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[Calgary Flames]

A Flame from the Past: Joe Colborne

Do you remember Joe Colborne?

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 2015-16 season, with the player we’ll look at in today’s article being Joe Colborne.

Born in Calgary on Jan. 30, 1990, Colborne began his junior career in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with the Camrose Kodiaks in 2006-07, scoring 20 goals and 48 points in 53 games. The following season, the left-shot centre scored 33 goals and 90 points in 55 games, along with eight goals and 16 points in 18 post-season games. In the 2008 draft, the Boston Bruins selected him 16th overall.

Colborne went the collegiate path, playing for the University of Denver in 2008-09 and 2009-10. His first season saw him score 10 goals and 31 points in 40 games, followed by a 22-goal, 41-point season in 39 games in his sophomore season. To end the 2009-10 season, Colborne played six games in the American Hockey League, where he picked up two assists.

His first full professional season was in 2010, playing 55 games for the AHL’s Providence Bruins, where he scored 12 goals and 26 points. Before the trade deadline, they sent Colborne to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Tomáš Kaberle, which worked out quite well for the Bruins as they won the Stanley Cup in 2011.

Colborne played 20 games for the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, scoring eight goals and 16 points in 20 games, making his Leafs’ debut toward the end of the season, where he picked up an assist in one game.

The Calgary-native once again mainly played in the AHL in 2011-12, scoring 16 goals and 39 points in 65 games with the Marlies, but played 10 games in the National Hockey League, where he scored a goal and picked up five points in 10 games. It was much of the same the following season, as Colborne scored 14 goals and 42 points in 65 AHL games, playing just five games in the NHL.

Before the start of the 2013-14 season, the Flames sent a fourth-round pick to the Leafs to acquire their hometown talent, the best possible thing that could’ve happened to Colborne. In his first season with the Flames, he scored 10 goals and 28 points in 80 games, his career-best at that point. In 2014-15, Colborne scored eight goals and 28 points in just 64 games. In the 2015 post-season, Colborne scored a goal and had three points in 11 games.

Colborne’s best National Hockey League season came in 2015-16, where he scored 19 goals and 44 points in 73 games. He finished sixth in points and fifth in goals that season. The Flames shockingly didn’t give him a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent, signing with the Colorado Avalanche for the 2017-17 season.

In his first game, Colborne scored a hat trick, but finished with just one goal in his last 61 NHL games, finishing the season with four goals and eight points in 62 games. Before the 2017-18 season, Colborne suffered a back injury and never played another NHL game. His only action that season came with the Avalanche’s AHL team, scoring two goals and four points in 13 games.

After suffering a concussion on Nov. 10, 2017, Colborne’s final hockey game was the following day, before retiring.

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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/a-flame-from-the-past-joe-colborne

 

[Calgary Flames]

Ryker Lee could be the steal of the 2025 NHL Draft if he slides to the second round

Ryker Lee is a draft-eligible prospect who could be available late in the first round or somewhere in the second round.

The good news is that the Calgary Flames will likely pick either 31st or 32nd with Florida’s first-round pick and will pick 57th with the pick they received from Colorado.

Let’s take a look at what Lee has to offer!

Scouting report​

Lee is a right-shot right-winger who stands at 6’0”, 170 lbs after a recent growth spurt. After playing high school hockey in Minnesota, Lee played parts of his last two seasons with the Madison Capitols of the United States Hockey League. Lee was born on Nov. 8, 2006, meaning he’s one of the older first-time draft-eligible prospects.

Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff ranked Lee as his 37th-best prospect in the upcoming draft, noting:

“Lee has been one of the best players in the USHL this season, using his quick hands and excellent hockey IQ in the offensive zone to win so many battles. He’s not big and can be pushed around a bit too much at times, but he doesn’t let it get to him and is quite competitive. I hope to see him become quicker once he heads to college – if he could just use his footwork to win more puck races, he’d be even more effective.”

David Saad of Dobber Prospects wrote this in his report about Lee in March:

“In his D-1 season (being 5-10, ~160lbs), Lee was fun, but not highly regarded. Fortunately, Lee hit a growth spurt right before his USHL freshman season and has taken the league by storm. He’s tied for 5th in points and in 3rd in points-per-game.

Few players in the draft can match up to Lee’s highlight reel. He constantly exposes defenders with a myriad of solutions: spin passes, feints, tape-to-tape saucer passes, there seems to be no limit to what Lee can imagine.

However, the growth spurt did not come without its drawbacks. Lee’s skating mechanics have taken a hit, losing him considerable speed and making his effectiveness as a play-driving winger fluctuant. This weakness has improved as the season’s gone on, but part of the appeal with Lee will always centre around if he’s able to fully recapture that motor of his. If everything breaks right, Lee can become one of the bigger steals this draft has to offer, but the ‘if’ might be significant enough to see him drop.”

Sportsnet’s Jason Bukala ranked Lee as his 58th-best draft prospect, having this to say about the 18-year-old winger:

“Average skater with upright stride. Excellent puck touch. Deceptive release. Playmaker on the power play.”

The numbers​

Lee only played two regular season games with the Capitols in 2023-24, scoring a goal and an assist, while playing three additional post-season games where he was held pointless.

The right-winger had that growth spurt, and he broke out in 2024-25, scoring 31 goals and 68 points in 58 games. He had the fourth-most goals and points in the United States Hockey League this past season. Unfortunately, the Capitols only played six post-season games, where Lee found the back of the net three times and added three helpers.

Lee is committed to Michigan State University next season.

Availability and fit​

Starting with availability, Lee’s ranking varies depending on the pundit. He ranks early in the second round according to some (Daily Faceoff, The Hockey News, Dobber Prospects, Craig Button), but also towards where the Flames pick in the second round. If he’s available with the 57th overall pick, Lee has a chance to be a steal of the draft as he’s an incredible playmaker.

