News Flames Team Notes

[Calgary Flames]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Aspirot had an assist this week.

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

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

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

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

Jacob Battaglia – LW, Kingston Frontenacs, OHL​

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hunter Brzustewicz – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL​

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

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

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

He was called up on Wednesday.

Lucas Ciona – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL​

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

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

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

Matvei Gridin – RW, Shawinigan Cataractes, QMJHL​

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

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

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

Artem Grushnikov – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL​

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

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

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

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

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

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

Honzek’s been playing up the middle lately.

Axel Hurtig – D, Calgary Hitmen, WHL​

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

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

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

Eric Jamieson – D, Everett Silvertips, WHL​

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rory Kerins – C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL​

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

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

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

Adam Klapka – RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL​

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yan Kuznetsov – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL​

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

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

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

Etienne Morin – D, Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL​

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

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

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

Sam Morton – C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL​

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

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

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

He was called up on Wednesday.

Zayne Parekh – D, Saginaw Spirit, OHL​

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

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

Parekh is in the NHL.

Jeremie Poirier – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL​

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

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

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

Ilya Solovyov – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL​

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

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

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

William Strömgren – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL​

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

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

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

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

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

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

Suniev is in the NHL.

Waltteri Ignatjew – G, Calgary Wranglers, AHL​

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

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

Ignatjew started both games against Abbotsford and played really well.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

[Calgary Flames]

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

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

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

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

The Flames​

Projected lines, via Sportsnet’s Pat Steinberg:

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

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

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

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

The Kings​

Tuesday’s lines, via Daily Faceoff:

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

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

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

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

Unavailable players​

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

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

The numbers​

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

Head to head​

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

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

 

[Calgary Flames]

Instant Reaction: Flames down Kings in final game of the 2024-25 season

Welcome to Instant Reaction, where we give you our instant reaction to tonight’s Calgary Flames game and ask our readers to do the same in the comments section below!

All good things must come to an end.

On Thursday evening, the Calgary Flames played their last game of the season, defeating the Los Angeles Kings 5-1 to finish with 96 points for the season. Let’s take a look at what happened in this game!

The rundown​

Early in the second period, the Flames had a nice cycle going. A pass from the point was deflected behind the net by Adam Klapka to Nazem Kadri. He came from behind the net to score his 34th goal of the season after ripping it past David Rittich.

FLAMES GOAL

Nazem Kadri opens the scoring in LA! That's his 34th goal of the year!

: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/Jkaawg0Y3a

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) April 18, 2025

That was all the scoring there was until the third period. Just over six minutes into the final frame, the Flames broke out on a three-on-one, with Dryden Hunt passing it to Ryan Lomberg, who passed it to Sam Morton for the tap-in goal. It was the 25-year-old’s first National Hockey League goal.

FLAMES GOAL

SAM MORTON SCORES HIS FIRST NHL GOAL!

: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/IvH3f6I6qU

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) April 18, 2025

About a minute later, the Flames had another odd-man rush. Hunt also happened to lead this one, saucing it over to Kadri for his second goal of the game and his 35th of the season, expanding on his career-high.

FLAMES GOAL

Dryden Hunt makes an incredible saucer pass to find Nazem Kadri and he buries it!

: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/8tRQAzFE9x

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) April 18, 2025

The Flames’ goal-scoring continued just a minute later. Zayne Parekh had the puck at the blue line, passed it to captain Mikael Backlund and got into a scoring position. The Flames’ top prospect tipped Backlund’s point shot past Big Save Dave to give the Flames a 4-0 lead.

FLAMES GOAL

ZAYNE PAREKH SCORES HIS FIRST NHL GOAL!

: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/go4pJwTi8Y

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) April 18, 2025

However, the scoring party didn’t stop there as the captain got in on the action. With about eight and a half minutes left in the game, Backlund got a zone entry, made a nice move to change the angle, and ripped it by Rittich for the 5-0 lead.

FLAMES GOAL

Mikael Backlund rips a shot past David Rittich! It's 5-0 Calgary!

: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/1WYZMadbjG

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) April 18, 2025

Parekh and Morton weren’t the only players to score their first goals in their first game. Unfortunately, it wasn’t Hunter Brzustewicz or Aydar Suniev, as Daniel Vladař’s shutout was snapped by Taylor Ward with a little over six minutes left in the game.

Why the Flames won​

Netminder Daniel Vladař was a big reason why the Flames won this game, stopping 30 of 31 shots for a .968 save percentage. He wasn’t the only reason, as the Flames continued to show the heart that made them so darn exciting to watch all season long.

It helped the Flames’ cause that after two slow periods, the Flames broke out with four goals in five and a half minutes.

Red Warrior​

There are so many players you could give it to. For his performance, Vladař deserves a nomination. You could also look at Sam Morton and Zayne Parekh, who each scored their first goal in their first game. Dryden Hunt picked up two assists as well.

Realistically, I want to give the Red Warrior to the entire 2024-25 Flames team. It was my first full season covering the team for Flame Nation, and oh man, was it ever exciting tuning into this team all season long. The heart that they showed, the drive to never give up, and the fact that it came down to the wire to determine if they made the post-season or not made this season awesome.

Turning point​

It’s hard not to point to the four goals in five and a half minutes as the turning point of the game. Before that, it was a tight game, wondering if they’d win or not. After that, it was pretty easy to breathe.

This and that​

Overall, the Flames finished with a 40-27-14 record, good enough for 96 points. That’s tied for the most number of points by a team that didn’t make the post-season.

At the same time, it’s a little bit heartbreaking that the Flames aren’t playing hockey until the fall. If one thing went differently, say the Ducks hold on to their 2-1 lead on Tuesday, or the Flames don’t blow the 3-1 lead, or one of their 14 overtime losses end in a victory, the Flames would be playing at least four more games.

Still, the team proved it’s further along in the rebuild than previously thought. Dustin Wolf is a legitimate game-changer between the pipes, and there aren’t a whole lot of teams that can say they have a game-changing netminder. Another good draft in June, and this franchise will be set up nicely for the future, even without an elite talent like Gavin McKenna, for example.

Speaking of the future, it arrived in Thursday’s game. Both Zayne Parekh and Sam Morton scored their first NHL goals, while Hunter Brzustewicz and Aydar Suniev played in their first NHL games. The Flames have an exciting prospect pool with veterans who are still playing at a high level.

Until next season!

Up next​

The Flames’ season concluded with this win. See you in October!

---

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

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/instant-reaction-flames-down-kings-in-final-game-of-the-2024-25-season

 

[Calgary Flames]

The Flames’ debuting kids impressed in season finale against the Kings

For the first time in franchise history, four players made their National Hockey League debuts for the Calgary Flames as they played their season finale on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Kings.

Prospects Zayne Parekh, Hunter Brzustewicz, Sam Morton and Aydar Suniev all suited up for their first NHL games, as the Flames – mathematically eliminated from post-season contention on Tuesday night – closed out their season on the road. And while the Flames were playing a Kings squad that probably had their minds on Monday’s playoff opener with the Edmonton Oilers, the Flames largely carried play and deservedly beat the Kings by a 5-1 score.

Considering that newcomers made up almost a quarter of their lineup, the Flames’ debuting kids played a bit part in the victory.

Zayne Parekh (#89)​

The Flames’ top pick in last year’s draft, Parekh was voted the club’s top prospect in our rankings last summer. And his spectacular performance this season with the Ontario Hockey League’s Saginaw Spirit didn’t do much to temper expectations.

Against the Kings, Parekh looked… like himself, basically. He played on the club’s top pairing with Kevin Bahl, and also quarterbacked their second power play unit (with Mikael Backlund, Blake Coleman, Yegor Sharangovich and Aydar Suniev) and generally looked calm, cool and collected.

Parekh was credited with 20:31 of ice time, two shots, a goal, a plus-3 rating, and was called for a tripping minor in the second period. Natural Stat Trick had him at 48.46% expected goals for. His goal was a pretty savvy play, with Parekh playing the puck at the point and then cycling down towards the slot for a redirect.

FLAMES GOAL

ZAYNE PAREKH SCORES HIS FIRST NHL GOAL!

: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/go4pJwTi8Y

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) April 18, 2025

Hunter Brzustewicz (#48)​

Acquired from Vancouver in the Elias Lindholm trade, Brzustewicz has spent this entire season with the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers, primarily paired with stay-at-home ace Yan Kuznetsov. He played on Thursday on the Flames’ third pairing with Brayden Pachal, and he was pretty effective, too.

He played 18:23 and had two shots, a plus-2 rating, a tripping minor in the third period, and 82.38% expected goals for. He was arguably the least impressive of the four prospects, but Brzustewicz has played a really simple, effective game as an AHL rookie this season, and his performance with the Flames was similar to that. (It’s a good thing that he didn’t stand out.)

Sam Morton (#45)​

A college free agent signing last spring, Morton played his first NHL game on the fourth line between a pair of effective veterans in Ryan Lomberg and Dryden Hunt. He also played on the second penalty killing unit alongside Joel Farabee.

