl. Funnily enough, I wrote about O’Reilly in one of last year’s draft profiles.

Availability and fit​

Brzustewicz is ranked towards the backend of the first round, which is good news because the Flames own the last pick of the first round, the 32nd overall pick. It’s not a foregone conclusion that Brzustewicz will be available, but there is a chance.

What makes me believe the Flames won’t select the right-shot defenceman is that they already have a handful of good right-handed defencemen. For starters, Brzustewicz’s brother is one of them, as well as Parekh and Henry Mews.

That said, if one brother is good, the other one is probably solid as well. Look no further than Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson. He had a terrific season with the Montréal Canadiens, but his brother Cole fell all the way to 43rd, which teams immediately regretted after a terrific World Junior Championship.

All of this is to say that if Brzustewicz is the best player available, the Flames should draft him.

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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...by-selecting-henry-with-the-32nd-overall-pick

 

[Calgary Flames]

Flames trade into seventh round, select centre Yan Matveiko at 211th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft

The Calgary Flames have made a trade and an eighth pick at the 2025 NHL Draft. Per PuckPedia, the Flames have traded their 2026 seventh-round pick to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for the 211th overall pick.

At 211th overall, the Flames selected centre Yan Matveiko of Krasnaya Armiya Moskva of Russia’s MHL (their top junior league.)

Trade

To #Flames
'25 7th (#211)

To #LGRW
‘26 7thhttps://t.co/17HcVnPuBy

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) June 28, 2025

Matveiko is a left shot centre listed at 6’1″ and 150 pounds, and he’s an August 2006 birthday. He’s in his second year of draft eligibility, but he’s only a month older than the oldest first-time draft eligible player in this class. He had 10 goals and 14 assists for 24 points over 42 games this season in the MHL.

Matveiko wasn’t ranked by the NHL’s Central Scouting Service or any of the major public rankers.

According to Flames general manager Craig Conroy, the area scouts were split on who to take in the seventh round – Matveiko or Swedish blueliner Jakob Leander – so Conroy connected with Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman and acquired another pick so they could get both of them.

The Flames have now completed all of their selections at the 2025 NHL Draft.



Get ready for wall-to-wall coverage of one of the biggest days in the calendar — the Daily Faceoff Live Free Agency Special goes live on July 1st at 11 AM EST. Host Tyler Yaremchuk is joined by Carter Hutton, Matthew Barnaby, Jeff Marek, Hart Levine, Colby Cohen, Jonny Lazarus, and insiders from across the Network for three hours of in-depth analysis, live reactions, and real-time updates on every major signing and trade. From blockbuster deals to under-the-radar moves, we’re breaking it all down as it happens. Don’t miss a minute — catch the full special live on DailyFaceoff.com and Daily Faceoff’s YouTube.

Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/flames...tveiko-at-211th-overall-in-the-2025-nhl-draft

 

[Calgary Flames]

Flames head scout Tod Button reflects on the 2025 NHL Draft class

The 2025 NHL Draft is in the books! The Calgary Flames added eight new faces to their organization: two defencemen and six forwards.

Per tradition, the assembled media met with Flames director of amateur scouting to get the low-down on the newest Flames.

C Cole Reschny (18th overall, 1st round)​

Really exciting. We needed the centre iceman. We talked about it a lot. We weren’t going to reach for it. Skill, hockey sense, compete, winner. That’s how you describe Cole Reschny.

C Cullen Porter (32nd overall, 1st round)​

Again, centre iceman. People are going to debate whether he’s going to be a centre or a winger at the next level. We said when we drafted him he’s a centre. If it doesn’t work out that way, that’s just something that goes on in development over player maturity in the process. But we drafted him to be a centre. He’s one of the best skaters in the draft. He’s a great vision, great hands and he’s self-driven. He’s a motivated kid. If you know his background, his mom, Olympian and the bloodlines are there. Doing the school early to get in to challenge himself. He wanted a better challenge. So some people, you could knock a guy that goes to school early. He doesn’t put up the numbers he might have if he stayed at the program or gone to junior. I look at that as a positive. This kid wanted to go challenge himself against bigger, stronger guys. And in my opinion, he aced the test. So really excited to get Cullen.

(Flames general manager Craig Conroy mentioned on Flames Talk’s draft coverage on Friday night that the club tried to move up to draft Potter earlier, but ended up getting him at 32nd overall.)

C Theo Stockselius (54th overall, 2nd round)​

Left wing/centre. He played a lot of left wing. I saw him on both wings. I know he played centre. I know he’s listed at centre… So he had thyroid cancer a couple of years ago. He’s beat it. So it’s a really neat story… But didn’t play in the national team until November this year. Played on a strong Djurgardens team with some really good players. Skilled, smart. He’s got reach. He needs physical development. But when we did the whole process with [director of sports performance] Rick Davis and our doctors, we think he was physically hampered obviously by going through the cancer treatment. So we think it’s going to come. He’s 6’3″. His brother’s a thicker kid. So we think he’s a little behind that way. But we’re not worried about him.