As for fit, the Flames have a whole bunch of wingers in their prospect pool, including Matvei Gridin, Jacob Battaglia, Sam Honzek, and others – but not a ton of right-shot wingers, though. While they have a bigger need for centres and left-shot defencemen, Lee is a winger the Flames should consider taking if he falls to them in the second round.

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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/ryker-...25-nhl-draft-if-he-slides-to-the-second-round

 

[Calgary Flames]

FlamesNation Mailbag: Looking ahead to the draft and free agency

Oh man, where did May go, everybody? This is the final mailbag for the month of May, and pretty soon it’ll be June and the 2025 NHL Draft, the awards and free agency will be looming.

As we all go through our own personal existential crises regarding how quickly time is passing, let’s dive into the mailbag!

What are some fair expectations for Zayne Parekh next season

— Pospisil is HIM (Put #13 in the rafters) (@PospisliForHart) May 25, 2025

I love this question but it’s a tough one to really answer because Zayne Parekh is kind of a unicorn. I would suspect that if he’s on the Flames roster in October, it’s because he’s earned himself a spot in their top two pairings and on one of their power play units. It’s probably unfair to say “He needs to be Lane Hutson-level good as a rookie,” but if he’s a full-time, full-year NHL player, you’re probably hoping for a Pavel Mintyukov level of offensive production – Mintyukov had four goals and 28 points for Anaheim in 2023-24.

If he’s not with the Flames, I think he probably decimates the OHL once again. But my gut says he’s with the Flames.

With the draft coming, what do the flames do when it comes to drafting goaltending this year? Is it a must to draft a goalie? Would the flames consider not drafting a goaltender this year?

— BeingDad (@beingdaddy) May 25, 2025

The Flames have drafted goalies in consecutive years – Yegor Yegorov in 2023 and Kirill Zarubin in 2024. I don’t think it’ll necessarily be a priority, but if there’s a goalie the Flames like in a spot they think there’s value, I think they grab one. They have more pressing organizational needs than goaltending, but I wouldn’t rule drafting a goalie out.

Why wouldn’t the Flames extend Wolf this summer?

— Travis Kruger (@kruger_travis) May 25, 2025

If you’re the Flames, you definitely want to get Dustin Wolf signed to an extension this summer – he can be signed anytime after July 1 – because if you wait until the season, or when Wolf hits restricted free agency, that cap hit for his deal is probably going up. The big challenge is figuring out the exact right value for Wolf, because Wolf is a hockey unicorn. (Yes, the Flames have a couple unicorns in their organization right now.)

Who do the flames target in free agency, if anyone?

— Kent Wilson (@Kent_Wilson) May 25, 2025

My guess is the Flames do very little. Pat Steinberg and Eric Francis discussed this a bit on Friday’s Flames Talk: the Flames don’t really want to block their kids, so they probably end up doing less this year in free agency than they did a year ago. Maybe they grab a backup goaltender if Dan Vladar goes elsewhere, but it could be pretty quiet otherwise.

Do you think Flames would consider re-signing Anthony Mantha? I know he is a UFA.

— Maureen (@mbbrennan) May 25, 2025

I don’t see it happening. Nothing against Anthony Mantha, but seemingly the idea behind signing him last summer was to buy Matt Coronato (and/or others) a bit of time to develop at the AHL level… and then to likely sell off Mantha at the trade deadline. There’s just no logical spot on the NHL roster to put Mantha, especially if you don’t want to block kids from moving up.

From the DMs: Any thoughts on a trade with San Jose for their 2nd overall pick with the Flames sending a package of Rasmus, Zary, one of their younger D prospects (aside from Parekh) and the 18th overall pick, to move up to target drafting Michael Misa?

Do I think Rasmus Andersson is traded this off-season? My gut says yes. Do I think it could be part of a play to (a) get more picks in this year’s draft and/or (b) move up in this year’s draft? Potentially, but it depends on what trade offers are out there. I don’t hate this trade structure, though, especially given that the Flames have oodles of left-shot forwards in their system and not all of them are going to be able to fit on the NHL roster. We could see something like that.

From David via e-mail: Just looking for some clarity on Lipinski. Do the Flames lose his rights June 1st or does the window to sign him change because he’s going to the NCAA?

So here’s our current understanding: under Article 8, Section 6 of the CBA, if a player becomes a “bonafide college student” prior to the second June 1 after being drafted, the club that drafted them holds their NHL rights until either August 15 after they leave college or the fourth June 1 after being drafted, whichever happens last.

2023 pick Jaden Lipinski has committed to play at the University of Maine and has done so before the second June 1 after being selected by the Flames. Based on our understanding of the CBA and how it’s been interpreted in the past, we’re operating under the understanding that the Flames hold Lipinski’s rights until June 1, 2027 or the August 15 after he leaves college, whichever is later. (As evidence of this being the case, we’ll cite Mitchell Mattson, a 2016 Flames pick that spent two seasons in the USHL before going to Michigan State; the Flames held his rights straight through until his graduation from college.)

We’re fairly confident in our interpretation, but the CBA is always full of odd surprises, so we’ll see if there are any in this situation as the NHL muddles through the brave new world with expanded NCAA player eligibility.

Got a question for a future mailbag? Contact Ryan on Twitter/BlueSky at @RyanNPike or e-mail him at Ryan.Pike [at] BetterCollective.com! (Make sure you put Mailbag in the subject line!)

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/flamesnation-mailbag-looking-ahead-to-the-draft-and-free-agency

 

[Calgary Flames]

How Wranglers alternate captain Alex Gallant prepares for fights and mentors the next generation

The idea of an enforcer is something that has slowly phased its way out of professional hockey in the last decade or two. As the game has gotten faster, the roles, builds, and style of play of some of the league’s best have also evolved. However, within the Wranglers, there is still one person in particular who maintains that identity and that is last season’s alternate captain, Alex Gallant.