Morton had a good game and, like Brzustewicz, looked like he does with the Wranglers. He played 12:25 and had one shot, a goal, a plus-1 rating, went 4-for-7 at the face-off dot, and 48.08% expected goals for.

Morton’s goal was a really effective rush play, and featured the centre getting a redirect from the net-front area, and then freaking the heck out because he scored a goal in the NHL.

FLAMES GOAL

SAM MORTON SCORES HIS FIRST NHL GOAL!

: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/IvH3f6I6qU

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) April 18, 2025

(With his goal, Morton became the sixth player to light the lamp this season for both the Flames and Wranglers, joining Matt Coronato, Adam Klapka, Jakob Pelletier, Clark Bishop and Tyson Barrie.)

Aydar Suniev (#36)​

Suniev played on the top line, playing with Nazem Kadri and a combination of Adam Klapka and Hunt. (Klapka got hurt and left the game early in the third period, so Hunt got extra reps on the top line.) He also played on the second power play unit.

Suniev played 14:48 and had one shot, a plus-2 rating, and 54.63% expected goals for. Suniev was really effective and had some good offensive looks, but he just wasn’t quite able to convert on his chances.

Aydar Suniev goes on a nice end to end rush. You can get an indication of his skating and skill.

: Sportsnet | #Flames pic.twitter.com/GBcm89V7C7

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) April 18, 2025

The Flames’ season has ended. The Wranglers continue on, though, and we’ll likely see some roster re-assignments this weekend to send eligible players (Parekh, Brzustewicz, Morton, Hunt and Klapka) down to the AHL for the post-season.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/the-flames-debuting-kids-impressed-in-season-finale-against-the-kings

 

[Calgary Flames]

Rasmus Andersson hasn’t really thought about his future with the Flames

When Calgary Flames blueliner Rasmus Andersson sat down at the podium on Saturday morning for his final press conference of the season with the assembled local media, there were two things he probably expected to be asked about.

One subject was his health and the injury he played through for the last dozen games of the season. The other subject was Andersson’s status following the 2025-26 season as a potential unrestricted free agent.

So when Andersson was asked about his future with the Flames, he was ready to chat about his thought process, even though he noted he hasn’t really had much time to think about it yet.

“You’ve been so busy with the end [of the season], right?” said Andersson. “And it seems like the boring answer, but you’ve been so busy with pushing for playoffs and checking the scores in every other game… And so it’s one of those things where after Worlds, I gotta just sit down with my family and, you know, my parents and my wife, my kids – even though my kids doesn’t understand that – but I have to sit down with my wife and we just gotta talk through everything.”

When he became Flames general manager in the 2022 off-season, Craig Conroy had to juggle a lot of pending unrestricted free agents. He acknowledged Andersson had earned the right to make his upcoming decision on his future when speaking on Saturday afternoon, and Conroy hesitated to place a firm time-frame on when Andersson’s future with the Flames would need to be determined.

“I mean, everybody has a time when they get to a point in their career where they have to make some decisions moving forward,” said Conroy, noting he and Andersson hadn’t really discussed his future. “And we’ll sit down and talk about it and see where he’s at and where we’re at. You know, and if it makes sense to both sides, then we’ll move forward. But I would think something would be done this year, but I don’t want to put a time frame. He has one more year in his contract, too. So, you know, I don’t want to say absolutely it’s going to be something in the next five months.”

Andersson was selected by the Flames in the second round of the 2015 NHL Draft – chosen with a draft choice the club acquired from Vancouver for Sven Baertschi. Since making his NHL debut at the end of the 2016-17 season, Andersson has emerged as one of the team’s top blueliners and leaders on and off the ice. He’s played 536 NHL games, all with the Flames, and sits 20th on the all-time leaderboard in that category.

Andersson signed a six year deal in January 2020 as a restricted free agent, and the summer of 2026 would be his first opportunity to be an unrestricted free agent.

“I’ve always loved playing here and I know, you guys, it’s the same cliche as always, but I mean, I’ve been here 10 years now and I’ve loved every second of it,” said Andersson. “And it’s easy when you’re not playing your best to get down on yourself, but at the end of the day, you’re in the NHL and this is the thing you dream about when you’re a kid. And so it’s just one of those things I grew up in Calgary. I’ve been here my whole life. It’s the first big decision of my career. It feels like it’s like, you know, I signed and I think it was January and COVID hit, but I signed a six year deal back then. And that was like a no-brainer for me to sign that contract. And so it feels like this is the first time in my career where I have like a big decision and so I just got to sit down with my family and talk it through. And, you know, Connie and those guys got to do the same thing.”

Andersson expressed his admiration for the city and organization, and while he conceded that he didn’t understand the mentality of the portion of the fanbase that’s “team tank” – “Like no player in NHL ever wants to lose a game. I can guarantee you that. And especially here, losing is never an option.” – he emphasized he loved Flames fans.

“I can’t stress it enough, I’ve loved every second here and whatever happens, happens,” said Andersson. “And, you know, I understand that it’s a business side of it and, uh, it’s got to make sense for both sides. And they have a number in mind. I have a number in mind. And, you know, I don’t even know what the number is because I haven’t even thought about it for a second, honestly, within the last three months. And, you know, I’ve loved every second of it.”

Andersson’s current deal expires at the end of 2025-26, and carries a $4.55 million cap hit and a six-team no-trade list, per PuckPedia.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/rasmus-andersson-hasnt-really-thought-about-his-future-with-the-flames

 

[Calgary Flames]

Flames top prospect Zayne Parekh isn’t joining the Wranglers (so he can optimize his off-season)

At the end of July 2023, a young blueliner by the name of Zayne Parekh left home in Ontario to journey to Budapest, Hungary to prepare to represent Canada in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup as he began his draft season.

In the last 22 months, Parekh has won gold at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, put up 33 goals and 96 points in the OHL in his draft year, won a Memorial Cup, gone through the NHL Draft process, was selected ninth overall by the Flames, attended development camp, signed his first NHL contract, attended Flames prospect and training camp, played his first NHL pre-season games, put up 33 goals and 107 points in the OHL, then made his NHL debut and scored his first NHL goal.

Oh, and he celebrated his 18th and 19th birthdays and spent just two and a half weeks at home last summer during that whirlwind. So with a big off-season ahead of him and the opportunity to perhaps win an NHL roster spot in the fall, while Parekh is eligible to join the American Hockey League’s Calgary Wranglers, the Flames have opted not to have him to so.

“Parekh, we’re not going to do,” said general manager Craig Conroy on Saturday afternoon. “You know, he’s played a lot of hockey. We’re going to get him going. And, you know, he’s talking about kind of getting focused like we’ve talked. And he didn’t get to train last year much. And this year, the focus is to get stronger, to come back and make a team.”

Speaking to the media earlier on Saturday, Parekh explained what he wants to accomplish this coming off-season.

“I’m going to be focused on everything,” said Parekh. “I mean, I’ve got to put on a lot of weight, a lot of muscle. So I’ll hopefully come back around 193-ish. But I’ve got to take some time off too. I’ve been going on it for two years straight since Hlinkas. So it’s been a non-stop kind of train here and a little bit of a grind for me over the last few years. But I’ve got a lot of work to put in.”

Parekh has had two fantastic last pair of seasons in the OHL, posting two of the most impressive offensive seasons in recent memory in that circuit. Heck, his back-to-back 30-goal campaigns haven’t been accomplished in Ontario major junior hockey since Bobby Orr, way back when the circuit was called the Ontario Hockey Association.

But even after a pair of very hectic, very productive seasons, Parekh remains hungry and focused on his goals.

“I don’t want to just say, ‘hey, Zayne’s on the team next year,'” said Conroy. “But like I told him, you’ve got to have a great summer, come into camp and take a spot and earn a spot. And he’s like, ‘OK, now I know what I got to do. So I’m going to have a great summer and I’ll see you in September.'”

“I’m looking forward to a really big summer for me,” said Parekh. “I’ve got to put in a lot of work. I’ve still got a long ways to go to make this team next year. The culture that’s here, it’s unreal. I’m looking forward to a big summer.”

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/flames...e-wranglers-so-he-can-optimize-his-off-season

 

[Calgary Flames]

Trent Cull has rejoined the Wranglers coaching staff for the playoffs

The Calgary Flames concluded their 2024-25 season on Thursday and conducted their exit meetings on Saturday. Their American League affiliate, the Calgary Wranglers, are playoff-bound and concluded their regular season on Sunday. With the Flames’ season done, their minor league club has received some reinforcements from the NHL team.

Among them? Coach Trent Cull.

On Sunday, following the Wranglers’ regular season finale, the Flames announced that Cull, an interim assistant coach with the big club, has resumed his head coaching post with the Wranglers for the playoffs.

Due to Flames assistant coach Brad Larsen’s leave of absence due to a family matter, Cull was brought up to the NHL staff to fill in. With Cull on the Flames’ staff, assistant coach Joe Cirella filled in as interim head coach for the Wranglers, and development coach Martin Gelinas stepped in to join the Wranglers staff.

