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[Calgary Flames]

Flames ranked 10th in Daily Faceoff’s prospect pool rankings

The summertime means that, for a lot of websites, it’s prospects season!

While we’re in the midst of our annual summer prospect rankings here at FlamesNation, over at Daily Faceoff our colleague Steven Ellis has been digging into the prospect bases of all 32 NHL clubs.

With his tour around the league done, Ellis has concluded his summer marathon of writing with his annual ranking of the NHL prospect bases. This year, he has the Calgary Flames’ prospect pool ranked at 10th in the league, up from 15th in 2024.

Here’s what Ellis had to say about the Flames:

The Flames might not have much going for them in the NHL, but there are some nice pieces coming along throughout the deep pipeline. There’s a high likelihood that defenseman Zayne Parekh will be in the NHL to start the season, with many believing he’ll stick around for the majority of the year. The Flames have a ton of depth at center now, using their two recent first-rounders to bet on middlemen with skill to burn. Cole Reschny is one of the best playmakers outside of the NHL today, while Cullen Potter didn’t let a smaller frame slow him down in college. It’s a good pool, even after promoting Dustin Wolf and Matt Coronato to the show.

Since the promotion of Craig Conroy to the general manager’s chair in May 2023, the Flames have entered a retooling period. That process has involved moving out many established veterans on expiring contracts in exchange for draft picks and prospects.

Conroy and his scouting staff have made 24 draft choices over his three drafts as GM, including 13 picks in the first three rounds and five picks in the first round itself: Sam Honzek in 2023, Zayne Parekh and Matvei Gridin in 2024, and Cole Reschny and Cullen Potter in 2025.

The Flames have a ton of depth in their prospect pool right now, depth that wasn’t there before Conroy’s hiring as GM. That said, with the graduations of Dustin Wolf and Matt Coronato to full-time NHLer status, the organization arguably lacks a true “ace” prospect aside from Zayne Parekh. Time will tell if anyone from their deep prospect pool emerges as an “ace” over the next couple of seasons, or if the Flames will need to rely on a committee of very good prospects to move their retooling process forward.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/flames-ranked-10th-in-daily-faceoffs-prospect-pool-rankings

 

[Calgary Flames]

Western Conference off-season preview: Anaheim Ducks

One team in the Pacific Division that could fight for a post-season spot is the Anaheim Ducks.

They’ve missed the playoffs for seven consecutive seasons, but they have a young core with solid veterans. Moreover, the Ducks have been steadily improving over the past three seasons and could be in the wild card race in 2025-26.

Let’s take a look at how the Ducks’ 2024-25 season went, as well as what they’ve done this off-season!

How the season went​

The Ducks finished with a sub-.500 record, as their 35-37-10 record was good for 80 points, third-last in the Pacific Division. That said, they’ve been gradually improving, going from 23 wins in 2022-23 (the fewest wins in an 82-game season in franchise history) to 27 wins in 2023-24.

In the end, the Ducks finished 16 points out of a playoff spot, not good, but an improvement from the season before, as they finished 39 points out of a playoff spot.

On top of that, their young core had solid seasons. Mason McTavish scored 22 goals and 52 points in 76 games, Leo Carlsson scored 20 goals and 45 points in 76 games, Cutter Gauthier scored 20 goals and 44 points in 82 games, and defenceman Jackson LaCombe scored 14 goals and 44 points in 75 games.

That doesn’t even mention Olen Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov, two high-potential defencemen. In net, Lukáš Dostál had a .903 save percentage and 3.10 goals against average in 54 games.

The Ducks also had a strong veteran presence of Troy Terry, Alexander Killorn, Frank Vatrano, Ryan Strome, Radko Gudas, and Jacob Trouba.

Drafted players​

Even though the Ducks finished with 80 points, they finished with a top 10 pick. With the 10th overall pick, they drafted right-shot centre Roger McQueen. The Saskatoon-native scored 10 goals and 20 points in 17 games last season with the Western Hockey League’s Brandon Wheat Kings.

