Since the hiring of Craig Conroy as general manager a couple years back, the Calgary Flames have done a really nice job bolstering their prospect pool.

In addition to several promising young players on the NHL roster, or biding their time with the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers, there are a bunch of unsigned drafted players performing well and making their cases for being signed to entry-level contracts. While the Flames can’t sign everybody, here are five prospects we think could be signed before the end of the 2024-25 season, presented in alphabetical order.

A left shot winger for the Ontario Hockey League’s Kingston Frontenacs, Battaglia was the second of two second-round selections made by the Flames in the 2024 NHL Draft. The three players selected before Battaglia – first-rounders Zayne Parekh and Matvei Gridin, and second-rounder Andrew Basha – have all already been signed. By process of elimination alone, he would have a strong chance of being signed.

He also happens to be tied for fifth in the OHL in points and goals. He’s getting signed. He’s a 2006 birthday, though, so his deal will slide and he’ll spend next season in the OHL.

I’m of two minds about Lipinski, a fourth-round pick from 2023.

On one hand, he’s playing in the Western Hockey League as a 20-year-old (over-age) player, and he’s not dominant. He’s good, mind you, but often a 20-year-old will run roughshod over major junior. He hasn’t. He was tried out briefly with the Wranglers to open the season and while he was fine, he looked like he needed to make some adjustments to be a successful pro.

On the other hand, Lipinski is a 6’4″, right shot centre that can win face-offs pretty consistently. The Flames are extremely thin up the middle, and that alone might justify offering him a deal that begins next fall.

A third-round pick from this year’s draft, Mews is an offensive-minded right shot defender from the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s. He’s another player performing really well offensively this season and has made a good case for a contract.

Like Battaglia, Mews is a 2006 birthday, and so his deal would slide next season when he returns to the OHL.

A versatile offensive forward from the OHL’s Brampton Steelheads, Misa was a fifth-round pick by the Flames in the 2024 draft. He’s listed as a centre, but he’s been used more as a winger that can play centre on occasion. He’s posted good offensive numbers, which helps his case.

Misa is also a late 2005 birthday, which makes him a “double slide” candidate if he signs before the end of the 2024 calendar year. Like Basha, Misa could go to the AHL in 2025-26 but have the first year of his contract slide while he learns the pro game.

A third-rounder from 2023, Suniev is a sophomore at the University of Massachusetts. He’s an offensive-minded left shot winger who put up strong numbers in the BCHL with the Penticton Vees, then spent his freshman year figuring out the college game and adjusting to having more checking responsibilities than he had in junior.

He’s off to a strong start to his sophomore season, offensively and otherwise, and it’s probably natural to wonder if he’s committed to school or committed to progressing his hockey career. Suniev is a 2004 birthday, but like the rest of the players we list here, he would be age eligible to sign a three year ELC.

The Flames currently have 46 players on active NHL deals this season. The Flames cannot sign all of their prospects simply because they all need to have places to play. And so if the Flames add a few players to their NHL system, a few players on expiring deals probably need to exit.

If the Flames sign everyone we list, then we would potentially see Basha, Suniev, Misa and Etienne Morin join the pro system. As for who could potentially leave, the Flames have 13 potential unrestricted free agents and 12 potential restricted free agents at the end of the season. It wouldn’t be difficult to incorporate some youngsters into the system for next season.