Via the media release, here’s what Flames general manager Craig Conroy had to say about the re-assignment:

“With the conclusion of the Flames season, Trent will return to his responsibilities behind the Wranglers bench,” said Flames General Manager Craig Conroy. “We are very appreciative to Trent for his willingness to make this unforeseen adjustment mid-season and thank him for his contributions to the Flames. The same can be said for Joe’s ability to step up and allow our organization to confidently make these moves without interruption.”

Per the release, Gelinas is staying with the Wranglers for the playoffs. The Wranglers staff will consistent of Cull (head coach), Cirella, Brett Sutter and Gelinas (assistants), Mackenzie Skapski (goaltending) and Chandler Biggar (video).

In 38 games under Cirella as interim coach, the Wranglers went 16-17-5. (Sutter subbed in for four games when Cirella had eye surgery, and went 1-2-1.) The Wranglers were 20-9-1 under Cull before he moved up to the Flames.

The Wranglers begin their post-season on Tuesday night when they visit the Coachella Valley Firebirds.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/trent-cull-has-rejoined-the-wranglers-coaching-staff-for-the-playoffs

 

[Calgary Flames]

Flames prospect roundup: 3 Flames prospects set to play in Game 7 this week

And then there were six.

This is the Apr. 14–20 edition of the Flames prospect roundup, where we look at how Calgary Flames prospects did this past week, specifically those at the junior and college levels. The American Hockey League prospects have their own article in the Wranglers recaps.

Let’s take a look at the week that was!

Matvei Gridin​

Matvei Gridin and the Shawinigan Cataractes easily dispelled the Sherbrooke Phœnix, winning the series in four games. Game 3 saw the Cataractes win 5-2, with Gridin scoring his sixth of the post-season and picking up an assist. Game 4 was far closer, but the Cataractes took it 3-2 in overtime. Gridin picked up an assist on the opening goal.

Gridin is tied for second in points with 14 this post-season, while his six goals are tied for third. Next up for the Cataractes is a series against the 2025 Memorial Cup hosts, the Rimouski Océanic. Game 1 starts Friday at 5:00 p.m. MT in Rimouski, with Game 2 starting Sunday at 1:00 p.m. MT.

Andrew Basha​

Andrew Basha’s Medicine Hat Tigers are also moving on to the conference finals, as they defeated the Prince Albert Raiders in four games.

Game 3 saw them defeat the Saskatchewan-based team 6-1, followed by a 3-0 win in Game 4 to clinch the series. Their opponent for the second round is yet to be determined, as the Calgary Hitmen and Lethbridge Hurricanes play Game 7 later this week.

Jacob Battaglia​

Speaking of Game 7, Jacob Battalgia and the Kingston Frontenacs will play a Game 7 as well.

The team has crawled back from 2-0 down in the series. In Game 3, they defeated the Barrie Colts 5-3, with Battaglia picking up an assist in that game. They followed that up with a 9-4 victory to even up the series, with Battaglia picking up three assists. Game 5 went in favour of the Colts, as they won 2-1 in overtime with Battaglia not picking up a point. However, they won a must-win game 3-2 in overtime in Game 6, with Battaglia scoring his second and third goals.

CAN'T KEEP BATES OUT OF THE GOAL COLUMN FOREVER@NHLFlames | #Flames https://t.co/s3nbzXn0UY pic.twitter.com/AaXbf96zKU

— Kingston Frontenacs (@KingstonFronts) April 20, 2025

This post-season, Battaglia has three goals and 16 points, the 13th most in the Ontario Hockey League this post-season. The decisive Game 7 is on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. MT, with the winner taking on the Oshawa Generals in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Eric Jamieson​

Another Flames’ prospect set to play a Game 7 on Tuesday is defenceman Eric Jamieson.

After winning the first two games in the series, the Everett Silvertips fell 3-1 to the Portland Winterhawks in Game 3, with Jamieson being held pointless. Game 4 was another loss for the Silvertips, as they fell 6-5 in overtime, with the defenceman picking up an assist. The Winterhawks also won Game 5 by a score of 4-3, Jamieson was held off the scoresheet again.

That led to a do-or-die Game 6 for the Silvertips, who won that one 8-4. Jamieson was once again held off the scoresheet. This post-season, Jamieson has a goal and three points in 12 games. The winner of the series will face either the Spokane Chiefs or Victoria Royals.

Étienne Morin​

Étienne Morin and the Moncton Wildcats moved to the third round, as they defeated the Baie-Comeau Drakkar in five games.

The Drakkar cut the Wildcats’ series lead in half with a 5-2 win in Game 3, and Morin was held off the scoresheet. However, the Wildcats won the all-important Game 4 in double overtime, with Morin picking up a secondary assist in that game. They clinched the series with a 5-4 victory in Baie-Comeau, blowing a 4-0 lead before winning 5-4. Morin picked up an assist in that game.

This post-season, Morin has one goal and 10 points in nine games, with his points being the second-most for all defenceman in the Québec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. The Wildcats now face the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in the Conference Finals, with Game 1 starting on Thursday at 4:00 p.m. MT. Game 2 is the following day at the same time, both games are in Moncton.

Axel Hurtig​

Lastly, we have Axel Hurtig, whose Calgary Hitmen were down 2-0 in the series in last week’s article.

Well, they stormed back with three consecutive wins. Game 3 saw them pick up a 5-3 win, with Hurtig scoring his first of the post-season. That was followed by a 3-2 overtime win, and then a 6-5 overtime win. Hurtig was held pointless in Games 4 and 5. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to clinch the series as the Hitmen fell 5-1 in Game 6.

AXEL HURTIG CLUTCH FROM THE POINT!@WHLHitmen | @NHLFlames | #WHLPlayoffs | #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/GBoLVkSiSX

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) April 16, 2025

Game 7 will be played on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. MT in Calgary. This post-season, Hurtig has a goal and three assists in 10 games.

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

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/flames...mes-prospects-set-to-play-in-game-7-this-week

 

[Calgary Flames]

A Flame from the Past: Clarke Wilm

Do you remember Clarke Wilm?

Every week, we’ll look at a forgotten Calgary Flames player in the weekly series “A Flame from the Past.” Of course, the player had to have played a significant number of games for the Flames – at least a full season. Each week, I’ll put every Flames season (since moving to Calgary) in the Wheel of Names. This week, it landed on the 1998-99 season, with the player we’ll look at in today’s article being Clarke Wilm.

Born in the small town of Central Butte, Saskatchewan in 1976, Wilm made his Western Hockey League debut in the 1992 post-season, playing a single game for the Saskatoon Blades where he was held pointless. He became regular in 1992-93, scoring 14 goals and 33 points in 69 games, with four goals and six points in nine post-season games.

In the following year, Wilm scored 18 goals and 50 points in 70 games, picking up a career-high 181 penalty minutes. Although he didn’t score in the post-season, Wilm picked up nine assists in 16 post-season games. The 1994-95 season was his draft season, where he scored 20 goals and 59 points (with 179 penalty minutes) in 71 games. He performed well in the post-season for the Blades, scoring six goals and seven points in 10 games.

That led to the Flames selecting the forward in the sixth round of the 1995 draft. Wilm torched the WHL in his final season, scoring 49 goals and 110 points in 72 games, with a goal and an assist in four post-season games. He made his professional debut in 1996-97 in the American Hockey League, scoring nine goals and 28 points in 62 games with 107 penalty minutes.

In 1997-98, Wil scored 13 goals and 39 points with 112 penalty minutes, as well as five goals and 14 points in 21 post-season games as the Saint John Flames went all the way to the AHL’s Calder Cup Finals, falling in six games to the Philadelphia Phantoms.

Wilm began his National Hockey League career in 1998-99, scoring 10 goals and 18 points in 78 games. His second season was his career-best, potting 10 goals and 22 points in 78 games. In his third season, Wilm scored seven goals and 15 points, before playing his final season with the Flames in 2001-02, scoring five goals and 16 points in 82 games.

The Central Butte product played for the Nashville Predators in 2002-03, scoring five goals and 16 points in 82 games. Wilm split his 2003-04 season between the St John’s Maple Leafs and the Toronto Maple Leafs, scoring 16 goals and 33 points in 47 AHL games, and being held pointless in 10 NHL games.

During the 2004-05 lockout, Wilm played for the Maple Leafs’ AHL team where he scored 11 goals and 26 points in 69 games, amassing 145 penalty minutes. His final season in North America was with the Leafs in 2005-06, where he scored a goal and eight points in 60 games.

Wilm headed to Europe to finish his career. In 2006-07 and 2007-08, he played for Jokerit Helsinki in the SM-Liiga, scoring 22 goals and 60 points in 95 games. His final three seasons were spent in Germany, playing two seasons with the Hamburg Freezers and his last season with the Nuremberg Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers.

---

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

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/a-flame-from-the-past-clarke-wilm

 

[Calgary Flames]

Flames captain Mikael Backlund will represent Sweden at IIHF World Championship

The Calgary Flames will have another player representing them at the IIHF World Championship next month in Sweden and Denmark. During Saturday’s exit interviews, Flames captain Mikael Backlund indicated he had “some good conversations” with Team Sweden but hadn’t made a decision yet.

On Tuesday morning, Sportsnet’s Pat Steinberg reported that it “sounds like” Backlund would be going to Worlds.