D Mace’o Phillips (80th overall, 3rd round)​

We had a subset of defencemen that we really liked. And it’s almost like the goalies now. You get those bigger, stronger, long, hard-nosed defencemen. And it’s the case like when I mentioned the goaltenders. When one of them starts to go, a bunch of them start to go. So we didn’t want to reach for any of them. But when we got there to that pick, we just said, we’re taking him now. Our U.S. guys were on board. He’s a long-term guy. We had [development staffers] Marty Gelinas, Ray [Edwards] in the room. So they know all about him. They know where he has to get to. So he’s going to University of Minnesota in two years. I don’t know if you guys talked to him, but what an engaging young man. Like he’s got a unique story too. He told us at the interviews in June that he was either going to go to Portland or Green Bay, but he’s going to wait to see which team drafted him and get their consult to make the final decision. So that’s where he’s going next year.

LW Ethan Wyttenbach (144th overall, 5th round)​

Then it wasn’t a sentimental pick because our guys really like this guy, the Wyttenbach kid. But it was a neat side story. A neat ribbon on top to have him win the first [USHL’s Gaudreau Award]. So smaller, skilled, smart, over point per game in the USHL, not an easy league to score in, especially at that size. So you have to have unique escapeability and evasiveness to be able to put those points up. He was a case certainly where our analytics department really helped because our guys were worried about his size early. And then they’re like, no, it matches up with what you’re seeing as far as the IQ and the tenacity and the skill. We just kept on tracking it all year. And then it came to that point, he was there and our analytics department was like, yeah, take that guy. That’s the guy.

RW Aiden Lane (176th overall, 6th round)​

Started at St. Andrews College. We saw him last year a lot when we were in to see Dean Letourneau. So he was on the radar from last year. Myself and [amateur scout] Terry Doran saw him early at St. Andrews College. And then he went to Brampton for a few games. I stopped tracking him a little bit, but Terry kept on him. And then you watch him through the playoffs. He’s going to Harvard next year. I think he could be a centre iceman, he’s played a lot of centre at St. Andrews, but they played him more on the wing at Brampton just because of his lack of experience there. But he’s 6’1″, he’s thick, he’s strong, and let’s say his core asset is his hockey sense. Really smart player.

(Button noted that the group was undecided between two players with their final pick. “And Connie says, ‘I’ll get you another pick,'” and they ended up drafting both players.)

D Jakob Leander (208th overall, 7th round)​

A big rugged 6’4 defenceman. As our Swedish scout David Akerblom said, “You watch the playoffs, you see these guys on winning teams.”

C Yan Matveiko (211th overall, 7th round)​

[Amateur scout] Denis Grebeshkov, he’s been such a valuable addition to our staff in Russia covering them off since we haven’t been able to go there that much. We had [Matveiko] on the list. He tracked them last year and he watched him. He wasn’t on our list last year, but he tracked them and he said that the improvement from last year this year made him put him on the radar. Much like an Eric Jamieson that we did last year, same thing this year. So our guy, Denis was really happy with Yan and he said, “Great pick there.” I think 6’4”, 185 pound, centre iceman, has a chance to play in the KHL next year. So you just by that, you can tell he’s made some strides, right?

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/flames-head-scout-tod-button-reflects-on-the-2025-nhl-draft-class

 

[Calgary Flames]

One realistic Flames offer sheet target for NHL free agency

Offer sheets are back in the NHL thanks to the St. Louis Blues. They were able to successfully sign both Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg while only giving up a second and a third round pick last summer. It was a brilliant move that did not go unnoticed around the NHL.

The offer sheet is looking like a smart option for teams who are looking to improve their roster heading into next season. There are not a lot of players available on the trade market. And the free agent market is not flush with game changing players. But there are some interesting names available via offer sheets.

An offer sheet could make sense for the Flames as they continue to look to add younger players to their lineup between the ages of 21-26.

In order to acquire these players you have to be willing to give up draft capital. Here is what offer sheet compensation looks like for the 2025 off-season.

First things first. The Flames should not sign a player to an offer sheet with an AAV above $4,680,076. If they do, it means they will lose their 2026 first round pick which is an absolute no go. Craig Conroy would be crazy to give up his lottery ticket in the Gavin McKenna draft.

The Flames will also need to target players on teams who are up against the salary cap. There is no point in trying to sign a player on a team who can easily match the contract.

With all that in mind, let’s take a look at one RFA who the Flames might be able to sign to an offer sheet.

(I originally wrote about two offer sheet targets. But one of them was Nic Hague who was traded to Nashville last night)

Mackie Samoskevich – Florida Panthers – RW – 22 years old – 5’11”, 181 pounds​

There are probably a lot of Flames fans out there that aren’t too familiar with Mackie Samoskevich. He plays in the Eastern Conference and on top of that he only suited up for four Panther playoff games in their most recent Stanley Cup championship.

