If you’ve been following the Calgary Flames’ prospects this season, a popular pastime during a retooling or rebuilding period, you’ve probably noticed that a lot of players are off to strong starts to the 2024-25 campaign.
We track each skater’s NHLe, or NHL equivalency, a rough approximation of how much each player’s production in their current league would translate into production in the NHL based on past performances by other players. 30 NHLe points is considered pretty good – a 30-point NHLer is nothing to sneeze at – and eight Flames prospects are producing above that mark, including three 2024 draft choices.
The 30 NHLe club, so far, includes AHLers Matt Coronato, Rory Kerins and Jakob Pelletier, WHLer Andrew Basha, OHLers Jacob Battaglia and Zayne Parekh, QMJHLer Etienne Morin, and college forward Aydar Suniev. The eight players include two defenders and six wingers, and span the 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024 drafts. Add in two goaltenders (Waltteri Ignatjew and Arsenii Sergeev) with save percentages above .925 so far, and there are a lot of positive stories among the prospect group right now.
We’ll see if those positives can continue on into November.
Editor’s Note: Typically we use Calder Trophy eligibility to determine which players we track as prospects. While Coronato and Pelletier have played too many NHL games to remain eligible for the Calder, due to reader demand we’ve decided to reinstate them as “prospects” for the rest of the season.

Jonathan Aspirot – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

25; signed as a free agent; 6’0″, 200 pounds; shoots left
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
6
0
4
4
1
2
1
6
26.57
2023-24 (AHL)
66
6
27
33
19
12
9
94
19.93
Aspirot continues to produce offensively, though he was scratched recently as the team juggles their many, many (eight) defenders.

Andrew Basha – LW/C, Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL

18; Calgary’s second round pick (41st overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 5’11”, 174 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 5th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
12
5
11
16
14
5
4
42
33.02
2023-24 (WHL)
63
30
55
85
69
52
41
189
33.41
Basha had a productive week, with five points in three games. His production is quite skewed towards special teams this season – 11 of his 16 points have come away from even strength – but he’s finding ways to consistently generate points.

Jacob Battaglia – LW, Kingston Frontenacs, OHL

18; Calgary’s second round pick (62nd overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 196 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 11th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
13
10
10
20
18
15
13
38
40.75
2023-24 (OHL)
67
31
34
65
54
39
34
168
25.70
Battaglia is the exact opposite of Basha: he’s consistently producing, and primarily doing so at five-on-five. Battaglia’s one of the most impressive positive stories in Canadian junior this season. Everyone thought he was good, but he’s taken a step so far in 2024-25.

Parker Bell – LW/C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

20; Calgary’s fifth round pick (155th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 192 pounds; shoots left
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
8
1
0
1
1
1
1
4
4.98
2023-24 (WHL)
59
33
31
64
50
35
31
231
26.86
Nada in three.

Jake Boltmann – D, Northeastern University Huskies, NCAA/Hockey East

22; Calgary’s third round pick (80th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 188 pounds; shoots right
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
3
0
2
2
0
2
0
0
18.20
2023-24 (NCAA)
30
0
2
2
2
2
2
36
1.82
Boltmann is currently out with an injury.

Hunter Brzustewicz – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

19; Vancouver’s third round pick (75th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Vancouver; 6’0″, 190 pounds; shoots right; FN’s 3rd-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
9
0
1
1
1
1
1
6
4.43
2023-24 (OHL)
67
13
79
92
46
65
34
140
36.37
Brzustewicz has gone quiet offensively in recent weeks, but the Wranglers keep winning.

Lucas Ciona – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

21; Calgary’s sixth round pick (173rd overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 210 pounds; shoots left
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
9
1
3
4
4
2
2
7
17.71
2023-24 (AHL)
55
4
2
6
5
6
5
67
4.35
Ciona has been really consistent early this season, crashing and banging and chipping in points here and there.