Sounds like Mikael Backlund will be representing Sweden at the World Championship next month.

Will be Backlund’s first time at the event since 2018 when he captained Sweden’s team to a gold medal. #Flames

— Pat Steinberg (@Fan960Steinberg) April 22, 2025

Later on Tuesday, the Flames announced that, yes, Backlund was going to represent Sweden at Worlds.

The 36-year-old Backlund just finished his second season as Flames captain, and he’s probably hoping to use his appearance at the Worlds to finish off the international calendar on a more positive note than the NHL season did. Backlund posted 15 goals and 32 points over 75 games this season for the Flames, but he dealt with a trio of injuries over the back half of the season. As shared with the media during exit interviews, Backlund suffered a back injury in January, then a rib injury against Washington in February, and then a torn oblique in March that led to him taking two weeks off to heal.

Despite all that, Backlund formed a really nice shutdown line with Blake Coleman and a rotating cast of wingers – at various points, they were joined by Matt Coronato, Joel Farabee and Connor Zary – and continued to bring the same type of smart, structured 200-foot game that’s made him so effective for the Flames over the past decade.

That said, Backlund probably didn’t have the type of season he had hoped for, between his injury woes and missing the post-season, so the prospect of putting on the Tre Kronor sweater and representing his country in a major tournament held in his backyard probably appeals to him a great deal.

Backlund has been a fixture for Sweden’s national team during his career, appearing in one Hlinka Memorial tournament, two Under-18 Worlds, two World Juniors, one World Cup of Hockey and five World Championships. He last appeared internationally at the 2018 IIHF World Championship, captaining Sweden to a gold medal win. It was his first gold medal for Sweden after capturing three silver and two bronze medals at previous competitions.

Backlund joins Rasmus Andersson on Team Sweden. Their Flames teammates Zayne Parekh (Canada), MacKenzie Weegar (Canada), Matt Coronato (United States) and Dan Vladar (Czechia) will also be appearing at the tournament, though Parekh may only be appearing in pre-tournament games. (We’ll see.)

The 2025 IIHF World Championship takes place May 9-25 in Stockholm, Sweden and Herning, Denmark.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/flames...l-represent-sweden-at-iihf-world-championship

 

[Calgary Flames]

Flames head coach Ryan Huska to be part of Canada’s coaching staff at IIHF Worlds: report

Several Calgary Flames players have committed to play at the upcoming IIHF World Championship. According to a report from TSN’s Darren Dreger, they’re going to have some company.

Per Dreger, Flames head coach Ryan Huska is expected to be part of Canada’s coaching staff at the Worlds. He’ll reportedly be part of Dean Evason’s staff. (Evason is head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets.)

Hearing @BlueJacketsNHL head coach Dean Evason will coach Canada at the upcoming Men’s World Hockey Championship. @NHLFlames coach Ryan Huska will also be on Canada’s bench. The remainder of the staff to be determined.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) April 23, 2025

Huska, 49, just finished his second season as Flames head coach; he kept things on the rails during a tumultuous 2023-24 campaign, and helped guide the Flames to within a standings point of the playoffs this season. This will be Huska’s first trip to an international event with Team Canada since the 2012 World Juniors, where he was an assistant coach. (He was also on their staff for the 2011 World Juniors.)

Huska probably won’t get much love from the NHL Broadcasters Association in their Jack Adams Award balloting this season – and that’s not a slight on the broadcasters or Huska, but merely a reflection that several coaches did tremendous work this season. But Huska deserves his flowers for the work he did, in tandem with the Flames’ leadership group, getting his team all on one page and largely keeping them on that page for 82 games.

A winger during his playing days, Huska won three WHL Championships and three Memorial Cups as a player with the Western League’s Kamloops Blazers. After hanging up his skates after a few years playing pro, including one NHL game, Huska got into coaching.

He’s been behind a bench at a high level constantly since 2002-03, including time as a WHL assistant (five seasons), WHL head coach (seven seasons), AHL head coach (four seasons), NHL assistant (five seasons) and now an NHL head coach (two seasons). This opportunity to go to the Worlds gives him a nice reward for his work with the Flames this season, and a chance to add to his tool-set as a coach going forward.

The 2025 IIHF World Championship runs May 9-25 from Stockholm, Sweden and Herning, Denmark. The Flames will be represented by MacKenzie Weegar (Canada), Zayne Parekh (Canada), Mikael Backlund (Sweden), Rasmus Andersson (Sweden), Matt Coronato (United States) and Dan Vladar (Czechia).

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/flames...-canadas-coaching-staff-at-iihf-worlds-report

 

[Calgary Flames]

What’s Going On In The Playoffs: Kings lead, Jets soar early in first round

The 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs are underway.

This is What’s Going On In The Playoffs, where we look at how each series is going so far this post-season. It’s shaping up to be a great playoff so far as most of the series have been competitive.

Let’s take a look at what’s happening in the post-season so far!

Kings outlast Oilers’ comeback​

It took a while for the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers to get going, but oh man was it worth the wait.

Game 1 was on Monday, and the Oilers didn’t show up for the first two periods. Former Calgary Flame Andrei Kuzmenko opened the scoring, before Quinton Byfield doubled their lead in the final minute of the first. The Kings scored twice more about three minutes apart in the latter half of the second period, but Leon Draisaitl got the Oilers on the board.

Finally, the Oilers woke up in the third period. Just over two minutes in, Mattias Janmark scored on a shot with a goalie in the net for the first time since his goal in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. However, the Oilers ran into penalty trouble and allowed Kevin Fiala to score on a five-on-three to make it a 5-2 game.

The Oilers scored their third goal of the game, as Corey Perry tapped in a backdoor play to make it 5-3. After killing off a second five-on-three, the Oilers pulled their goalie and got a goal from Zach Hyman to make it 5-4. With 88 seconds left in the game, Connor McDavid scored his first of the post-season for the improbable comeback.

And then, Stuart Skinner allowed a knucklepuck by him with just 42 seconds left in the game to make it a 6-5 game. Thankfully, the Oilers were unable to come back from this late goal, losing Game 1 as they so often do.

PHIL! WARREN! AHHHHH pic.twitter.com/7jZtBpF1dn

— x – LA Kings (@LAKings) April 22, 2025

Game 2 starts at 8:00 p.m. MT on Wednesday.

Jets win both home games to lead the series 2-0​

Sticking with Western Conference Canadian teams, the Winnipeg Jets look like the Presidents’ Trophy team they were in the regular season, as they have a 2-0 series lead over the St. Louis Blues.

In Game 1, Blues forward Robert Thomas opened the series scoring with a power play goal, the first goal scored in the 2025 post-season for any team. However, Mark Scheifele had an answer on the power play, tying the game at one. Less than two minutes later, Jaret Anderson-Dolan scored to make it a 2-1 game, but Oskar Sundqvist found the equalizer with a minute and 50 seconds left in the first.

The Blues jumped out to a 3-2 lead early in the second period, as Jordan Kyrou scored a power play just a minute and 13 seconds in. It held that way until midway through the third period, as Alex Iafallo tied the game. Kyle Connor scored a late goal to give the Jets a 4-3 lead, before captain Adam Lowry scored in the empty net for the 5-3 win and 1-0 series lead.

KYLE CONNOR IS COOKIN' pic.twitter.com/rRw5IqwOO1

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) April 20, 2025

Game 2 saw far less scoring. Scheifele scored his second of the post-season with just under four minutes left in the first period. However, Jimmy Snuggerud found the game-tying goal with just two seconds left in the opening frame. Early in the third period, Connor scored his second of the post-season, and that’s all the Jets needed to take a 2-0 series lead.

KC LOVES BIG PLAYOFF GOALS pic.twitter.com/zee3xQNehB

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) April 22, 2025

The series now shifts to St. Louis for Game 3, which starts on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. MT.

Wild head to Minnesota tied with the Golden Knights​

The Pacific Division-winning Vegas Golden Knights play the Minnesota Wild in the first round, with the Wild coming away with the series split in the first two games.

Game 1 went in favour of the Golden Knights, though. Tomáš Hertl opened the scoring with just under five minutes left in the opening frame, but Matt Boldy had an answer before the end of the period. Pavel Dorofeyev gave the Knights a 2-1 lead toward the end of the middle frame.

THE FIRST #StanleyCup PLAYOFF GOAL OF HIS CAREER!!!!! pic.twitter.com/RGLgJtR0x7

— y-Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 21, 2025

Early in the third period, Brett Howden gave the Knights a 3-2 lead, but the Wild got to within one with Boldy’s second of the game. Howden iced the game with an empty net with almost no time remaining in the game.

Game 2 went in favour of the Wild. Boldly scored his third of the post-season midway through the first, followed by Marcus Foligno’s first just under two minutes later. Before the first period ended, Mats Zuccarello scored to make it 3-0 for the Wild.