Gallant’s fights are often circulated on social media and throughout the hockey community due to the intense, old time hockey style of them. At the end of this year’s Wranglers season. He spoke about the research that goes into who and how he fights an opponent.

Gallant said:

“If I know that we got a weekend coming up playing someone with a couple of different guys that are pretty tough, I’ll watch to see how they’ve been doing or have done in the past and see little tactics they do or whatever. Anything to give me the upper hand.”

In 2023, Alex Gallant and Alex Kannok-Leipert of the Abbotsford Canucks had a tilt that was worthy of a fight of the year conversation. Full-fledged knuckles flying with both guys able to stay on their feet for a good 30 seconds.

Alex Gallant vs. Alex Kannok Leipert. Easily one of the most insane AHL fights I've seen this season pic.twitter.com/Qxi5MQAul0

— Paige Siewert (@thathockeygirly) April 13, 2023

Kannok-Leipert and Gallant reunited once again this season, this time with Kannok-Leipert in a Bakersfield Condors jersey. Their late-season scrap was set up behind the play and stopped the game action when their gloves hit the ice.

Alex Gallant and Alex Kannok Leipert have a chat after the faceoff and decide to drop the gloves pic.twitter.com/UJUxlH7NyI

— Paige Siewert (@thathockeygirly) March 29, 2025

This wasn’t by fluke either. Obviously, you know there are younger and smaller guys that likely won’t want to take on someone like Gallant and he’s not going out on the ice to bully guys. He is aware of who is more likely to throw down with him on any given night.

Gallant said:

“I’d say most teams have one or two guys that kind of didn’t play that role or stir things up, so I always, I’m always aware of who’s on the other side and I guess anything to get that edge.”

Another much talked about tilt was a fight at centre ice between Gallant and Travis Howe of the San Diego Gulls in early 2024 that knocked them both down by the end of it, but they did end up shaking hands with each other on the way to their respective sides of the penalty box.

Old school tilt between Alex Gallant and Travis Howe. The type of fight they shook hands with each other at the end of it pic.twitter.com/PneC2qtzes

— Paige Siewert (@thathockeygirly) February 11, 2024

This skill that Gallant has built a career and reputation on is also something he passes along to his young teammates. This year in particular, that was David Silye and Parker Bell. Around the midway mark of the season, these two were looking to increase their physicality and took some one-on-one time with Gallant to learn the tricks of the trade.

Parker Bell only had two penalty minutes registered against him in the first half of the season and in the second half of the season, he registered 31 minutes, including three fighting majors in the last month of the season. His last fight ended up taking him out for the rest of the season, but he would still like to build off his experience.

Bell said:

“You’re trying to make an impact in any way you can. And I think, yeah, started fighting and last one didn’t go too well something didn’t go too well, but, yeah. 
I’m just trying to be hard to against and develop a role in this team and, pitch in any way I can.”

Parker Bell exchanges a few punches with Ville Ottavainen pic.twitter.com/LnkfubRYwa

— Paige Siewert (@thathockeygirly) March 23, 2025

David Silye on the other hand, brought his physical side out a bit earlier in the year with a continuing altercation call against him against the Henderson Silver Knights on Nov. 10, then a fight on Nov. 22 against the same opponent.

Fight number two of the period. This one is between David Silye and Kai Uchacz. pic.twitter.com/0MmYWxTjDK

— Paige Siewert (@thathockeygirly) December 22, 2024

Silye did play most of the season but was it was cut short about a month before the regular season came to a close due to a lower body injury. He was able to return in time for the playoffs and finished the season with 38 PIMs.

Even with these younger guys trying their hand at the physical game, Gallant’s skill still stands out in the crowd. Gallant is not completely unaware of the circulation of his fights on a variety of media outlets, but getting featured on a sports page or an Instagram account isn’t what he’s on the ice for. He said:

“It’s kind of just whatever, I’m playing my game. You know, if it ends up going viral or whatever, it’s neat. A lot of people from back home will send it to me but no, it’s not what I’m out there trying to do. It just ends up being part of it.”

As a 32-year-old, on a bench with a bunch of young guys in the early days of their professional career, it sure must be nice for them to be on the same bench as Gallant as opposed to being on the receiving end of his physicality. Alex Gallant is tough as nails on ice, but goes to battle for his teammates and earned his Wranglers leadership position off the ice with his personality and mentorship.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/how-wr...es-for-fights-and-mentors-the-next-generation

 

[Calgary Flames]

Flames’ Rasmus Andersson listed sixth on Daily Faceoff’s trade targets board

Folks, one of the reasons we love the National Hockey League’s off-season is the sheer amount of change that teams go through. Sure, there’s the NHL Draft, but surrounding the draft there’s the annual free agency frenzy and a ton of trades as the NHL’s clubs seek to remake themselves in an effort to work towards a Stanley Cup championship.

Over at Daily Faceoff, Frank Seravalli has compiled his first off-season edition of his Trade Targets board, highlighting 20 players that could be in for a change of scenery. As he heads towards a very important 2025-26 season, Calgary Flames defenceman Rasmus Andersson checks in at sixth on Seravalli’s rundown.

Here’s Seravalli’s rundown of why Andersson is sixth on the board:

Scoop: This is where the rubber meets the road for Rasmus Andersson in Calgary. Fish or cut bait? Andersson presents great trade value, even after a relatively down year, for a right-shooting defenseman with an edge, double-digit goal scoring ability and a very reasonable cap hit. The Flames aren’t in a rush. They’d have no problem hanging onto him until the trade deadline to potentially watch his stock rise even higher.

A second-round pick by the Flames way back in 2015, Andersson is a right shot blueliner that has become a fixture in the club’s lineup since becoming a full-time NHLer back in 2018-19. Since breaking into the NHL, Andersson has evolved from a pretty good third-pairing defender into a fixture in the top two defensive pairings and a go-to player in basically every game situation.