They had a whole lot of picks after the first round. With the 45th overall pick, the Ducks selected Eric Nilson. They picked again just 15 picks later, selecting Lasse Boelius, a defenceman from Finland. In the third round, they drafted London Knights centre Noah Read.

The Ducks had two fourth-round picks, selecting Drew Schock (a defenceman) 101st overall and Elijah Neuenschwander, a netminder from Switzerland. In the fifth round, the Ducks chose Alexis Mathieu 136th overall and Emile Guite 159th overall.

Their final two picks were defenceman Anthony Allain-Samake and Bray Turko, the latter was teammates with McQueen.

Trades​

The Ducks have had a busy off-season so far, both in the trade and free agent signing departments. On Jun. 12, they traded Carey Terrance and a 2025 third-rounder to the New York Rangers for Chris Kreider and a 2025 fourth-round pick.

Nine days later, the Ducks sent Trevor Zegras to the Philadelphia Flyers for centre Ryan Poehling, as well as a 2025 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick. On the second day of the draft, the Ducks sent long-time netminder John Gibson to the Detroit Red Wings for Petr Mrázek and two picks: a second in 2027 and a fourth in 2026.

Free agent signings​

On the free agent front, the Ducks signed one of the better centres available in free agency, agreeing to a three-year, $21 million contract with Mikael Granlund.

They were also able to extend Lukáš Dostál and Drew Helleson, while McTavish still hasn’t signed yet (he’s a restricted free agent). On the coaching front, the Ducks signed three-time Stanley Cup winner Joel Quenneville.

Departures​

The Ducks’ two biggest departures were Zegras and Gibson, but they didn’t extend a qualifying offer to Isac Lundeström. Zegras’ trade wasn’t too surprising, as he hadn’t reached the 60-point mark as he had in 2021-22 and 2022-23.

Gibson’s trade wasn’t all that surprising either, as the veteran goaltender has struggled for the past six seasons. After playing well in his 29 games, they got a solid return for the 32-year-old. It also allows Dostál to take over the crease full-time in 2025-26.

What the team looks like heading into 2025-26​

So what does the Ducks’ roster look like heading into the 2025-26 season? They have a strong centre core of Carlsson, McTavish, Granlund, and Poehling. On the wings, Chris Kreider, Terry, Gauthier, and Vatrano make up a solid wing core for the top six. In the bottom six, two veterans in Killorn and Strome make up what could be a strong third line.

On the back-end, LaCombe, Mintyukov, and Zellweger will play on the left side, while Gudas, Trouba, and Helleson make up the right side of the Ducks’ defence. In net, Dostál will start most games, with Mrázek serving as a backup.

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

PRESENTED BY 6IX INNING STRETCH PODCAST​

Love baseball? Don’t miss The 6ix Inning Stretch — the brand new podcast from The Nation Network, presented by Betway. Hosted by Toronto sports reporter Lindsay Dunn and 3-time MLB All-Star Whit Merrifield, this weekly show delivers insider stories, unfiltered Jays talk, player interviews, and expert analysis from around the majors. New episodes drop every Wednesday — listen on your favourite podcast platform or watch on the Bluejaysnation YouTube channel.

Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/western-conference-off-season-preview-anaheim-ducks

 

[Calgary Flames]

Western Conference off-season preview: Seattle Kraken

Is there a more mediocre team in the National Hockey League than the Seattle Kraken?

Aside from everything going right in the 2022-23 season, the Kraken’s first five seasons in the NHL have been mediocre. They haven’t been good, but they also haven’t been bad enough to land a true superstar, something they are lacking.

Let’s take a look at how the Kraken’s season went, as well as what the Kraken have done this off-season and how the team looks heading into the 2025-26 season.

How the season went​

This season, the Kraken finished with a 35-41-6 record, second-worst in the Pacific Division. On top of that, their 80 points put them 16 points back of the final wild card team. Unlike the Anaheim Ducks, they aren’t improving either, as they had a 34-35-13 record in 2023-24, with 81 points. They were 17 points back of the final wild card team.