Early in the second period, Kirill Kaprizov scored to make it a 4-0 Wild lead, but the 2023 Stanley Cup Champions showed some fight. With just under eight minutes left in the period, Noah Hanifin scored to make it a 4-1 game. Hertl scored his second of the post-season just two and a half minutes in, but that’s all the Golden Knights got as Kaprizov iced the game with an empty net goal.

these two are NOT sold separately pic.twitter.com/qkHuB2pgCm

— x – Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) April 23, 2025

The series now shifts to Saint Paul, Minnesota, for Game 3. That game starts on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. MT.

Stars’ OT winner over Avalanche evened the series​

A Jason Robertson-less Dallas Stars finished with home-ice advantage in the first round against the Colorado Avalanche, but this series was always going to be a dogfight.

Game 1 went in favour of the Avalanche. Artturi Lehkonen opened the scoring midway through the second period, and Nathan MacKinnon gave the Avalanche a 2-0 lead with three and a half minutes left in the middle frame. Roope Hintz scored a goal to cut the lead in half with just over 13 minutes left in the game.

The Stars looked for the equalizer with all the pressure on their side, but it was defenceman Devon Toews who found the next goal, making it a 3-1 game for the Avalanche. MacKinnon scored an empty-netter, and just 11 seconds later, Charlie Coyle scored to make it 5-1.

Putting the biscuit in the basket.#GoAvsGo | #BuiltDifferent pic.twitter.com/u7YkNs0vhS

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 20, 2025

Game 2 went better for the Stars. MacKinnon scored his third of the post-season midway through the first period, but Tyler Seguin scored with under a minute left to tie the game at one. Early in the second period, Thomas Harley scored to give the Stars their first lead of the post-season, but Jack Drury scored just over a minute later to tie the game at two.

In the final minute of the second period, Logan O’Connor scored his first of the post-season to put the Avalanche up one heading into the third. Midway through the final frame, Evgenii Dadonov tied the game to send it to overtime. Late in the first overtime period, Colin Blackwell scored to give the Stars the win.

IN HIS STARS PLAYOFF DEBUT, PLAY PANTERA FOR COLIN BLACKWELL!!!! pic.twitter.com/PsxM3OaVrc

— X – Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) April 22, 2025

The Rantanen Bowl continues on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. MT as the series shifts to Denver.

Maple Leafs have a 2-0 series lead over Senators​

Two games into the first Battle of Ontario since 2004, the Ottawa Senators cannot contain the Toronto Maple Leafs’ power play.

Seven minutes into Game 1, Oliver Ekman-Larsson opened the scoring as he was all alone in the slot. Mitch Marner scored to make it a 2-0 game five minutes later, but Drake Batherson cut the Leafs’ lead in half before the end of the first period.

Four minutes into the second period and early on the power play, John Tavares scored his first of the post-season. On the Leafs’ next power play, William Nylander scored to make it a 4-1 game, the Leafs’ biggest fear. Four minutes into the third period, Ridley Greig scored to cut the Leafs’ lead in half, but the Leafs got goals from Morgan Rielly and Matthew Knies for the 6-2 win and 1-0 series lead.

He Rielly responded just like that!@Rogers | #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/SA9OKSvUfu

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 21, 2025

Game 2 was far more competitive. Rielly scored his second of the post-season 3:43 into the first period, followed by Tavares’ second 8:20 into the opening frame. Once again, that goal came early in a power play.

The Senators showed more fight this time, though. With just over four minutes left in the second, Brady Tkachuk scored his first career playoff goal to cut the Leafs’ lead in half. Adam Gaudette tied the game with just over five minutes left in the third period to send the game to overtime. However, it was Max Domi who found the goal to put the Leafs up 2-0 in the series.

THE HOMETOWN KID!!!@Rogers | #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/nlN2THGWPb

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 23, 2025

Game 3 shifts to Canada’s capital, starting at 5:00 PM p.m. on Thursday.

Canadiens fell in overtime to Alexander Ovechkin’s first playoff overtime goal​

The other Canadian team that made the post-season is the Montréal Canadiens. The eighth-seeded team is facing off against the Washington Capitals, the team that had the best record in the Eastern Conference. Is it 2010 all over again?

Unfortunately for the Canadiens, they didn’t win Game 1 like they did a decade and a half ago (yes, 2010 was 15 years ago, I still struggle to process that). Alex Ovechkin opened the scoring late in the first period, and Anthony Beauvillier doubled the lead with just under eight minutes left in the second.

But the Canadiens showed some fight in the third period. Midway through, Cole Caufield scored to cut the lead in half and with just over four minutes to go, captain Nick Suzuki scored to tie the game and send it to overtime.

Ovechkin has done a lot in his career, which includes breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record for most regular season goals in a career. However, he hadn’t scored an overtime post-season goal in his career. That was until about two in a half minutes into the first overtime period.

THE NHL'S ALL-TIME LEADING GOAL SCORER HAS SCORED HIS FIRST CAREER PLAYOFF OVERTIME GOAL pic.twitter.com/R7TM5ZPshd

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 22, 2025

The Canadiens have a chance to even the series on Wednesday, as they play Game 2 at 5:00 p.m. MT.

Hurricanes head to Newark up 2-0​

The Carolina Hurricanes against the New Jersey Devils is arguably the least interesting series this post-season. With that being said, it does have ramifications for the Calgary Flames, as they hold the Devils’ first-round pick in the coming draft.

Even better news is that the Hurricanes head to Newark, New Jersey, up 2-0 in the series. Game 1 saw them win 4-1, with Jalen Chatfield opening the scoring early in the first. Logan Stankoven scored twice in the second period to put the Hurricanes up 3-0, but Nico Hischier scored late in the second to make it 3-1. Andrei Svechnikov iced the game with an empty-net goal.

This is Logan Stankoven's house pic.twitter.com/lBxWRq1nan

— x – Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) April 20, 2025

The Devils opened the scoring in Game 2, as Jesper Bratt scored his first of the post-season early in the first period. However, defenceman Shayne Gostisbehere scored early in the second to tie it, before Jordan Martinook scored under three minutes later, which ended up being the game-winner. Seth Jarvis iced the game with an empty-net goal.

MARTY. PLAYOFF. MAGIC. pic.twitter.com/52BF1Umb0B

— x – Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) April 22, 2025

Game 3 is in Newark, New Jersey. It starts at 6:00 PM p.m. on Friday. If the Devils are eliminated in the first round, the Flames will get at worst the 18th-overall pick as they have the second-fewest points in the post-season (and fewer than the Flames). Only the Montréal Canadiens have fewer points than the Devils.

Panthers win first game in the Battle of Florida​

Another series with ramifications for the Flames is the Battle of Florida contested between the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Flames own the Panthers’ first-round pick.

Unfortunately, the Lightning lost Game 1 by a score of 6-2. Former Flame Sam Bennett opened the scoring early in the first, before Jake Guentzel found the game-tying goal with just under eight minutes to play in the opening frame. The Panthers went into the second period with the lead, though, as Sam Reinhart tipped it past the Lightning’s netminder.

Their momentum couldn’t be stopped in the second period. Nate Schmidt scored the game-winning goal about five minutes into the second, and just 14 seconds later, former Flame Matthew Tkachuk scored to make it a 4-1 game. He scored his second of the game just under five minutes later for the 5-1 lead.

TKACHUK TKACHING X2 pic.twitter.com/hNeu7reb8Z

— x – Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) April 23, 2025

Brayden Point scored with about seven minutes in the period, but that’s all the Lightning would get. Schmidt iced any chance of a comeback with a power play goal five minutes into the third period.

---

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

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/whats-...ffs-kings-lead-jets-soar-early-in-first-round

 

[Calgary Flames]

Flames send forward Adam Klapka to the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers for the playoffs

The Calgary Wranglers are getting some reinforcements. Well, one big reinforcement.

On Thursday morning, the Calgary Flames announced that they’ve assigned forward Adam Klapka to the Wranglers for the post-season. Klapka was hurt last week in the regular season finale against the Los Angeles Kings, and team officials indicated during exit interviews that he would be headed to the Wranglers once the medical staff gave the go-ahead.

The 24-year-old Klapka is a 6’8″, 235 pound right shot winger that the Flames originally signed as a European free agent during the 2022 off-season. Since joining their system in 2022-23, he’s progressed pretty steadily. On the AHL side, he’s figured out how to be a borderline dominant player at times, using his size, speed and skill to his advantage, and progressively increasing his per-game offensive output.

Klapka’s AHL performances have earned him a bunch of NHL looks. He played six NHL games in 2023-24, scoring his first NHL goal in the season finale. In 2024-25, he broke camp with the big club and has split the season nearly half-and-half between the NHL and AHL: 31 games with the Flames (10 points) and 33 games with the Wranglers (26 points).

Aside from a short AHL stint in March, Klapka’s been with the Flames on the NHL roster pretty much continually since Feb. 21. He was most recently called up on Mar. 12 and carved out a really nice niche for himself, impressing both on the fourth line and the top line and creating offence with both units. He’s on an expiring contract, his waiver exemption runs out this season, and Flames bench boss Ryan Huska has openly praised his play, so all signs point to Klapka getting a very long look at the NHL roster this coming fall in training camp.