Andersson had 11 goals and 31 points through 81 games with the Flames in 2024-25. In his career, he has 47 goals and 231 points through 536 games, all with the Flames. In franchise history, Andersson is seventh in games played among blueliners and eighth in points. He’s good!

So why would the Flames want to move on from him? Andersson’s entering the final year of a six year deal that pays him $4.55 million against the salary cap. So two things are probably true: Andersson is incredibly cost-effective right now for what he brings to a hockey club, and his compensation should go way up after his contract expires on July 1, 2026. Fair market value for him on a long-term deal, based on his experience level and production, is probably around $8 million per season.

We can debate the merits of paying Andersson fair market value until the cows come home, but if you’re the Flames and you perhaps decide that the number Andersson’s camp wants on a long-term deal isn’t quite what you had in mind, perhaps you do what you’ve done recently with the majority of veteran players approaching unrestricted free agency and see what you could get for him in the trade market.

The Flames will probably have a better sense of Andersson’s hopes, dreams and aspirations on his next contract in the next little while – Andersson said during media exit interviews that he was probably going to think about it after the World Championships – and so if rubber hits the road for the Flames, wheels could start turning in the run-up to the NHL Draft at the end of June.

We’ll see what happens in the coming weeks and months.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/flames...d-sixth-on-daily-faceoffs-trade-targets-board

 

[Calgary Flames]

What’s Going On In The Playoffs: Stars and Hurricanes are down 3-1 in their series

Both Conference Final series are on the brink of being over.

This is What’s Going On In The Playoffs, where we look at how each series is going so far this post-season. Since last Wednesday’s article, both series are on the brink of finishing, as both the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers have a 3-1 series lead.

Let’s take a look at what’s happened in the post-season since last Wednesday.

Oilers drop Game 1, win the next three​

Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals was last Wednesday, contested against the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars for the second consecutive season. The Oilers opened the scoring, as Leon Draisaitl opened the scoring, only for Tyler Seguin to answer on a breakaway for the Stars. The second period was all the Oilers, as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Evan Bouchard scored less than two minutes apart to give the Oilers a 3-1 lead heading into the third.

Before the end of the second, Corey Perry took a penalty, and it took just 32 seconds for the Stars to cut the lead to one thanks to Miro Heiskanen’s first of the post-season. The Oilers took another penalty, and the Stars tied it up thanks to Mikael Granlund’s fifth of the post-season. Another penalty, another Stars goal to take the lead, before Seguin scored his second of the game with four minutes left. Esa Lindell iced the game with an empty-netter.

BING BONG! pic.twitter.com/KlbyPzo3op

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

The Oilers came back with a vengeance in Game 2, winning 3-0 off the back of Nugent-Hopkins, Brett Kulak, and Connor Brown’s goals. This was Stuart Skinner’s third shutout in four games.

Game 3 shifted to Edmonton, a game that the Oilers won 6-1. Bouchard opened the scoring, followed by Connor McDavid’s fourth of the post-season. With four and a half minutes left in the second period, a period the Stars dominated, Jason Robertson deflected the puck in for his first of the post-season to cut the Oilers’ lead in half. With just 19 seconds left, McDavid scored his second of the game, with the Oilers dominating the third period thanks to two Zach Hyman goals and a goal from former Star John Klingberg.

Like Games 2 and 3, Game 4 was another Oiler victory. Draisaitl opened the scoring midway through the first, but Robertson scored seven minutes into the second. Corey Perry answered less than three minutes later, which turned out to be the game-winner. Kasperi Kapnen and Adam Henrique both scored in the empty net for the 4-1 victory.

Rico for good measure #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/F6wKuljJXY

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) May 28, 2025

In Game 4, Zach Hyman took a hit, and the following day, it was announced he’s set to miss the rest of the post-season due to surgery. In Game 3, Connor Brown took a high hit and missed the rest of the game, as well as Game 4.

The Oilers have three chances to close out the series, with Game 5 on Thursday at 6:00 PM MT. Hopefully, the Stars can find a way to win that game, which means Game 6 is on Saturday at the same time. If needed, Game 7 is on Monday at 6:00 PM MT.

Panthers went up 3-0, lost Game 4​

For the second time in three years, the Florida Panthers take on the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Finals. Game 1 saw the Panthers win in dominant fashion, which was the same case for Games 2 and 3.

Game 2 saw the Panthers win 5-0, with former Flame Sam Bennett scoring twice and Matthew Tkachuk once. Gustav Forsling’s goal just 1:17 into the game turned out to be the winner, as the Hurricanes had nothing to offer.

The buddies are VERY happy tonight pic.twitter.com/hHG6yakuYC

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

In Game 3, Niko Mikkola opened the scoring 12 minutes into the game, with Logan Stankoven tying it with just over five minutes left in the second period. It must’ve been a close game, right? Nope, as the Panthers scored five times in the third period compared to one measly Hurricanes’ goal midway through the third when it was 6-1.

The Hurricanes picked up their first win in the Eastern Conference Finals since 2006, snapping a 15-game losing streak. Stankoven opened the scoring midway through the second, as Sebastian Aho and Jordan Staal iced the game with empty-net goals for the 3-0 victory.

There goes that man again pic.twitter.com/rjHN5D3gjw

— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) May 27, 2025

There have only been four reverse sweeps in National Hockey League history, most recently in 2014. That said, the Panthers blew a 3-0 series lead last post-season in the Stanley Cup Finals against the Oilers, only to win Game 7 and the Stanley Cup. Can the Hurricanes pull an Oilers, but better?

Game 5 is on Wednesday at 6:00 PM MT. If needed, Game 6 is on Friday at the same time, and Game 7 will be on Sunday, also at 6:00 PM MT.

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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.