If there is one thing Samoskevich is known for, it’s his speed and tenacity. According to NHL Edge, Samoskevich is in the top 94th percentile in speed bursts over 22 mph, 91st percentile in speed bursts over 20 mph, and the 89th percentile in top skating speed.

Samoskevich also has a fantastic shot and set of hands. In his first full season in the NHL, Samoskevich put up 15 goals and 16 assists in 72 games. He did that playing in the bottom six of the Panther forward group.

Mackie Samoskevich wraps it around for his first NHL goal! pic.twitter.com/bFATpP3YkY

— NHL (@NHL) October 27, 2024

What a move by Mackie Samoskevich pic.twitter.com/OP2gee3RBp

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 1, 2025

Mackie Samoskevich takes Ekblad’s pass in and rips home a fantastic shot, 2-1 Florida!#TimeToHunt pic.twitter.com/LeOtwJf9BA

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) December 19, 2024

He is going to become a perennial 30 goal scorer and high end top six player with whatever team gives him a chance to succeed in a top six role. Teams would be doing Florida a big favour if they decided not to offer sheet Samoskevich. And why would anyone want to help the back-to-back Stanley Cup champs?

The Florida Panthers might put themselves in a position where they won’t be able to match an offer sheet on Samoskevich if they sign one or more of Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad.

Is there a fit for Samoskevich in Calgary? Absolutely. The Flames barely have any young, right shooting forwards in their organization. They could desperately use a guy like Samoskevich.

The forward group is currently filled out at the NHL level. But Conroy could easily trade a forward out to fit Samoskevich into their lineup. Samoskevich would instantly become one of their best wingers. The Flames could move out one of Blake Coleman, Yegor Sharangovich, Joel Farabee or Martin Pospisil.

Projected offer sheet: 2 years, $4,680,076 AAV

A bridge deal could entice Samoskevich to sign. He gets a significant raise on his current salary and he would be able to sign a new deal with a rising salary cap and more opportunity on the ice in Calgary.

Teams around the NHL would be crazy not to target either one of these players. Offer sheets should be used a whole lot more than they currently are, especially on players who are on elite teams. Don’t make the life of the Florida Panthers or Vegas Golden Knights easier. Go after them and make them worse while making yourself better.

Do you want to see the Flames use an offer sheet this summer? Let us know in the comments section!

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/2-realistic-flames-offer-sheet-targets-nhl-free-agency

 

[Calgary Flames]

Flames announce eight game pre-season schedule for 2025-26

On Monday afternoon, the Calgary Flames announced their pre-season schedule for the 2025-26 campaign.

The schedule features eight exhibition games, perhaps for the final time given the expectation that the new collective bargaining agreement will see the pre-season cut down to four games as the regular season is boosted up to 84 games.

As has become standard in recent years, the Flames will play a pair of games – one home, one away – against each of the Edmonton Oilers, Seattle Kraken, Vancouver Canucks and Winnipeg Jets.

The schedule begins with a set of split squad games against the Edmonton Oilers on Sun., Sept. 21: with Flames at Oilers at Rogers Place, and Oilers at Flames at the Saddledome.

Then there’s a back-to-back set, with the Flames hosting Seattle on Tues., Sept. 23 at the ‘Dome before heading west to visit the Vancouver Canucks on Wed., Sept. 24 in Abbotsford, home of the Calder Cup champions.

The road swing continues, with a trip to Winnipeg on Sat., Sept. 27 and a visit to Seattle on Mon., Sept. 29. The pre-season concludes with a pair of home dates, with the Flames hosting Vancouver on Wed., Oct. 1 and Winnipeg on Fri., Oct. 3.

(We’ll have radio, broadcasting and streaming information for the exhibition games as they become available, likely immediately before the pre-season begins.)

Generally-speaking, you’ll see veteran-laden Flames rosters for pretty much all pre-season home dates. The road rosters are usually fairly youthful when camp begins and will become more and more NHL-heavy as the exhibition calendar goes along. If nothing else, you get a chance to see some of the Flames organization’s younger players tried out in game situations alongside some of their established veterans.

Based on the dates of these games, you can reasonably expect rookie training camp to begin around Sept. 11 and main training camp to begin around Sept. 18. If we’re using last season’s schedule as a gauge, you can probably expect the roster deadline day to be Mon., Oct. 6 and the season to begin Tues., Oct. 7. (The 2025-26 regular season schedule is expected to be released in mid-July.)



Get ready for wall-to-wall coverage of one of the biggest days in the calendar — the Daily Faceoff Live Free Agency Special goes live on July 1st at 11 AM EST. Host Tyler Yaremchuk is joined by Carter Hutton, Matthew Barnaby, Jeff Marek, Hart Levine, Colby Cohen, Jonny Lazarus, and insiders from across the Network for three hours of in-depth analysis, live reactions, and real-time updates on every major signing and trade. From blockbuster deals to under-the-radar moves, we’re breaking it all down as it happens. Don’t miss a minute — catch the full special live on DailyFaceoff.com and Daily Faceoff’s YouTube.

Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/flames-announce-eight-game-pre-season-schedule-for-2025-26