Leading the team in goals was veteran Jaden Schwartz, while veteran Jared McCann led the team in points. Some youngsters took a step forward, as Shane Wright scored 19 goals and 44 points in 79 games, and Matty Beniers had an alright season, scoring 20 goals and 43 points.

Kaapo Kakko was a good addition in the middle of the season, as he scored 10 goals and 30 points in 49 games after the trade. He was selected second overall in the 2019 draft, but hasn’t quite lived up to the potential that comes with that pick, at least with the New York Rangers.

Eeli Tolvanen had a solid season, scoring 23 goals and 35 points, while their new additions of Brandon Montour and Chandler Stephenson were solid. Montour, a defenceman, finished with 18 goals for the season.

In net, Joey Daccord has emerged as one of the best netminders in the Pacific Division, posting a .906 save percentage and 2.73 goals against average in 57 games last season. Since Daccord became the full-time starter in 2023-24, he has a .910 save percentage and 2.61 goals against average.

Drafted players​

Coming into this draft, the Kraken have had four drafts in franchise history, selecting a forward with each of their first-round picks. In 2021, they selected Beniers; in the next draft, they selected Wright. Eduard Šalé and Berkly Catton (2023 and 2024 first-rounders) haven’t made their debuts yet.

The Kraken stuck to what they’ve done throughout their franchise history, selecting forward Jake O’Brien eighth overall. They seemed to like their defence options in the draft, as they drafted Blake Fiddler in the second round, Will Reynolds in the third round, Maxim Agafonov in the fifth round, and Karl Annborn in the seventh round. Their last pick of the draft saw the Kraken draft forward Loke Krantz.

Trades​

The Kraken have made two sizable trades since the off-season began. On June 19, they traded a 2025 fourth-rounder and a 2026 third-rounder to the Dallas Stars for Mason Marchment. Two days later, they traded André Burakovsky to the Chicago Blackhawks for Joe Veleno, buying out the centre.

Their other notable move saw them trade another 2025 fourth-rounder to the Minnesota Wild for Frédérick Gaudreau. These are solid veteran adds, as both Gaudreau and Marchment are capable of scoring 15 or more goals.

Free agent signings​

The Kraken’s major free agent signing was bringing in left-shot defenceman Ryan Lindgren, signing him to a four-year deal worth $4.5 million. They also brought in two-time Stanley Cup champion Matt Murray on a one-year, $1 million deal.

As for their extensions, they signed defenceman Ryker Evans to a two-year deal worth $2.05 million annually, along with Kakko to a three-year deal worth $4.525 million annually. Cale Fleury signed a two-year deal worth $890,000 as well.

Moreover, they fired Dan Bylsma after just a season, replacing him with Lane Lambert.

Depatures​

The Kraken’s only notable departure was Burakovsky. Last season, he scored 10 goals and 37 points in 79 games. His production will be replaced by Marchment and Gaudreau. Michael Eyssimont also departed the team, as he was a part of the Yanni Gourde trade before the 2025 trade deadline.

What the team looks like heading into 2025-26​

So how can the Kraken get out of mediocrity? They need their young players to take a step forward. Their centre core is Beniers, Wright, Stephenson, and Gaudreau, which isn’t too bad. Their wings aren’t bad either, as Schwartz, McCann, Catton, and Nyman make up the left wing, while Kakko, Marchment, Jordan Eberle, and Tolvanen make up the right wing.

After drafting so many forwards in the first round of each draft, their defence core isn’t the strongest. Vince Dunn is a solid left-shot defenceman, followed by Lindgren, who’ll be used in a shutdown role, and Evans, who is their only real defender with potential. Adam Larsson, Montour, and Jamie Oleksiak will make up the right side.

Between the pipes, Daccord will be their full-time starter and will be backed up by Philipp Grubauer.

