The most recent Calgary Flames draft class included stars like Zayne Parekh and Western Hockey League favourites like Andrew Basha, among other great players. While reflecting on past draft classes, I was reminded that the period following the NHL Draft of “player development uncertainty” is a stressful yet interesting part of keeping up with young prospects. There is no guarantee that any drafted players will grow into full-time NHL players, let alone elite pro players. However, as fans, we get to join the Calgary Flames management in the ‘waiting period’ for these teenagers, where we get to watch these prospects grow and mature as hockey players and people.

During this post-draft development period, there are two main growth opportunities for these NHL draft picks to evolve as hockey players:

The best combination you can get in an NHL prospect is a hard-working AND skilled player who makes the most of their off-seasons. The Calgary Flames have this in their 2024 2nd-round selection, Jacob Battaglia.

Having attended the Kingston Frontenacs training camp and scrimmages, it is clear that Jacob Battaglia is driven to take his production to the next level. Between off-season prep, confidence,  and stick detail, Jacob Battaglia is primed for positive growth this season.

A younger version of Battaglia based his game on his high-level shooting and instincts, but suffered in skating and agility to catch up to unpredictable on-ice environments, leading to a less well-rounded player in past years. However, the 2024-2025 version of Battaglia has improved his skating and agility, helped by his strength training and off-season efforts. Almost all hockey players spend the off-season working out, but Battaglia’s work has led to dynamic rush impacts, net-front drives, the ability to change speeds better with the puck, and more time and space overall for the skilled forward to create.

Battaglia is stronger, faster, and taller than last season.

With a bit of turnover for the Frontenacs club this past year, there is an opportunity for Battaglia to play top-line OHL minutes for a competitive Kingston club. The reason Battaglia will be able to seize this opportunity, besides his evident skill, is his confidence as a decision-maker on the ice. There is a special element of ‘fun’ to Battaglia’s game, where he tries creative passes and dekes during competitive scrimmages while scoring goals at ease. Battaglia is enjoying being a hockey player while still putting in the effort to be the best player at Kingston’s camp. This is exactly what you want in an NHL prospect. You want your prospects to enjoy being hockey players while embracing competitive environments, rather than fearing them. Prospects who embrace the competitive junior hockey environments with a positive and driven mindset like Battaglia will be able to stick in pro hockey when they are no longer the ‘big fish in a small pond.’

Kingston’s main in-conference competition for this season seems to be teams like the Brampton Steelheads, Barrie Colts, Brantford Bulldogs, Oshawa Generals, and Sudbury Wolves. Looking ahead to the 2024-25 OHL season, Battaglia in a top-line role will be lining up against the likes of Porter Martone, Carson Rehkopf, Beckett Sennecke, Marek Vanacker, and Quentin Musty multiple times this season. These match-ups will be the true test for the confident Flames prospect.

When scouting players, one of the things I’ve learned to look for as a strong indicator of pro hockey success is ‘stick detail.’ Specifically, stick detail concerns what a player is doing with and without the puck in terms of stick placement, angling, deception, and movement. Players who can force opponents to give the puck away simply because of their stick detail are usually the most impactful players, as forwards who can take care of the defensive side of the ice as well as provide high-level offence in junior won’t have to be taught how to defend when they’re thrown into pro hockey for the first time (the instincts will already be there). Credit should go to Troy Mann and the Frontenacs coaching staff for Battaglia’s well-rounded growth this year, should it continue to show itself.

When I think of elite stick detail, I think of Mark Stone of the Vegas Golden Knights. Stone often blocks passes by reaching down and laying his stick flat on the ice with one hand. He also forces opposing teams to play dump and chase rather than control the puck via neutral zone stick angling. The ability of Mark Stone to scan NHL hockey environments quickly allows him to position his stick for the benefit of his team, where he can sometimes control 5v5 situations himself. Hockey IQ and stick detail usually go hand in hand.

Jacob Battaglia is not Mark Stone, but Battaglia exhibits good stick detail at a young age that successful NHLers like Mark Stone use to separate themselves from average pro hockey players and help their clubs significantly.

Working under head coach Troy Mann and the Kingston staff, I am confident Battaglia can thrive in the OHL next season. While he may be one of the least talked about prospects out of the strong 2024 Flames 2024 draft class, Jacob Battaglia may be one of the most intriguing Flames prospects, with a great chance to reach new statistical heights because of his off-season preparation, special skillset, and his positive mindset towards any challenges ahead.