Sponsored by bet365:

Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/whats-...s-and-hurricanes-are-down-3-1-in-their-series

 

[Calgary Flames]

Etienne Morin and the Moncton Wildcats have advanced to the Friday’s Memorial Cup semi-final

On Wednesday night, the Moncton Wildcats faced the Rimouski Oceanic at the Memorial Cup. Not only was it the final game of round robin action, it was also the seventh game between Moncton and Rimouski since May 10.

For the fifth time this month, the Wildcats beat the Oceanic – this time by a 6-2 score – to end the host team’s run in this year’s Memorial Cup tournament.

Rimouski was all over Moncton throughout the first period, but Moncton opened the scoring. Moncton induced a turnover inside the Rimouski blueline and Juraj Pekarcik set up Julius Sumpf driving towards the net, and he beat Oceanic netminder Mathis Langevin to make it 1-0 Moncton.

GOAL! Pekarcik serves a brilliant pass to Sumpf and the @monctonwildcats are on the board! #MemorialCup pic.twitter.com/3qQdBDF46A

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) May 28, 2025

But Rimouski kept pressing and eventually broke through, with Mael St-Denis beating Moncton’s Mathis Rousseau to tie the game at 1-1.

Tie game! Maël St-Denis capitalizes on the @oceanicrimouski’s 15th shot of the opening frame! #MemorialCup pic.twitter.com/xIYuitMSCr

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) May 28, 2025

A little while later, Mathieu Cataford took advantage of some scrambly Moncton defence and deflected a Olivier Theberge point shot past Rousseau to give Rimouski a 2-1 lead after one period. (Cataford was Flames prospect Etienne Morin’s check, we believe…, but Morin’s attention was divided due to a couple breakdowns by his team.)

Mathieu Cataford comes through with his first of the tournament at the best moment! @oceanicrimouski | #MemorialCup pic.twitter.com/c7cq0y7Qdi

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) May 28, 2025

Early in the second period, though, the Wildcats tied things up. Pekarcik deflected a Dylan MacKinnon point shot past Langevin to make it 2-2 just 1:27 into the second frame.

Pekarcik redirects a point shot out of midair to tie things at 2-2 in the early 2nd! @monctonwildcats | #MemorialCup pic.twitter.com/TvYQK6LG1R

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) May 29, 2025

A few minutes later, Moncton retook the lead. Rimouski tried to clear the zone up the middle, but Preston Lounsbury intercepted the puck. He fired a shot on net, leading to a scramble in front of Langevin that ended with Gabe Smith jamming in a loose puck to give the Wildcats a 3-2 advantage.

Gabe Smith pounces on a loose puck and the @monctonwildcats are now in the lead! #MemorialCup pic.twitter.com/TtaxmK0qq3

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) May 29, 2025

The Oceanic pushed to try to tie things up in the third period, but Moncton played a pretty structured defensive game. Morin got a measure of revenge for his earlier lapse, as he fired a wrister from the point that beat Langevin early in the third period to give Moncton a 4-2 lead.

The @monctonwildcats double their lead thanks to a seeing-eye shot from Etienne Morin! #MemorialCup pic.twitter.com/27PlCgSIs7

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) May 29, 2025

Smith and Alex Mercier added empty-bet goals to cement a 6-2 Moncton victory.

Gabe Smith and Alex Mercier round out the scoring with two empty net goals. @monctonwildcats | #MemorialCup pic.twitter.com/XU5SIUC0eq

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) May 29, 2025

How’d Morin do?​

As always, we saw a ton of Flames prospect Etienne Morin in this game. He played primarily with Dylan MacKinnon on Moncton’s top pairing and saw a steady dose of Rimouski’s top guys. Morin was credited with three shots, the fourth Moncton goal, his second of the tournament, and was plus-2 overall.

Up next​

The Memorial Cup tournament continues on Friday as Moncton (1-2) face the London Knights (2-1) in the semi-final game. London beat Moncton by a 3-2 score in overtime during the round robin.

The winner of the semi-final faces Andrew Basha and the Medicine Hat Tigers in Sunday’s championship final.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/etienn...vanced-to-the-fridays-memorial-cup-semi-final

 

[Calgary Flames]

Can Justin Kirkland recapture his early 2024-25 magic next season?

In the waning days of the 2024-25 edition of Calgary Flames training camp, you could be forgiven if you hadn’t thought much about Justin Kirkland. That’s not meant to be a knock on Kirkland; he was likely signed to provide reliable veteran help for the American Hockey League’s Calgary Wranglers, and potentially be a short-term NHL call-up depending on circumstances.

Well, circumstances happened, and Kirkland played precisely zero AHL games in 2024-25. Despite a season-ending injury, there remains quite a bit of intrigue over Kirkland’s NHL potential – intrigue that arguably didn’t exist before the season.

Kirkland’s 2024-25 expectations​

When the Flames brought back Justin Kirkland as an unrestricted free agent over the summer, the general perception was that he would probably be a really good forward for the Calgary Wranglers. Kirkland had previously been with the Stockton Heat for three seasons and performed really well.

After leaving the Flames organization in 2022, Kirkland managed to play his way onto the Anaheim Ducks roster, only for his first NHL experience to be marred by a pretty scary car accident that could’ve ended his playing career. Luckily he recovered well, but his future as an NHL-level player was unclear. Could he hack it in the AHL? Definitely – he was superb with Tucson in 2023-24 – but it was unclear if he could be more than that.

How Kirkland did in 2024-25​

On paper, Kirkland felt like he could be a top six centre in the AHL… and maybe more, depending on how his season evolved.

Well, Cole Schwindt was claimed off waivers by Vegas on Oct. 7. Two days later, Kevin Rooney was wrecked by a hit from J.T. Miller two shifts into the Flames’ season-opener against Vancouver. Suddenly, the Flames were down two centres and needed to call somebody up.