Matt Coronato – RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

21; Calgary’s first round pick (13th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 5’10”, 183 pounds; shoots right
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
2
2
0
2
2
2
2
6
39.85
2023-24 (AHL)
41
15
27
42
28
27
17
140
40.82
Coronato is back in the AHL due to the Flames having too many wingers. He scored twice in Tuesday’s game and remains at over a point-per-game in his AHL career.

Matvei Gridin – RW, Shawinigan Cataractes, QMJHL

18; Calgary’s first round pick (28th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 182 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 6th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
11
3
7
10
7
7
6
48
21.17
2023-24 (USHL)
60
38
45
83
67
49
42
208
31.76
Gridin has yet to really find his goal-scoring groove in the QMJHL, though 48 shots is quite a nice number given his situation and experience level in the league. And while Gridin has had goal-scoring challenges, he’s consistently setting up his teammates.

Artem Grushnikov – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

21; Dallas’ second round pick (48th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Dallas; 6’1″, 203 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 17th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
9
0
0
0
0
0
0
9
0.00
2023-24 (AHL)
63
1
5
6
5
6
5
65
3.80
We’re still waiting for Grushnikov’s first AHL point of the season.

Trevor Hoskin – RW, Niagara University Purple Eagles, NCAA/AHA

20; Calgary’s fourth round pick (106th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 175 pounds; shoots right
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
6
3
4
7
7
5
5
10
18.56
2023-24 (OJHL)
52
42
58
100
85
60
50
189
5.36
There’s two ways of looking at Hoskin’s early season success with Niagara. If you want to be pessimistic, he’s playing in one of the NCAA’s lesser conferences as a 20-year-old. But if you want to be optimistic, he’s producing consistently and emerging as a leader for his team in terms of scoring. And he’s progressing in terms of his NHLe jumping, even with the appreciable challenge of playing against men – even in a “bad” conference.

Axel Hurtig – D, Calgary Hitmen, WHL

19; Calgary’s seventh round pick (208th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 202 pounds; shoots left
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
12
0
3
3
2
2
1
8
6.19
2023-24 (J20)
27
3
8
11
7
11
7
54
15.10
Is Hurtig a big point-producer? Nope! Was that ever his game? Not really! Is he finding ways to be useful for the Hitmen as he adjusts to the smaller North American ice? Yep!

Eric Jamieson – D, Everett Silvertips, WHL

19; Calgary’s seventh round pick (208th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 200 pounds; shoots left
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
13
2
4
6
3
6
3
24
11.43
2023-24 (WHL)
66
10
22
32
21
27
18
174
12.01
Jamieson continues to be a productive two-way blueliner and leader for the Silvertips, who are currently the WHL’s top team.

Joni Jurmo – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

22; Vancouver’s third round pick (82nd overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Vancouver; 6’3″, 190 pounds; shoots left
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
2023-24 (Liiga)
46
1
4
5
3
4
3
63
4.03
Jurmo has yet to dress for an AHL game this season.

Rory Kerins – C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

22; Calgary’s sixth round pick (174th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 5’10”, 175 pounds; shoots left
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
9
8
2
10
9
7
6
27
44.28
2023-24 (AHL)
54
16
16
32
27
22
18
115
23.62
Last season, it took Kerins until Dec. 1 to register his 10th point. He’s about a month ahead of last year’s scoring pace.

Yan Kuznetsov – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

22; Calgary’s second round pick (50th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 209 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 20th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
9
1
1
2
1
2
1
8
8.86
2023-24 (AHL)
63
5
8
13
9
12
8
88
8.22
Primarily a shutdown guy, Kuznetsov is scoring at about last season’s pace.

Hunter Laing – C/RW, Prince George Cougars, WHL

18; Calgary’s sixth round pick (170th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’5″, 205 pounds; shoots right
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
14
5
5
10
9
8
7
26
17.69
2023-24 (WHL)
66
11
14
25
18
20
14
101
9.38
Laing is off to a great start to this season offensively, especially compared to last season.

