Brett Kulak has quietly become the Calgary Flames’ secret weapon. He’s a weapon in the sense that the 23-year-old has quietly put up impressive underlying numbers on the third pairing in each of the past two seasons. He’s a secret in the sense that he spent half the season on the Flames’ roster but didn’t…
We’re only weeks away from the expansion draft and just under a month away from the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Calgary is easily one of many teams with significant question marks in terms of what they do at the draft, decisions which may be significantly impacted by who is claimed by the Vegas Golden Knights….
The Nation Network Notebook is a regular feature that rounds up interesting news, stories, and rumours from around the NHL that don’t quite deserve their own article. Kyle Dubas is staying in Toronto despite rumours suggesting otherwise. John Scott trashes P.K. Subban. Is T.J. Oshie staying in Washington? And Alex Edler wants to be part…
Jesper Boqvist is a speedy, skilled player that has some evaluators divided on what his future holds. It’s not so much the ceiling that is up for debate (all seem to agree that it’s quite high), but whether he can still provide any value if he doesn’t reach it. Showing flashes of elite skill and…
Checking in at number 48 on our consensus ranking is Brandon Wheat Kings centre Stelio Mattheos. A former bantam superstar and first overall WHL bantam draft pick, Mattheos has reinvented himself as a two-way centre since joining the major junior ranks. Bio: Age: 17 – June 14th, 1999 Birthplace: Winnipeg, MB, CAN Frame: 6’1″/194 lbs…
After winning MJHL rookie of the year at 16, big things were expected of Nick Henry upon making the jump to major junior. He more than lived up to those expectations, finishing second in WHL scoring behind Aleksi Heponiemi. Despite putting up impressive numbers this season, Henry has been overlooked by a number of scouts….
One of the bigger stories down on the farm was the rise of David Rittich. The goaltender was a signing from the Czech Extraliga, a favourite market for the Flames in recent years. He was mostly brought in to solidify the goaltending depth in the AHL, which had been a mess after Jon Gillies went…
Brian Burke promised truculence when he arrived as the Flames’ president of hockey ops, and truculence he delivered. Although it’s a bit murky as to whether it was him or Feaster/Treliving calling the shots, in his first year the Flames added, through various means, Ladi Smid, Lane MacDermid, Kevin Westgarth, Deryk Engelland, Bryce van Brabant,…
Is there anything Josh Brook can’t do? The Moose Jaw Warriors tried their damnedest to find out, and Brook rose to each occasion with aplomb. At even strength, the Warriors let Brook grow from a secondary role to their top pair by season’s end. They weren’t as shy on special teams, where Brook played on…
Robin Salo is a two-way defencemen that played his entire 2016-17 campaign in the top Finnish league – an excellent sign. He’s also played stints there as a 17-year old and even as a 16-year old, as his calm game, high level of intelligence, and his sturdiness have allowed him to survive in the pro game…
One player’s disappointment can often be another player’s opportunity, and that was the case with Kyle Olson of the Tri-City Americans this year. Olson was the beneficiary of the season-ending injury suffered by teammate Michael Rasmussen. Not only was Olson given more ice time as a result, but he was given the opportunity to play…
If you’ve been following the never-ending Calgary arena saga over the past few months and years, you’ve probably heard a phrase repeated ad nauseum by Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi. Public spending must come with public benefit. The phrase hasn’t been used to necessarily stamp down any contribution from the City of Calgary’s coffers to the…