As such, this stint with the Wranglers could very well be his last. The Wranglers lost 4-3 to Coachella Valley in triple overtime on Tuesday night, and Saturday night’s Game 2 is a do-or-die game for them. One hopes that adding Klapka could hopefully give the Wranglers enough oomph to force Game 3.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/flames...o-the-ahls-calgary-wranglers-for-the-playoffs

 

[Calgary Flames]

The Wranglers and Firebirds have a rivalry forged in the Calder Cup playoffs

Friends, for years we’ve heard National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman tout the importance of building rivalries via the league’s division-heavy playoff system. The irony is that a division-heavy playoff system has built a pretty big rivalry… for the Calgary Flames’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Calgary Wranglers, and few for the NHL club.

On Tuesday, for the third time in three seasons, the Wranglers began a playoff series against the Coachella Valley Firebirds. For a few reasons, the Firebirds have carved out a niche as perhaps the Wranglers’ most bitter rival through these post-season meetings.

Before we delve into the Wranglers and Firebirds of it all, it’s worth going back in time to 2005. After running out of NHL-ready bodies during their run to the 2004 Stanley Cup Final, the Flames decided to bite the bullet and go back to having their own farm team after sharing an affiliation with Carolina for a few seasons.

Starting with 2005-06, here’s how the nomadic Flames’ farm team wandered:

• 2005-06 to 2006-07: Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights (Omaha, NE)
• 2007-08 to 2008-09: Quad City Flames (Moline, IL)
• 2009-10 to 2013-14: Abbotsford Heat (Abbotsford, BC)
• 2014-15: Adirondack Flames (Glens Falls, NY)
• 2015-16 to 2021-22: Stockton Heat (Stockton, CA)
• 2022-23 to present: Calgary Wranglers (Calgary, AB)

Now, aside from how often the Baby Flames moved, it’s worth noting two things: they weren’t in the same division for very long, and the team only occasionally made the playoffs. In the 17 seasons before they became the Wranglers, the Flames’ AHL team only made the playoffs six times. (They deserve a pass for two of their seasons in Stockton, as the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the 2020 and 2021 playoffs, but that’s still only six appearances and nine misses over 15 seasons.)

As a result of their lack of on-ice success and how often they moved, the Flames’ minor league teams simply didn’t have an opportunity to build lasting animosity with other teams in the playoffs. Prior to becoming the Wranglers, the Flames’ farm teams played 10 playoff series against 10 different opponents.

But that’s changed with their relocation to Calgary. First off, the Wranglers have qualified for the playoffs in every season since relocating, which has been aided by the AHL’s expanded playoff format over the past few seasons. The Wranglers’ current series with the Firebirds is their fifth playoff series since moving to Calgary, and their third against Coachella Valley in three seasons.

As a result of this familiarity, there seems to be legit animosity between the two clubs at times, especially given how physical, tight-checking and lengthy their clashes have become. (Y’know how sick the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings seem of each other? That’s sort of how the Wranglers and Firebirds are getting…) Heck, the Wranglers have been eliminated from the playoffs by Coachella Valley in back-to-back seasons, and will be attempting to prevent a three-peat on Saturday night when they face off in Game 2 of their series.

There’s probably no perfect playoff format – if we’re being honest, the 1 versus 8, 2 versus 7, and so on, conference-based method is probably our preference – but for what the strictly division-based format is trying to accomplish, it’s doing so in spades in the AHL for the Wranglers. As it stands, if they keep qualifying for the Calder Cup playoffs, they seem destined for an annual meeting with Coachella Valley.

And one of these years, they’re probably bound to beat them, too.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/the-wr...e-a-rivalry-forged-in-the-calder-cup-playoffs

 

[Calgary Flames]

Kashawn Aitcheson may be the best available player when the Flames pick at the 2025 NHL Draft

A team should always draft the best player available.

It’s a bonus when the player who is potentially the best available also fits a need. Kashawn Aitcheson is a left-shot defenceman who could be available when the Calgary Flames make their first selection on June 27.

Let’s get to know the 18-year-old left-shot defenceman!

Scouting report​

Aitcheson was born on Sept. 21, 2006, in Toronto, Ontario. If he were born six days earlier, he would have been eligible for the 2024 draft, but in reality, his late birthday was a blessing in disguise.

Standing at 6’2”, 196 lbs, the left-shot defenceman has all the raw tools you love in a defence prospect, physical and skilled in particular. The question is, what do the scouts have to say about him?

In late April, Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis ranked the left-shot defenceman as his 11th-best draft prospec,t had this to say:

“Aitcheson is one of my favorite prospects in the draft. He has the potential to be an intimidating force in the NHL – someone who just gives opponents nothing to work with. His physicality is the best attribute of his game because he’s willing to get involved with just about anyone.

Aitcheson finished the regular season with 26 goals and 59 points while registering 88 penalty minutes – making him a brutal player to deal with every time he hit the ice. Aitcheson isn’t an outstanding skater and his playmaking can be a bit of a mixed bag, but I think the raw talent and the pure tenacity are there for any teams looking to get tougher to play against.”

Sportsnet’s Jason Bukala had a similar scouting report in his March 26th assement:

“Aitcheson is a bit of a throwback. He’s a very intense, competitive, physical defenceman who plays with a presence. Opponents can’t sleep on him when tracking through the neutral zone with the puck on their stick. Aitcheson gaps up with authority and finishes his checks. He’s also willing to drop the mitts on occasion.

Aitcheson is deployed in all situations for the Colts and averaged an incredible 28:18 in ice time in his last 10 regular season games. His offence spiked considerably this year (26G-33A) but it’s his all-around game that intrigues me the most.”

Lastly, Dobber Prospects’ Whittaker Heart had this to say regarding the 18-year-old in January:

“Kashawn Aitcheson is a throwback defenceman that plays with a ton of snarl and bite. He has formidable details in his approach to the game and stands at 6’1” 200 lbs, already an NHL body. He’s impacting games offensively with Barrie, but is unlikely to be a producer at the NHL level. However, his hockey sense and technical abilities will be sufficient enough to let his other tools do the work.

He remains a bit raw, but has the jam and tenacity to endear himself to any fanbase. Truly, a guy you love to have on your team, and hate to play against. Fantasy wise, expect Aitcheson to be a true old school punisher- accumulating tons of hits and penalty minutes.”

I’ve seen Aitcheson play in person back in late 2023. He was certainly the most noticeable player on the Barrie Colts’ blue line in that game, showing his physicality in that game. The scoring touch he’s added this season is only a bonus.

The numbers​

Speaking of the scoring touch, let’s take a look at Aitcheson’s stats with the Ontario Hockey League’s Barrie Colts.

He made his OHL debut in 2022-23, scoring a goal and three points in 23 games. The year I saw him in 2023-24, he became a regular and scored eight goals and 39 points in 64 games. He also amassed an insane 126 penalty minutes and scored a goal and four points in six post-season games.

Aitcheson has been impressive in his draft year. In 64 games, he scored 26 goals and 59 points while adding 88 penalty minutes. It’s in the playoffs where he’s shined though, scoring five goals and 11 points in 12 games as his Colts have moved to the third round to face the Oshawa Generals.

Availability and fit​

The Calgary Flames have two big needs: impact centres and impact left-shot defencemen. They have a ton of wingers, and their cupboards are full of right-shot defencemen, but those two areas in particular need some attention this draft. Well, Aitcheson has the potential to be an impact defenceman. Imagine a pairing of him and Zayne Parekh in a few seasons.

As for availability, it depends on what scouting site you look at. His consolidated ranking for Elite Prospects is 26th, which would likely make him available depending on how soon the New Jersey Devils (and Florida Panthers) are eliminated. His highest ranking comes from Daily Faceoff, which has him 11th, while The Hockey News’ Tony Ferrari ranked Aitcheson as his 47th-best draft prospect.

Usually, Aitcheson sits in the late teens, so he could very well be available when the Flames make their first selection of the 2025 draft around 18th overall.

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

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/kashaw...er-when-the-flames-pick-at-the-2025-nhl-draft

 

[Calgary Flames]

7 Flames will become eligible for contract extensions this summer

Gang, July 1 is an important day on the calendar.

It’s Canada Day! It’s Jarome Iginla’s birthday! It’s the day that NHL contracts expire and free agency begins! And for players who suddenly are entering their final year of their current contracts, it’s the first day those players become eligible to sign extensions.

For the Calgary Flames, there are seven current roster players who will become eligible for extensions as of July 1. Here’s a rundown, sorted mostly by points registered in 2024-25.

Dustin Wolf​

Back in 2019, the Flames saw the Western Hockey League’s leader in most goaltending categories available when they selected fourth-from-last in the seventh round. They opted to select the youngster, a fresh-faced California product named Dustin Wolf, and it may go down as one of the better decisions they’ve made in franchise history from a drafting perspective.

Six years later, Wolf has established himself as the Flames’ undisputed starter, and one of the NHL’s most entertaining and fascinating netminders. He’ll be 25 when his deal expires at the end of 2025-26 and he’ll be a restricted free agent eligible for arbitration. We suspect the Flames will do what they need to do to lock him down for a long, long time, because he’s really, really good.