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

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/western-conference-off-season-preview-seattle-kraken

 

[Calgary Flames]

Hunter Brzustewicz made an outstanding transition to pro hockey in his rookie season

Hunter Brzustewicz is one of the best prospect trade pieces the Calgary Flames have gotten in recent years.

As part of the trade that sent Elias Lindholm to Vancouver and brought Andrei Kuzmenko and Joni Jurmo to the Flames in 2024, Brzustewicz remains the last player in that group still in the organization. Fans caught a glimpse of him in pre-season and would have seen him with the Wranglers all year, but his first big performance as a Flame was in his NHL debut on the last game of the regular season. In a whirlwind season, Brzustewicz bought in and settled into the Flames system and found a lot of success.

2024-25 expectations​

Hunter Brzustewicz was expected to make a solid addition to the Wranglers’ defensive core but his spot among the existing skaters was unsure. There was no denying he had the talent to be an everyday defenceman at the AHL level; there was just some uncertainty on how long his transition into pro hockey would be.

Being a more offensive defenseman and having another defender like Jeremie Poirier fitting that mould, there were some ideas around putting those two together and seeing if they could generate some chemistry. Ilya Solovyov, if available with the Wranglers also would’ve been one of the veteran options he could pair up with.

Hunter Brzustewicz’s welcome into the Calgary organization wasn’t expected to be a quiet one and he came in with high expectations placed on him. He’s a player who would be getting monitored closely in his rookie season with the AHL affiliate.

2024-25 results​

Brzustewicz ended up finding almost instant chemistry with another veteran defender with the Wranglers, Yan Kuznetsov. Their games clicked very nicely, and with Kuznetsov playing a balanced and consistent game, Brzustewicz was able to learn from his poise and positioning. On top of that, he was also able to start taking risks and leaning in to more of that offensive side of his game as the season went on.

When Brzustewicz reflected on his experiences in his first year he said,

“It was a slow start just getting used to things but I think I finished strong. It was all good and I’ve been learning a lot and I think that’s really important for sure.”

In his first full season with the Wranglers, Brzustewicz played in nearly every game, earning five goals and 27 assists for a total of 32 points. He played in 70 games and only missed two to realize his dream of playing in the NHL. On Apr. 17, he made his debut in a Flames jersey against the LA Kings, playing on a pairing with Brayden Pachal. He didn’t pick up any points but did finish the night with a healthy +2 rating.

When he reflected on that experience and sharing it with peers like Sam Morton and Zayne Parekh, he said:

“It was unbelievable. I think the little things for me like the travel, the food. I think just looking up at the bright lights in LA, it was unbelievable for myself. I think the first thing I looked at was the banner of the Lakers and stuff. That was a really cool moment for me.”

Brzustewicz continued:

“At the start of the season when we were in Seattle for the pre-season game. I was sitting on the bench with Zayne (Parekh), and we just took a moment and we were like this is unreal and it was just preseason. Then when we were on the plane, me and Sam, (Morton), he was like we forever have a bond now. And I was like, we didn’t have a bond before?!”

Brzustewicz returned to the Wranglers to finish the season and played in the first playoff game against the Coachella Valley Firebirds. He was out of the lineup for game two due to a minor lower body injury and with Calgary’s playoff run closing off after two games, that wrapped up his season. This injury wasn’t something that would keep him away from off-season training for long.

Brzustewicz definitely met and arguably exceeded the set expectations for him in his rookie season and there was not much more he could’ve done to make that first season any better.

NO QUIT!!! Brew ties it with 11 seconds left pic.twitter.com/ndfT3Y9Jn0

— Calgary Wranglers (@AHLWranglers) January 19, 2025

Next season’s expectations​

Brzustewicz is aware of the things he’d like to polish so he can continue to move his professional path forward to a more regular NHL role. He said in Wranglers’ exit meetings:

“It sounds cliche, but just get the stronger part for myself just on all areas. Then the power and speed comes with that when you get the strength.”