Jaden Lipinski – C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL / Vancouver Giants, WHL

19; Calgary’s fourth round pick (112th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 204 pounds; shoots right; FN’s 16th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
WHL season to date
4
0
4
4
3
2
1
7
24.76
AHL season to date
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.00
2023-24 (WHL)
67
24
42
66
47
33
23
181
24.39
After a slow initial weekend back in the Dub, Lipinski had three points over two games for the Giants.

Cade Littler – C/RW, University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, NCAA/NCHC

20; Calgary’s seventh round pick (219th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 197 pounds; shoots right
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0.00
2023-24 (BCHL)
24
9
12
21
17
9
6
–
5.51
Littler dressed for both North Dakota games this past weekend as the 13th forward, and was credited with his first college assist on Friday night.

Henry Mews – D, Ottawa 67’s, OHL

18; Calgary’s third round pick (74th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’0″, 181 pounds; shoots right; FN’s 9th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
12
0
11
11
6
2
0
49
24.28
2023-24 (OHL)
65
15
46
61
38
35
24
153
24.86
Mews had four assists this week. He’s still looking for his first goal, but he’s doing a nice job setting up his teammates.

Luke Misa – LW/C, Brampton Steelheads, OHL

18; Calgary’s fifth round pick (150th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 5’10”, 170 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 13th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
11
5
5
10
9
6
5
30
24.08
2023-24 (OHL)
66
26
55
81
56
58
39
210
32.51
Man, Misa had himself a nice week. After struggling to get many points – by his standards – in prior weeks, he went off this week with seven points.

Etienne Morin – D, Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL

19; Calgary’s second round pick (48th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’0″, 180 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 10th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
12
4
13
17
10
11
7
42
32.99
2023-24 (QMJHL)
58
12
37
49
32
21
13
191
19.67
Morin’s great start to this season continues.

Sam Morton – C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

25; Free agent signing; 6’0″, 185 pounds; shoots left
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
9
1
3
4
3
2
2
16
17.71
2023-24 (NCAA)
37
24
10
34
32
20
19
151
24.00
Morton’s been a bit quiet offensively to begin this season, though he’s generating shot volume.

Ilya Nikolaev – C/LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

23; Calgary’s third round pick (88th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft; 6’0″, 190 pounds; shoots left
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
AHL season to date
8
0
4
4
3
2
1
7
19.93
2023-24 (AHL)
29
3
3
6
6
6
6
33
8.25
Nikolaev missed one of the Colorado games as a scratch, as the Wranglers figure out how to juggle their forward group with Coronato’s return to the AHL. He’s already close to last season’s points output.

Zayne Parekh – D, Saginaw Spirit, OHL

18; Calgary’s first round pick (9th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’0″, 179 pounds; shoots right; FN’s 1st-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
11
3
9
12
8
6
4
53
28.89
2023-24 (OHL)
66
33
63
96
66
54
39
224
38.53
Parekh earned a little negative attention this week for his reaction to a reckless play by one of the Soo Greyhounds – Owen Allard went for a reverse hit on a Saginaw attacker and got his skate up uncomfortably close to that player’s head.
Parekh went in and threw a hit on Allard that was at best ill-advised (especially against an opponent in an awkward and vulnerable position), and resulted in him receiving a boarding minor (and from the subsequent scrum he received a roughing minor and a 10-minute misconduct to calm things down). He avoided any supplemental discipline for reportedly jawing with some Greyhounds fans after being sent to the locker room. Parekh is a heck of a player and if he can be emotionally engaged while staying out of the box, that’s arguably when he’s at his best.
On the positive side, he continued his consistent offensive production to begin the season.

Jakob Pelletier – RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

23; Calgary’s first round pick (26th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft; 5’9″, 170 pounds; shoots left
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
9
0
10
10
5
7
4
18
44.28
2023-24 (AHL)
18
5
7
12
8
7
6
45
26.57
On one hand, Pelletier hasn’t scored a goal yet. On the other hand… everything else. He’s off to a great start.