Mikael Backlund​

While Wolf was one of the Flames’ biggest drafting home runs, Backlund is one of their better “be patient with development” success stories. Backlund has emerged as one of the defining figures of the last 10-15 years of Flames hockey, an extremely reliable 200-foot forward that basically allows the team to use their less-rounded forwards in offensive situations. He’s also their captain.

Backlund is eligible to become a unrestricted free agent at the end of 2025-26 at the age of 37. Based on Backlund’s reputation, importance and status as the club’s leader, we suspect that as long as he wants to play NHL hockey, it’ll be with the Flames. Though he may be entering the era where he keeps signing one-year deals due to his age.

Rasmus Andersson​

Oh boy.

Well, we’ve discussed Andersson’s future a lot here at the site. And we’ll do so for awhile yet. Probably until Andersson either has a new contract or a new home. He’s eligible to become a UFA at the end of 2025-26, when he’s 29. He’s been leaned on heavily over the past season and a half as the Flames blueline has been hollowed out by the departures of Nikita Zadorov, Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev and Oliver Kylington. And you can make an argument that he’s been miscast as a shutdown defender lately.

He’s still doing a lot of good stuff on the ice, but given his experience level, performance, and how a long-term extension could age, there’s a case to be made for his departure. On the other hand, Andersson is another important player in the Flames room, wearing a letter for the past several seasons and capital-C caring about the team, its players and its direction. Even if it makes sense for him to go elsewhere to cash in, he’d be a tough player for the team to lose.

Martin Pospisil​

Quietly, Pospisil has become a pretty important player for the Flames. He’s one of the handful of players that displays the concept that Kent Wilson termed “functional toughness”: he can throw his body around and make the other team mad, but that’s not his only purpose. Pospisil’s not a player you build a line around, but his inclusion on a line can nudge a good line to being very good.

Pospisil is eligible to become an RFA (with arbitration rights) at the end of 2025-26 at the age of 26. He hasn’t put up eye-popping offensive numbers yet and could be destined to be a complimentary piece, so we’ll curious what his next Flames deal looks like.

Ryan Lomberg​

Is Lomberg overpaid relative to his modest offensive production? Well, yeah, probably. But you probably don’t hear Flames coaches, management, players or fans complaining one bit about it. Lomberg has been a really important player for the Flames over the last year, both in terms of vibes and in being a leader and role model for the team’s bottom-six youngsters.

Lomberg’s current deal expires at the end of 2025-26, when he’s 31, and he’s eligible to become a UFA. Depending on the state of the Flames’ system – and whether there’s anybody that can walk in and play a fourth-line role on the wings – there’s a good chance that Lomberg re-ups.

Daniil Miromanov​

What is Daniil Miromanov? He began 2024-25 on the second pair with MacKenzie Weegar, but he soon slumped and was swapped out for Joel Hanley, who fit like a glove. From that point on, Miromanov was sort of a spare part, bouncing between the third pairing and the press box.

He was scratched 38 times last season and had two goals and nine points when he did dress. Miromanov’s deal expires at the end of 2025-26 at the age of 28. We’ll see if he can hold onto an NHL roster spot, or if the potential arrivals of Zayne Parekh or Hunter Brzustewicz dislodges him.

Jake Bean​

The good news is that Bean seemed to find a nice niche for himself on the third pairing alongside Brayden Pachal down the stretch, building some momentum and playing regularly for the Flames. However, the challenge is this: Pachal is a good penalty-killer and so he has a special teams role that cements him in the starting six blueliners. Bean’s not good enough defensively for a shutdown gig, nor is he strong enough offensively to get into the power play mix. So it’s challenging to project him as a full-time member of the Flames blueline because of this lack of obvious role.

Like Miromanov, Bean’s deal expires after 2025-26 (at the age of 28) and he’s eligible to become a UFA. Like Miromanov, we’re not confident that Bean is a no-doubt NHLer next season with so many young faces potentially pushing for NHL duty.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/7-flames-eligible-contract-extensions-this-summer

 

[Calgary Flames]

How is the 2025-26 Flames roster starting to shape up?

Friends, since they missed the post-season dance, we’re into the Calgary Flames’ off-season! And with the off-season comes our usual hand-wringing about what the Flames could look like the next time they play meaningful games.

So as all the action of the off-season remains out in front of us, we thought we’d take a quick look at how the Flames’ roster for 2025-26 is looking, and the many, many X-factors that could create some wrinkles over the next few months.

Everyone is listed with their age as of Sept. 15, 2025.

Goaltenders​

Good news, the Flames have an undisputed top goaltender, and it’s Dustin Wolf (24).

The question is who the other member of the goaltending battery will be. Dan Vladar (28) may be the ideal backup for Wolf, but he’s a pending unrestricted free agent and may prefer a change of scenery so he has a chance to play more. Devin Cooley (28) had a superb start to his AHL season, but he’s struggled in the back half of the year after missing some time due to injury. Or do the Flames to go market and see if they can find somebody new?

Defencemen​

Rasmus Andersson (28) is heading into the final year of his contract. If we take Craig Conroy’s comments from exit interview day at face value – there’s no hard deadline for determining Andersson’s future – we’re pencilling him in for an opening night roster spot. But that’s written in pencil, not pen, and you would hope that his future becomes less murky over the summer.

Three names can probably be written in pen: MacKenzie Weegar (31), Kevin Bahl (25; RFA) and Brayden Pachal (26). Weegar was the Flames’ best blueliner last season. Bahl came in from New Jersey and carved out a niche for himself as a tough-minutes shutdown defender. And Pachal became a third-pairing fixture and a pretty effective penalty-killer.

Depending on Andersson’s future, there’s three or four open spots left. Jake Bean (27) and Daniil Miromanov (28) are incumbents and have contracts, but both spent decent amounts of time in the press box last season and have yet to really grab hold of a role the way Pachal has.

Behind the incumbents, there are a trio of youngsters to keep in mind. Ilya Solovyov (25) has been the great stabilizer on a pretty young Wranglers blueline over the past few seasons and he could be a fit in a third pairing role. Hunter Brzustewicz (20) impressed at Flames camp and then had a quietly strong first pro season with the Wranglers and didn’t look out of place in his Game 82 NHL debut. And we keep talking about Zayne Parekh (19) because he’s really, really good at hockey.

Forwards​

There are fewer questions up front than anywhere else, because the Flames, at least right now, look to be bringing back most of their forwards from this season. The Flames have tended to mix and match offensive-minded guys with checking players on each of their lines – puck retrieval players with guys that can score, if you will – so we’ll break them into these two broad groups.

For offensive-minded forwards, there’s Jonathan Huberdeau (32), Nazem Kadri (34), Yegor Sharangovich (27), Connor Zary (23; RFA), Morgan Frost (26; RFA) and Matt Coronato (22; RFA).

For guys likely finding themselves in checking roles, there’s Martin Pospisil (25), Joel Farabee (25), Mikael Backlund (36), Blake Coleman (33), Ryan Lomberg (30) and Adam Klapka (24; RFA).

If you’re counting along, that’s 12 forwards and it’s missing a fourth line centre. We would suggest there’s a good chance that Justin Kirkland (29), a pending UFA, is given the opportunity to return. But we would also suggest that Sam Morton (26; RFA), coming off a good first pro season with the Wranglers, would also be on the radar.

And as Conroy noted during exit interview day, the Flames remain in the hunt for a right shot, age appropriate centre. Should they land that unicorn, it would obviously change the rest of their plans.

Sum it up​

The Flames could end up being a pretty similar-looking team next season.

However, they probably won’t be entirely the same. If you’re hoping for an injection of scoring, Parekh is probably your best bet. And there’s always the X-factor of Andersson’s situation and the Flames’ ample cap space. If there’s a “hockey trade” that could upgrade the roster, they have the resources to make it work.

We’ll see what the next few months will bring in terms of changes to the hockey club.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/how-is-the-2025-26-flames-roster-starting-to-shape-up

 

[Calgary Flames]

Hitmen forward Ben Kindel could be the ideal Flames first-rounder

Since the Calgary Hitmen entered the Western Hockey League back in 1995-96, the Calgary Flames have selected just three players from that club at the annual NHL Draft – and the last one was Pavel Karnaukhov a decade ago. But in 2025, you can make a good case for the Flames taking a long look at a Hitmen player that could really suit their draft needs.

Friends, let’s talk about Hitmen forward Ben Kindel.

Scouting report​

A product of the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Kindel is a right shot forward born in April 2007. He’s listed at 5’10” and 175 pounds by the Western League. Kindel played his youth hockey primarily in Burnaby before becoming a second-round selection by the Hitmen in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.

After making his WHL debut at the end of the 2022-23 season, Kindel became a full-timer in 2023-24. He emerged as one of the most important Hitmen players this past season.

In January, FC Hockey’s Kareem Elshafey had this assessment:

“Kindel has done a great job of being a threat as a playmaker and a shooter… With the puck on his stick, he’s most dangerous as a playmaker. For my money, he’s one of the best passers in the draft with the ability to make all kinds of passes to teammates in scoring opportunities. The finishing ability shows itself the most when he doesn’t have the puck. He finds space in the offensive zone which allows him to unleash his powerful one timers or quick snapshots.