Kirkland, one of the few Wranglers forwards with any NHL experience, was the first player called up.

It turned out really well. Kirkland had two goals and six assists for eight points over 21 games. Playing a mixture of centre and the wing, he found some chemistry with Ryan Lomberg and a rotation of wingers, and formed arguably the best version of the club’s fourth line. He even worked his way into the penalty killing rotation and was used in the shootout, too, scoring three times.

Kirkland suffered a knee injury in late November against Chicago that required season-ending surgery, so his audition for full-time NHL duty was cut short. But during his quarter-season on the big-league roster, he was very strong in the role he was asked to play. He was Calgary’s nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance and dedication to hockey.

Next season’s expectations​

So here’s the dilemma: should a player lose their opportunity because they got hurt? (Sub-question: do the Flames have a better option for fourth-line centre than Kirkland?) Kirkland is a pending unrestricted free agent and he’s expected to be fully ready to participate in training camp. When he’s back from his knee surgery, will he be the same player he was last season? That’s unclear.

Could Kirkland, at the very least, be a good AHLer once more? Probably yes. Regardless of where Kirkland ends up in 2025-26 – Calgary or another organization – we’re less sure that he can recapture the NHL magic he displayed in October and November, but we’d love to see him given the chance.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/can-justin-kirkland-recapture-his-early-2024-25-magic-next-season

 

[Calgary Flames]

Flames shuffle coaching staff: Trent Cull promoted, Brad Larsen returns and Dan Lambert departs

The Calgary Flames announced some changes to their coaching staff on Friday afternoon.

Calgary Wranglers head coach Trent Cull, who joined the Flames staff last season on an interim basis during Brad Larsen’s leave of absence, has been promoted to full-fledged assistant coach. Larsen, who was absent from the club dealing with family matters from early December until the end of the regular season, is returning to the club. Assistant coach Dan Lambert has been released from the final year of his contract.

The Flames will be conducting a search for a new head coach for the Wranglers.

Cull, 51, joined the Flames organization as Wranglers head coach prior to the 2023-24 season. He had previously coached extensively in the AHL and OHL, and briefly served as assistant coach on the Vancouver Canucks under Bruce Boudreau during the 2022-23 season. He was brought to the Flames staff after Christmas in 2024 and really sunk his teeth into the penalty killing group, doing a lot to turn a struggling group around with systems tweaks.

Larsen, 47, joined the Flames staff last summer as a replacement for the departure of Marc Savard. He had previously coached in the Columbus Blue Jackets organization, working his way up from AHL assistant coach to NHL head coach before departing that organization after the 2022-23 season.

Lambert, 55, joined the Flames staff prior to the 2023-24 season. He had previously worked with Ryan Huska with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL, and he had also worked as an assistant coach with Buffalo and Nashville.

Assistant coach duties began the 2024-25 season roughly like this:

• Cail MacLean managed forwards and the power play.
• Larsen worked with MacLean with the forwards and managed the penalty kill.
• Lambert managed the defencemen.

When Cull swapped in for Larsen in December, he took over management of the penalty kill. (In Vancouver, Cull ran the penalty kill and the defencemen.) Considering the changes in staff, it remains to be seen how the duties will shift around as we head into the 2025-26 season.

After these changes, the coaching staff for 2025-26 appears to be head coach Ryan Huska, with assistants Trent Cull, Brad Larsen and Cail MacLean, video coach Jamie Pringle and goaltending coach Jason LaBarbera.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/flames...d-brad-larsen-returns-and-dan-lambert-departs

 

[Calgary Flames]

6 players with expiring NHL draft rights the Flames might want to consider

When National Hockey League teams make draft choices, they do so with a lot of optimism. But since teams have a finite number of contracts and roster spots, they can’t sign everybody, and sometimes draftees don’t end up signing with the clubs that drafted them.

Over at PuckPedia, they’ve listed of 39 drafted players whose NHL rights will lapse on June 1. 21 of those players aren’t under contract anywhere for next season yet.

Presuming they make it through the draft unclaimed, there are six players we think the Flames should take a look at adding as organizational depth – either on entry-level deals or AHL contracts for the Wranglers.

Cooper Foster​

A sixth-round selection by Pittsburgh in 2023, Foster is a left shot centre listed at 6’0″ and 187 pounds. He just finished his third full season with the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s, where he had 19 points and 34 assists for 53 points this season. He was teammates with Flames prospect Henry Mews for part of the season.

In March 2024, Dobber Prospects’ Tyler Ball had this breakdown of Foster’s game:

Foster, in his draft year, was playing in a middle-six role in the OHL with the Ottawa 67s. This season, he got a bump to the top-six and the top line. This increase in playing time helped show why the Penguins believed in him. He is an undersized center with solid speed and good fluidity in his skating. His vision is likely to be the best quality as a player. On multiple occasions, in live viewings of him this season, Foster found a tight window to fit dangerous passes through. As he gets closer to pro hockey, he must improve his speed, shot, and ability to get to dangerous areas when off the puck. One more year in junior will be a big test to see where his potential NHL future will be.

The good news is that Foster was Ottawa’s most-used centre in 2024-25, playing first line minutes and taking more draws than anyone else on the team. However, he won just 45% of his draws, so he’s got some work to do.

The Flames need more centre depth, so Foster could add that, but he feels like someone that may be spending more time in the ECHL or the AHL in 2025-26. (He’s also eligible to return to the OHL as an overager next season.)

Justin Kipkie​

A Calgary kid, Kipkie was a fifth-round pick by Utah in 2023. He’s a left shot blueliner listed at 6’3″ and 207 pounds. He just finished his third full season with the WHL’s Victoria Royals, where he had 12 goals and 50 assists for 62 points. He was a second-team divisional all-star in 2023-24 and a second-team conference all-star in 2024-25.