Jeremie Poirier – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

22; Calgary’s third round pick (72nd overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 196 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 7th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
9
0
1
1
0
1
0
14
4.43
2023-24 (AHL)
23
3
10
13
5
5
2
44
22.53
Poirier got his first assist this week, though he remains a bit quiet offensively (despite oodles of shots).

Ilya Solovyov – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

24; Calgary’s seventh round pick (205th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 208 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 14th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
5
2
1
3
2
3
2
6
23.91
2023-24 (AHL)
51
5
10
15
10
14
10
88
11.72
As noted on the Sportsnet radio broadcast of the Colorado games, Solovyov had some immigration issues and wasn’t able to travel to the United States for the last big road trip. He had a multi-point game Tuesday against San Diego.

William Strömgren – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

21; Calgary’s second round pick (45th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 175 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 8th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
9
0
2
2
1
1
1
11
8.86
2023-24 (AHL)
68
7
20
27
23
18
15
74
15.82
Strömgren remains a bit quiet offensively this season, both in terms of points and shot volume.

Aydar Suniev – LW/C, University of Massachusetts Minutemen, NCAA/Hockey East

19; Calgary’s third round pick (80th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’2″, 198 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 12th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
7
6
3
9
8
4
4
21
41.43
2023-24 (NCAA)
35
12
13
25
19
16
12
100
23.02
Suniev is halfway to matching his freshman goal-scoring totals already. He’s one of the offensive leaders for one of college hockey’s better teams.

Daniil Chechelev – G, HC Vityaz, KHL / Yunison-Moskva, VHL

23; Calgary’s fourth round pick (96th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 187 pounds
GP
TOI
SV%
VHL season to date
2
91
.822
2023-24 (VHL)
5
271
.908
Chechelev got his second VHL start and went the distance… in a 4-3 overtime loss.

Waltteri Ignatjew – G, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

24; Signed as a free agent; 6’3″, 200 pounds
GP
TOI
SV%
Season to date
2
120
.925
2023-24 (SWE-1)
45
2614
.918
Ignatjew is playing less than Devin Cooley – which makes sense given Cooley’s been awesome – but Ignatjew has performed really well thus far.

Arsenii Sergeev – G, Penn State University Nittany Lions, NCAA/Big 10

21; Calgary’s seventh round pick (205th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 192 pounds
GP
TOI
SV%
Season to date
5
301
.926
2023-24 (NCAA)
16
934
.913
Sergeev has played every minute of the season for Penn State and won four of his five outings. He’s off to a great start.

Yegor Yegorov – G, HC Tambov, VHL / MHC Tambov, NMHL

19; Calgary’s sixth round pick (176th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 183 pounds
GP
TOI
SV%
VHL season to date
3
100
.837
NMHL season to date
4
244
.906
2023-24 (MHL)
25
1319
.917
With the VHL club in a quiet segment of their schedule, Yegorov went down to the NMHL and played twice (and won twice).

Kirill Zarubin – G, AKM Tula, MHL

18; Calgary’s third round pick (84th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 178 pounds; FN’s 19th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
TOI
SV%
Season to date
6
327
.909
2023-24 (MHL)
45
2473
.927
Zarubin had a quiet schedule this week. He’s been named to Russia’s roster for the Future Cup, which pits Russia’s under-20 team against their under-18 team, and under-20 teams from Kazakhstan and Belarus.

This article is brought to you by Great Clips

Great Clips, the world’s largest hair salon brand, is a 100% franchised company with more than 150 hair salons across Canada that are owned and operated by Canadians. Great Clips prides itself on making it easy for customers to get a great haircut at a great price at a time and place that’s convenient for them. They’ve also made it easy for customers to make Great Clips their hair salon of choice with services like Online Check-In and Clip Notes®. From bobs and layers to kids’ haircuts, bald fades and more, Great Clips has a look that’s great for you.