Over at Dobber Prospects, their Whittaker Heart wrote this scouting report of Kindel in January:

“Ben Kindel has been a revelation this year out of the WHL, asserting himself as one of the draft’s smartest players. Kindel pre-scans his decisions, runs effective routes, and positions himself inside lanes with terrific poise. He has some great defensive moments with excellent timing and a sneaky stick. Kindel uses his IQ to create offence for his teammates, delivering pucks between coverage for scoring chances. The pace he’s producing at is outstanding considering his meticulous 2-way approach. Kindel has the skating, puck skills, and brain for the NHL level and a limitless ceiling. He is a bit undersized but that shouldn’t hinder his chances at a top-20 selection in June.”

In his April draft rankings, Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis provided this rundown on Kindel:

“Kindel has been one of the WHL’s hottest prospects this season, and he’s quickly becoming one of the most popular names in the public scouting sphere. He’s equally good as a shooter and a playmaker and is the driving force of Calgary’s attack. Kindel does a great job of finding open space and exploiting it and he has a shot he can unleash from just about anywhere. Below-average skating and a lack of a physical edge knock him down a few pegs, but many teams should consider him for his pure puck skills and solid all-around improvement.”

Is Kindel a big dude? Nope. But he’s not a “small” forward, in that he’s not terribly skinny, nor does he play on the perimeter. He uses his speed and positioning to win races, and because he’s able to do those things, he’s able to do a lot to drive play and create offence. More than anybody else this season, the Hitmen attack ran through him, and his ability to play centre and the wing well provided his team with a lot of options for how to use him.

The numbers​

As a rookie in 2023-24, Kindel had 15 goals and 45 assists for 60 points. In 2024-25, in his draft eligible season, he had 35 goals and 64 assists for 99 points.

His 99 points led all WHL draft eligible players. 35 goals was third among draft eligibles (behind Carter Bear and Cameron Schmidt). His 64 assists were second among draft eligibles (behind Cole Reschny). He led all draft eligibles outright in goals and points at even strength.

99 points was also good for seventh among all WHL players. He was sixth in the league in even strength points and tied for ninth in even strength goals.

Relative to both players his age and WHLers of any age, Kindel was one of the most productive offensive players in the league.

Availability and fit​

The Flames are tentatively projected to draft around 18th (with New Jersey’s pick) and 23rd (with Florida’s pick). Kindel is generally ranked between 15th and 25th on most draft rankings. Of note: he’s 21st on Elite Prospects’, 27th on FC Hockey’s, 20th on Daily Faceoff’s and TSN’s Craig Button has him 21st.

What do the Flames need? Right shot forwards, preferably centres, that can drive offence. Kindel checks all those boxes. The only knock on him is that he’s not a huge human being. But Matt Coronato is about the same size – they’re both listed at the same height – and he’s turned into a really effective NHLer. Drafting another Coronato-esque player could be a pretty attractive proposition for the Flames, especially one that’s a centre.

For what the Flames need, Kindel may be their ideal choice at 18th or 23rd overall.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/hitmen-forward-ben-kindel-could-be-the-ideal-flames-first-rounder

 

[Calgary Flames]

Jonathan Huberdeau found new dimensions to his game in 2024-25

Gang, I have a phrase I often use in my analysis, and it’s a bit of a mean one. It’s called “the James Neal test,” and it simply asks whether a player helps his team win when he’s not scoring. If a player fails the James Neal test, you can arguably label them as one-dimensional.

Prior to 2024-25, you could make a strong case that Jonathan Huberdeau would fail the James Neal test. After 2024-25, you can’t bring up that criticism of his game anymore.

Huberdeau’s 2024-25 expectations​

Huberdeau joined the Flames in the Matthew Tkachuk mega-deal during the 2022 off-season – also heading to Calgary were MacKenzie Weegar, Cole Schwindt and a conditional first-round pick. You could argue that Weegar, who had far less hype behind him when he arrived, found his niche much more quickly than Huberdeau.

Simply put, Huberdeau struggled under Darryl Sutter in 2022-23. Huberdeau is a dynamic offensive presence who thinks the game at a high level, but taking the player that set the NHL’s single-season record for assists by a left wing and expecting him to figure out how to work within a structured checking system quickly was a tall order. Huberdeau didn’t grasp it right away and seemingly everyone got frustrated with the situation.

In 2023-24, Huberdeau started to figure his game out a bit under Ryan Huska. His offensive production before New Year’s Day was inconsistent, but the effort was obviously there. Once the calendar flipped over to 2024, the production followed. Over the 45 games Huberdeau played from January to April, he had eight goals and 36 points (0.80 points per game), good for third on the club in points and tied for sixth in goals.

Heading into 2024-25, could Huberdeau maintain that consistency in his offensive production?

How Huberdeau did in 2024-25​

In 2023-24, Huberdeau found his scoring touch again and became a player that, while he had to be sheltered in terms of opposition and deployments, could consistently create offence for the Flames.

In 2024-25, Huberdeau became a pretty versatile player for the Flames that didn’t need to be sheltered nearly as much. He had 28 goals and 62 points on the season, sitting second on the team in points and goals. Heck, only Weegar was on the ice for more goals scored by the Flames than Huberdeau in all situations – Huberdeau was fourth in goal differential across all situations, trailing only Matt Coronato, Weegar and Nazem Kadri.

More importantly, Huberdeau was added to the penalty killing mix this season and quietly became a pretty key cog in their special teams group. The addition of penalty killing to his toolbox arguably made him a more astute two-way player at even strength; I’m not a plus/minus guy, but he went from minus-29 in 2023-24 to minus-13 in 2024-25, while playing tough opposition on a team that famously struggled to score.

Huberdeau also ended up playing a lot more than he did in prior Flames seasons. He actually led all Flames forwards in ice time per game (19:33), playing nearly two minutes more per game than he did during his January-to-April 2024 resurgence. He became a trusted player in basically every game situation, and you could argue that (a) he earned that trust and (b) he delivered in those situations.

Next season’s expectation​

We’ve seen offensive production from Huberdeau at around 0.80 points-per-game for the last 120-ish regular season games, and that’s probably what he needs to maintain to justify his spot as a fixture in offensive deployments. (We’ll concede that Huberdeau’s point production is pretty decent on a team with a middling power play, and if Zayne Parekh sticks with the big club next season we could easily see Huberdeau playing on the same PP unit and getting a points boost as a consequence.)

It’s easy not to love his $10.5 million cap hit, and since we’re not the ones paying him that kind of dough, we can grit our teeth and see past it. Whatever his cap hit, Huberdeau is a respected veteran in the Flames locker room and someone who cares so much about helping his team win that he basically turned himself into a 200-foot player this year – the affectionate joke in the Flames room was that Huberdeau is a “power forward” now.

If Huberdeau can maintain this level of 200-foot awareness and effectiveness, he could remain a pretty important player for the Flames for awhile yet.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/jonathan-huberdeau-found-new-dimensions-to-his-game-in-2024-25

 

[Calgary Flames]

Flames prospect Sam Honzek will represent Slovakia at the IIHF World Championship

One of the Calgary Flames’ most promising young players will be representing his country this spring. Forward Sam Honzek, most recently of the American Hockey League’s Calgary Wranglers, will be representing Slovakia at the upcoming IIHF World Championship in May.

Honzek’s trip to the Worlds was first “reported” on social media by Slovak Ice Hockey Federation president Miroslav Satan, and subsequently announced by the Flames on their social media.

Samo Honzek (F) will come to play for Slovakia Nat. Team preparing for World Championships 2025.

— Miroslav Šatan (@miro81s) April 27, 2025

The Flames’ first-round selection in 2023, Honzek went pro this past season after spending a couple seasons with the Western Hockey League’s Vancouver Giants. He actually made the Flames roster out of camp, but he didn’t play a ton… and then he got injured. Eventually, he was sent down to the Wranglers in order to gain experience (and a ton of playing time). That’s what’s happened, with Honzek playing a lot of hockey over the past year and getting usage in every game situation for the Flames’ top affiliate.

Largely avoiding injury this season, Honzek ended up playing 59 games overall – the most he’s played in awhile. He had zero points in five NHL games with the Flames, playing exclusively on the wing early in the season while Yegor Sharangovich was injured. He had 21 points in 52 AHL regular season games (and zero points in two AHL playoff games), playing a combination of centre and the wing.

The 20-year-old Honzek will be suiting up for the first time with Slovakia’s senior men’s national team, but he’s played for them in several major junior tournaments: one Under-18 Worlds, one Hlinka Gretzky Cup and three World Juniors. While Honzek’s countryman (and fellow Flames forward) Martin Pospisil isn’t participating in the Worlds due to some lingering injuries, Pospisil has been a senior team fixture over the past few seasons – he helped Slovakia earn a spot in the upcoming Olympics, for example, and he’s probably a safe bet to play at that event for his country. For Honzek, the 2025 Worlds is a great opportunity to get some reps against high-end international talent, and perhaps grab hold of an Olympic roster spot, too.

The IIHF World Championship runs May 9-25 in Stockholm, Sweden and Herning, Denmark.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/flames...esent-slovakia-at-the-iihf-world-championship