Dobber Prospects’ Keith Duggan praised Kipkie’s “booming shot from the point” but noted his defensive zone play was “a work in progress” in an April 2025 update on their site. The Flames need to keep adding to their defensive depth across the organization, especially adding players that can put up offence from the back end, which Kipkie could potentially help with. However, his reported uneven play away from the puck would be a concern.

Matthew Mania​

An epic hockey name, Mania was a fifth-round pick by Los Angeles in 2023. He’s a right shot defender listed at 6’1″ and 190 pounds. He posted seven goals and 38 assists for 45 points with the OHL’s Flint Firebirds this season, his first with the Firebirds but fourth in the OHL.

During Kings’ development camp last summer, LA Kings Insider touted Mania’s creativity and puck-moving ability. As with Kipkie, the Flames could definitely use added defensive depth, but they’d need to weigh Mania’s offensive skills against any possible defensive quirks.

Ethan Miedema​

Miedema was a fourth-round pick by Buffalo in 2023. He’s a left shot winger listed at 6’4″ and 212 pounds. He posted 23 goals and 34 assists for 57 points this season with the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs, where he was a teammate of Flames prospect Jacob Battaglia.

In Elite Prospects’ 2023 draft guide, here’s how they assessed Miedema’s game:

Miedema has dual-threat scoring potential. He easily turns passes into blistering wristers, curling pucks around sticks when necessary. A clever passer, he chooses the right pass for the lane whether that’s slip, hook, saucer, or backhand. He spots his options early and guides teammates into space with his feeds.

Size and goal-scoring ability will provide Miedema with options going forward.

Kalem Parker​

A sixth-round pick by Minnesota in 2023, Parker is a right shot defender listed at 6’0″ and 183 pounds. He split this past season with the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors and Calgary Hitmen, and he combined for 10 goals and 30 assists for 40 points over the season. He was teammates with Flames prospect Axel Hurtig with the Hitmen.

A pretty well-rounded WHL defender, Parker’s bounced around a bit over the past few seasons. Originally part of the Victoria Royals, he was traded early in the 2023-24 season to Moose Jaw, as they began to load up for a playoff run – they won the WHL championship that season. Early in this season, he was traded to the Hitmen, as they tried to do the same.

Parker’s biggest knock is that his offensive game hasn’t taken great strides in the Dub, but he’s been in-demand because of his defensive acumen and ability to be an on-ice compliment to high-end offensive blueliners. He could provide that sort of rock-solid play at the AHL level, at the very least.

Alex Pharand​

A fourth-rounder by Chicago in 2023, Pharand is a right shot forward (who plays centre and the wing) listed at 6’3″ and 192 pounds. He posted 17 goals and 42 assists for 59 points with the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves, where he was teammates with Flames prospect Henry Mews for part of the season. He was third on the Wolves in face-offs taken and won 49.5% of his draws.

In December, Sudbury head coach Scott Barney said this of Pharand (via Ben Leeson of the Sudbury Star): “He competes every night, he does everything a coach wants him to do and he’s shooting the puck. He’s getting pucks off quick and going to the right areas. He’s very smart in the bumper area on the power play and they have seen a lot of success in the last few weeks because all five guys are working together.”

Pharand’s versatility and size could make him useful depth at the AHL, though his lack of OHL dominance may hurt his chances for a big-league contract right now.

Which of these players do you think could be an option for the Flames organization? Let us know in the comments!

This article is brought to you by Platinum Mitsubishi​

This article is a presentation of Platinum Mitsubishi, family owned and operated by lifelong Calgarians. Home of the industry-leading 10-year, 160,000-kilometre powertrain warranty. Check out their showroom at 2720 Barlow Trail NE or online at www.mitsu.ca.

Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/6-play...raft-rights-the-flames-might-want-to-consider

 

[Calgary Flames]

Ivan Ryabkin may be a risk worth taking for the Flames at the 2025 NHL Draft

The Calgary Flames might have to get crafty in their pursuit of a centreman in this year’s NHL Draft.

Barring a move up the board, they won’t be on the clock until the 18th selection, and won’t have the opportunity to select any of the ‘elite’ draw takers.

Enter Ivan Ryabkin, a Russian-born centreman who prior to this season was held in similar regard to Matvei Michkov and Ivan Demidov, the elite Russian playmakers of past draft classes. However, Ryabkin’s underwhelming draft-eligible campaign has muddied the waters in terms of his projection as an NHL player.

Scouting report​

Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis ranked Ryabkin 27th in his most recent draft rankings and had this to say.

“Ryabkin is one of the most divisive players in this draft because he started out as a potential top-five pick but looked distant back in Russia and needed a change of scenery. He’s been productive since his move to Muskegon, though, playing at a 40-goal pace in a full season. We’ve also seen him flesh out his physical and playmaking games, with his passing and hockey sense being two of his best traits. A boost of confidence in the USHL seems to have really helped Ryabkin’s stock after falling out of the first round in the eyes of many at the halfway point of the season.”

As Ellis outlined, it’s possible Ryabkin suffered a loss of confidence this season, possibly as a result of a premature call-up to Russia’s top league, the KHL.

Nick Orr of Dobber Prospects had this take on Ryabkin.

“Simply put, Ryabkin is one of the most polarizing prospects in this class. He has the skill and creativity to justify a high pick, but some flaws may cause Ryabkin to slip into the draft’s second day. He is one of the most effective players in this class, with the puck on his stick. He has magic hands and can make a play out of almost any situation. This allows him to be a threat at any spot in the offensive zone, especially when paired with his physical stature and willingness to play in the dirty areas. However, Ryabkin struggles to make plays at a high speed and often does not play with pace. This leads to gaps in his transition defence that could lead to a one-dimensional game at higher levels.”

Here’s a brief look at Ryabkin (#10) playing for the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL this season.