A stronger, faster Brzustewicz paired with the knowledge he has now of what that NHL job looks like, is giving him an edge going into the 2025-26 season. He said after his experience with the Flames:

“I think you just become more confident. They see you and you realize that you become more comfortable. Whether it’s around the older guys here or up there. When you become more comfortable off the ice, that’s when you become more comfortable on the ice.”

It feels like next season, Brzustewicz’s chances with the Flames will not be just a one game stint. He feels prepped and ready to play a handful of games in the NHL (if not more) and fall back to the AHL for extra development in this transition year.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/hunter...transition-to-pro-hockey-in-his-rookie-season

 

[Calgary Flames]

Western Conference off-season preview: San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks weren’t good in 2024-25, but they sure were fun!

After a decade and a half of being one of the best Western Conference teams, the Sharks are in the midst of a rebuild. This isn’t a retool, this is a full-on rebuild, with the Sharks being the worst team in the National Hockey League. Think the 2010-2016 Edmonton Oilers.

That said, they’ve been busy in the off-season, so let’s take a look at how their season went, as well as what they’ve done so far this off-season.

How the season went​

In 2023-24, the Sharks finished with a 19-54-9 record, with a league-worst 47 points. It worked out for them, as they were able to draft Macklin Celebrini. Last season also saw the Sharks finish with the fewest points in the NHL, but they finished with a 20-50-12 record and 52 points, so that’s an improvement.

A big reason for their success was Celebrini, as the rookie scored 25 goals and 63 points in 70 games, and it looks like he could be a true superstar in the league. Will Smith, the fourth-overall pick in 2023, scored 18 goals and 45 points in his rookie campaign, while 2021 first-rounder William Eklund scored a career-high 17 goals and 58 points in 77 games.

The Sharks had a fire sale before the deadline, trading Mackenzie Blackwood to the Colorado Avalanche, Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci to the Dallas Stars, Jake Walman to the Edmonton Oilers, Fabian Zetterlund to the Ottawa Senators, and Luke Kunin to the Columbus Blue Jackets. That said, they retained one veteran on the team.

Namely, former Calgary Flame forward Tyler Toffoli. In his first season with the Sharks, the winger scored 30 goals and 54 points in 78 games, the third-most goals and points in his career.

Their netminder of the future is Yaroslav Askarov, whom they acquired from the Nashville Predators early in the 2024-25 season. Last season, Askarov played 13 games, posting an .896 save percentage and 3.10 goals against average.

Drafted players​

The Sharks finished with the fewest points in the league, but ended up with the second overall pick. They used it to select forward Michael Misa. If that last name sounds familiar, our 13th-best prospect in the summer update is his brother, Luke. Misa also played for the Saginaw Spirit, scoring 62 goals and 134 points in 65 games, ahead of another Flames’ prospect, Zayne Parekh.

Late in the first round, the Sharks selected Joshua Ravensbergen, a netminder who played for the Prince George Cougars. He was the second netminder off the board in the 2025 draft. With the 33rd overall pick, they selected China-born defenceman Haoxi Wang. They also had the 53rd overall pick, selecting Cole McKinney out of the U.S. National Development Team.

The Sharks selected centre Teddy Mutryn in the third round, Ilyas Magomedsultanov and Jack Sharp in the fourth round, Max Heise in the fifth round, and Richard Gallant in the seventh round.

Trades​

Once the off-season began, the Sharks only made a handful of small trades. On Jul. 1, they traded a 2028 third-round pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Alex Nedeljkovic. The following day, they sent Thomas Bordeleau to the New Jersey Devils for Shane Bowers.

Their biggest move saw them trade 24-year-old defenceman Henry Thrun to the Toronto Maple Leafs for 38-year-old Ryan Reaves, not really sure why they made this trade. The Sharks’ most recent trade was with the Avalanche, sending Oskar Olausson to the Avs for Danil Gushchin.

Free agent signings​

The Sharks were busier on the free agent front. On Canada Day, they agreed to a three-year deal with William Eklund, with a cap hit of $5.6 million annually. They took a bet on Philipp Kurashev, signing him to a one-year deal worth $1.2 million. In 2023-24, Kurashev scored 18 goals and 54 points in 75 games with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Moreover, the Sharks added some more vets. They signed John Klingberg to a one-year deal worth $4 million, Adam Gaudette to a two-year deal worth $2 million annually, Dmitry Orlov to a two-year deal worth $6.5 million annually, and Jeff Skinner to a one-year deal worth $3 million.

Although not a free agent signing, the Sharks claimed Nick Leddy off waivers from the St. Louis Blues, which leads to one of the more surprising off-season moves.

Departures​

Long-time Sharks’ defenceman Marc-Édouard Vlasic was bought out by the only team he’s ever played for. The Sharks used the pick acquired for Miikka Kiprusoff to select Vlasic in the second round of the 2005 draft. By buying him out, the Sharks are giving him a chance to win a Stanley Cup as a veteran defenceman for a contender.

He and Logan Couture were the last two members of the team that went to the Stanley Cup Finals back in 2026. Couture announced his retirement in mid-April, but will still be under payroll until his deal ends at the end of the 2026-27 season.

Thrun was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and their only other notable departure saw Nikolai Kovalenko depart for the Kontinental Hockey League. Kovalenko was part of the Blackwood deal and scored three goals and 12 points in 29 games.

What the team looks like heading into 2025-26​

You don’t need a crystal ball to say that the Sharks will be somewhere near the bottom of the league in 2025-26. And it makes sense, as Gavin McKenna is a game-changer for the team that gets him.

If the Sharks were to get him, it would add to an already promising centre core of Celebrini and Misa. The two other expected centre are Alexander Wennberg and Ty Dellandrea, as both Eklund and Smith have moved to the wing. Filling out their top six wingers are Toffoli and Skinner.

In the bottom six, it’s expected the Sharks will have Kurashev, Collin Graf, Barclay Goodrow, and Adam Gaudette. And on the backend, the Sharks have Orlov, Klingberg, Shakir Mukhamadullin, Leddy, Mario Ferraro, and Timothy Liljegren. Expect a few of those players to be traded before the deadline. It wouldn’t be surprising to see 11th overall pick in the 2024 draft, Sam Dickinson, push for a spot on the back-end as well.

Between the pipes, it’s time for Askarov to get some real action, likely splitting the crease with Nedeljkovic.

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

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/western-conference-off-season-preview-san-jose-sharks

 

[Calgary Flames]

FN’s 2025 Flames summer prospect rankings – #5: Cullen Potter

Prior to 2024, the Calgary Flames had made multiple first-round picks in the same draft just once in their history.

Now, they’ve done it the last two years in a row, and with the Vegas Golden Knights’ 2026 first-rounder also in their possession, they’re on track to make at least six top-32 picks in a three-year span. That’s uncharted territory — at least, it is for this franchise.

The Flames had to watch all spring long as the Florida Panthers steamrolled their way through the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, reducing the value of their first-round pick in the process. But in the end, it all kind of worked out. For one, the Panthers prevented their arch rivals from winning it all for the second consecutive year; and on top of that, the Flames ended up getting a guy at No. 32 overall who they probably would’ve taken higher had Florida bowed out earlier.

Today, we’re talking about the first Arizona State Sun Devil to be selected in the first round of the NHL draft: Cullen Potter.

Cullen Potter​

Centre, shoots left
Born Jan. 10, 2007 (age 18) in Minneapolis, MN
5’10”, 172 pounds
Drafted in the first round (32nd overall) by Calgary in the 2025 NHL Draft

It’s exceptionally rare for a player to succeed in NCAA Division I men’s hockey as a teenager, let alone before their 18th birthday, but that’s exactly what Potter did at ASU in the 2024-25 season. Playing primarily as the No. 2 centre for head coach Greg Powers throughout the year, Potter recorded 13 goals and 22 points in 35 games, enough to finish eighth on the team — and second in points only to Boston College centre James Hagens among collegiate players in their first year of draft eligibility. Hagens, of course, went to the Bruins with the No. 7 overall pick, a full 25 spots ahead of where the Flames snagged Potter.