I watched some more Ivan Ryabkin tape recently, to check how he looks in the USHL

There are still flashes of puck skill, offensive sense and a physical/pest element. However, his skating and pace are major concerns. For me, the 1st round would be too high for him

Some clips: pic.twitter.com/B6FcUf35Od

— Derek Neumeier (@Derek_N_NHL) February 14, 2025

The numbers​

Ryabkin was hailed for his unmatched ability to create offence when he broke Matvei Michkov’s MHL record for points by a U17 player, registering 58 points in 44 games with Moscow Dynamo Jr.

His 5’11”, 200-pound frame and physical nature also gave him a leg up on his Russian predecessors. All signs pointed to Ryabkin being a marquee prospect in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, but again a disappointing year has somewhat derailed his draft stock.

After an outstanding rookie season in the MHL, Ryabkin actually debuted in the KHL in September, but quickly looked out of place and lasted just two games before being sent back to the MHL. Upon his return, he struggled to maintain the scoring pace he set the previous year, logging just one goal and 12 points in 15 games.

Seeking change, Ryabkin then made the move to North America when he joined the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL. He registered 19 goals and 30 points in 27 games, along with 16 points in 14 playoff games en route to Muskegon’s first USHL championship (Clark Cup).

Availability and fit​

It’s almost certain Ryabkin will be available with the Flames’ 18th overall selection, but this may be too much of a reach for a high-upside, low-floor player of his nature. Craig Conroy and co may opt to take him with the latter of their first-round selections, either 31st or 32nd, as that’s more of the range he’s expected to be picked.

There is an outside chance that the “power play-maker” is available with Calgary’s second-round pick at 54th overall, but that would be incredible value and the Flames would likely have to move up in that round to select him.

In terms of fit, Ryabkin checks two boxes that Calgary is looking for, can score, check, can play centre, maybe check?

Like many prospects, though he’s played down the middle for most of his career, it’s still to be determined whether or not Ryabkin can be a reliable centreman at the highest level. Even if a move to the wing is what’s best for him, Ryabkin will still be able to put the puck in the net in the pros and that’s of the highest priority for this Flames team.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/ivan-ryabkin-2025-nhl-draft-risk-worth-taking

 

[Calgary Flames]

What does the Flames future hold for netminder Dan Vladar?

When it comes to the Calgary Flames, after the 2024-25 season we know one thing for sure: Dustin Wolf is going to be between the pipes for the foreseeable future in pretty much every important game.

Something that’s a lot less clear is who his backup will be going forward.

So earlier this week, two related things happened that could impact the Flames – or perhaps, at the very least, are a reflection of their goaltending situation. On Tuesday, CSKA Moskva of the Kontinental Hockey League announced that they’ve released Ivan Prosvetov from his contract. On Thursday, Russian outlet Sport-Express reported that the Flames were “the main contender” to sign Prosvetov.

On Thursday’s edition of Flames Talk on Sportsnet 960 The Fan, host Pat Steinberg and co-host Wes Gilbertson chatted about what exactly this all means for the Flames’ goaltending set-up for 2025-26.

“From what I understand, the Flames are in the mix on this guy,” said Steinberg, regarding Prosvetov. “But by no means is anything signed, sealed or delivered at this point. But I think where there’s smoke there’s fire when it comes to them being in the mix.”

According to Steinberg, the Flames are in pursuit of Prosvetov, but they’re not the only team in the mix.

Now, if you’re keeping track, you’re probably thinking that if the Flames add someone like Prosvetov to the fold, that probably means that someone else is departing. After all, incumbent Flames backup Dan Vladar is a pending unrestricted free agent.

“The Flames would like Dan Vladar back in the fold next year,” said Steinberg. “If they had their way, I think the Flames, their number-one choice would be to have Dan Vladar as their tandem-mate for Dustin Wolf next year.”

Vladar didn’t have spectacular stats last season, but he served as an excellent foil for Wolf, taking on some tough assignments – especially early in the year – which allowed Wolf to really find his rhythm in the NHL in the back half of the season. Vladar, in sporadic usage in the final third of the season, saw a big uptick in his numbers and won some big games down the stretch. You can understand why the Flames would want Vladar to return.

Steinberg and Gilberton made some parallels to the Oliver Kylington situation last summer in regards to what’s happening with the Vladar discussions. A year ago, the Flames definitely wanted Kylington back and made several offers, but when Kylington seemed interested in exploring other opportunities, the Flames ended up pivoting to their contingency plan and added Jake Bean.

So while the chatter regarding Prosvetov might not guarantee (a) that they sign him or (b) that Vladar departs, the club seems to be exploring their options in regards to having a contingency plan for the most important position on the team. Plan A would be to keep Vladar, but Plan B would involve a bit more potential variability.

“I think that the plan would be, and the plan all along has been, if the Flames don’t bring Vladar back for whatever reason, then they would go out, get another external goalie, and have that goalie and Devin Cooley battle it out for Dustin Wolf’s backup next year,” explained Steinberg.

As of this writing, the Flames have four goaltenders under NHL deals for the 2025-26 season:

• Incumbent starter Dustin Wolf, who had an excellent 2024-25 season
• AHL starter Devin Cooley, who had a rough second half of the 2024-25 season
• College free agent signing Owen Say, who’s going to be playing his first pro season
• Draft choice Arsenii Sergeev, who’s also going to be playing his first pro season

It’s worth noting that since they’re on entry-level deals, Say and Sergeev can both be moved to the ECHL’s Rapid City Rush as needed to get playing time, if they’re not getting into a ton of games with the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers.

When it comes to contracts, it obviously takes two to tango. We’ll see if Vladar and the Flames can come to an agreement on a deal that extends Vladar’s time in Calgary, or if we see a new face working with Wolf when the 2025-26 season begins.

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Source: https://flamesnation.ca/news/what-does-the-flames-future-hold-for-netminder-dan-vladar