Hagens entered the 2024-25 campaign as one of the most highly-touted prospects available for the 2025 draft, and he also had the enormous benefit of skating alongside established NCAA stars in Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard at Boston College. Potter had far fewer advantages at ASU, one of the newest D1 programs in the nation with hardly any NHL-affiliated prospects on its roster. And yet Potter still exceeded Hagens’ 2024-25 goal total by two, matching the output delivered by ex-Flame Mike Cammalleri in his own age-17 draft year at Michigan 25 years ago — and as a full-fledged centre, no less. It was a remarkably impressive freshman campaign for one of the youngest players we’ve ever seen in the college hockey ranks, and it’s safe to say ASU would’ve had a much tougher time finishing second in the NCHC (ahead of even Denver and North Dakota) with a lesser second-line pivot in his place.

Potter is fast. He plays the game with remarkable pace and is (mostly) capable of keeping his hands in sync with his feet. He also scored at a much more consistent pace over the second half of his draft year and continued onward and upward into the U18s this past spring, finishing with four goals and eight points in seven games as Team USA won bronze. Don’t be surprised if USA Hockey heavily weighs Potter’s terrific performance at that tournament when determining what kind of role he might play for them at the World Juniors later this year. Depending on what happens with Zayne Parekh this winter, Potter might end up being the top Flames prospect to watch once Boxing Day rolls around.

Interestingly enough, Potter has a chance to become the first son of a former Olympic women’s ice hockey player to make the NHL if he does latch on with the Flames. His mother, Jenny Potter, was a star forward in her own right who racked up 11 goals and 30 points in 19 games with Team USA over four Olympic appearances between age 19 and 31 (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010). She set numerous records during her own NCAA career, even scoring six goals in a single game with the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs in 2002, and eventually won a championship and league MVP award with the Minnesota Whitecaps in 2009. If Cullen is able to accomplish even half that much in his own pro career, the Flames will be thrilled.

Here’s how Arizona State Press hockey beat writer Niall Rosenberg described Potter’s contributions to the Sun Devils as a freshman:

Cullen Potter came to ASU with a lot of hype around himself. Every time you would watch him, you would know the talent level he has. He has elite skating, as well as elite stick handling. He’s a human highlight reel every time he plays. He did have an adjustment period, being out bodied a lot. Towards the end of the season he really turned it on. His two-way game does need a bit of work, but it was miles better in the second half. Coach Powers himself touched on his improvement. This next season at ASU I fully expect him to turn it up another notch and be one of the best players in college hockey.

Added The State Press’ other hockey beat writer, Giovanni Barberio:

Potter is an extremely talented player who is quick on his feet and in his play-making. Although there were talks of Potter not being ready for college hockey prior to his freshman year at Arizona State, he was an essential piece to his team’s offense this season. He is a very exciting player who is continuing to develop beyond his expectations.

Expectations for 2025-26​

As Rosenberg alluded to, the time has come for Potter to take a big step forward at ASU. He already has one year under his belt, which he capped off with an outstanding performance at the U18s. Now, he’s at the age where most legit prospects are only just entering college — and he already knows what he needs to do to truly thrive at that level. That’s a huge advantage.

The Sun Devils have added some decent players, including Minnesota draft pick Justin Kipkie, but Potter will be looked upon to be even more of a focal point for their offence as a sophomore. With good wingers and consistent power-play time, there’s no reason why Potter shouldn’t be able to exceed the point-per-game mark in 2025-26. He’s got the skill, speed, and smarts — now, he just needs to put it all together. And if he can contribute at the World Juniors, even better.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/fns-2025-flames-summer-prospect-rankings-5-cullen-potter