A couple new faces join the prospect pool: a Calgary Flames prospect update
By Ryan Pike
5 months agoThe Calgary Flames made a trade this past week. Elias Lindholm is now a Vancouver Canuck.
And the Flames have a couple new defencemen in their prospect pool.
Joining the Flames’ reserve list are left-shot Finnish defender Joni Jurmo and right-shot Canadian defender Hunter Brzustewicz.
Jurmo’s NHL rights lapse on June 1, but he seems like a pretty reliable defender, and his size and defensive acumen could translate well to the AHL. From there, we’ll see. We suspect he joins the Wranglers once KooKoo’s Liiga season ends in the spring.
As for Brzustewicz, indications are that the Flames and his camp could already be talking turkey. Contracts for the 2024-25 season can be filed and announced starting on March 1. We wouldn’t be surprised if the Flames and their newest defensive prospect have something hammered out before too long.
Neither guy is necessarily a sure thing, but there are things to really like about both of them.
Let’s dive into this week’s prospect update.
Parker Bell – LW/C, Tri-City Americans, WHL
20; Calgary’s fifth round pick (155th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 40 | 21 | 19 | 40 | 31 | 23 | 20 | 161 | 24.76 |
| 2022-23 | 55 | 25 | 39 | 64 | 51 | 36 | 28 | 187 | 28.82 |
Bell remains a model of consistency for the Americans. You would probably hope for slightly more offence from an overager, but Tri-City is a bit offensively challenged and Bell does a lot of good things for his team.
Jake Boltmann – D, University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish, NCAA/Big 10
22; Calgary’s third round pick (80th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 22 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 23 | 1.24 |
| 2022-23 (NCAA) | 37 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 42 | 3.69 |
Notre Dame split a weekend series with Michigan State. Boltmann didn’t score at all, but he made some contributions that led to goals.
Hunter Brzustewicz – D, Kitchener Rangers, OHL
19; Vancouver’s third round pick (75th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Vancouver
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 49 | 8 | 61 | 69 | 33 | 50 | 23 | 99 | 37.30 |
| 2022-23 (OHL) | 68 | 6 | 51 | 57 | 32 | 31 | 21 | 110 | 22.20 |
Brzustewicz had a rare weekend with zero points after his rights were acquired by the Flames. He’s still tied for the OHL’s scoring lead among blueliners.
Lucas Ciona – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
21; Calgary’s sixth round pick (173rd overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 11th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 36 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 43 | 3.32 |
| 2022-23 (WHL) | 63 | 28 | 47 | 75 | 53 | 54 | 37 | 194 | 29.48 |
With the Wranglers getting some bodies back from the Flames during the NHL All-Star break, Ciona was bumped to the press box for two of the Wranglers’ three games.
Matt Coronato – RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
21; Calgary’s first round pick (13th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 2nd-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 30 | 12 | 20 | 32 | 23 | 22 | 16 | 106 | 42.51 |
| 2022-23 (NCAA) | 34 | 20 | 16 | 36 | 31 | 19 | 16 | 141 | 24.31 |
Coronato had an eventful week. He had his first pro fight against Ontario’s Brandt Clarke.
Then he was teammates with Clarke at the AHL All-Star Classic, winning the three-on-three tournament.
Samuel Honzek – LW/C, Vancouver Giants, WHL/Slovakia, WJC
19; Calgary’s first round pick (16th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 4th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| WHL season to date | 16 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 44 | 27.86 |
| WJC season to date | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 | n/a |
| 2022-23 (WHL) | 43 | 23 | 33 | 56 | 40 | 36 | 26 | 134 | 32.25 |
Honzek had a pretty nice goal this week. He hasn’t really hit his offensive stride yet, but he’s quite consistent so far.
Axel Hurtig – D, Rögle BK, J20 Nationell/SHL / Kristianstads IK, HockeyEttan
18; Calgary’s seventh round pick (208th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| J20 season to date | 18 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 36 | 16.47 |
| SHL season to date | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| HockeyEttan season to date | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | n/a |
| 2022-23 (J20) | 34 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 47 | 3.82 |
Hurtig dressed twice for Rögle’s SHL team as their seventh defender, and played one J20 game on the top pairing (and earned an assist).
Ben Jones – C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
24; Free agent signing; 12th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 42 | 14 | 14 | 28 | 23 | 22 | 17 | 108 | 26.57 |
| 2022-23 (AHL) | 71 | 17 | 37 | 54 | 41 | 28 | 21 | 202 | 30.31 |
Mr. Consistency, Ben Jones, had three points in three games.
Joni Jurmo – D, Ilves Tampere/KooKoo Kuovola, Liiga/CHL
21; Vancouver’s third round pick (82nd overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Vancouver
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Liiga season to date | 37 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 52 | 5.01 |
| CHL season to date | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | n/a |
| 2022-23 (Liiga) | 52 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 6 | 118 | 9.27 |
Jurmo had an assist this week. He’s playing on KooKoo’s second pairing.
Rory Kerins – C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
21; Calgary’s sixth round pick (174th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 14th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 33 | 11 | 13 | 24 | 20 | 14 | 11 | 75 | 28.98 |
| 2022-23 (ECHL) | 38 | 17 | 20 | 37 | 31 | 25 | 21 | 117 | 22.36 |
Kerins had a quiet week offensively, though he was noticeable against Ontario. He was also scratched this week, as the Wranglers juggled a lot of bodies.
Adam Klapka – RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
23; Free agent signing; 18th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 36 | 11 | 13 | 24 | 20 | 17 | 13 | 98 | 26.57 |
| 2022-23 (AHL) | 60 | 13 | 12 | 25 | 18 | 16 | 11 | 103 | 16.61 |
Klapka had three points in three games. His next point matches his 2022-23 offensive production in far fewer games.
Demetrios Koumonztis – D/RW, Idaho Steelheads, ECHL
23; Calgary’s fourth round pick (108th overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 24 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 45 | 4.78 |
| 2022-23 (NCAA) | 37 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 67 | 13.28 |
Koumontzis was pointless this week.
Yan Kuznetsov – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
21; Calgary’s second round pick (50th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 17th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 38 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 56 | 11.54 |
| 2022-23 (AHL) | 63 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 11 | 19 | 11 | 65 | 12.02 |
Kuznetsov isn’t traditionally an offensive force, but he was effective this week with three points in three games.
Jaden Lipinski – C, Vancouver Giants, WHL
19; Calgary’s fourth round pick (112th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 16th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 48 | 14 | 28 | 42 | 29 | 16 | 11 | 123 | 21.67 |
| 2022-23 (WHL) | 66 | 19 | 32 | 51 | 36 | 35 | 23 | 152 | 19.14 |
Lipinski was quiet offensively this weekend, but he remains one of the Giants’ most consistent and important players.
Our pal Steven Ellis over at Daily Faceoff had some nice things to say about this gentleman.
Cade Littler – C, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, USHL / Penticton Vees, BCHL
19; Calgary’s seventh round pick (219th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| USHL season to date | 13 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 30 | 19.43 |
| BCHL season to date | 18 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 13 | 6 | 4 | – | 5.83 |
| 2022-23 (BCHL) | 51 | 29 | 39 | 68 | 47 | 36 | 27 | – | 8.75 |
Littler had two points in two games.
Brady Lyle – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
24; Free agent signing
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 40 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 90 | 13.95 |
| 2022-23 (AHL) | 51 | 7 | 24 | 31 | 16 | 13 | 6 | 124 | 24.22 |
Lyle was quiet offensively this week and was scratched once.
Etienne Morin – D, Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL
18; Calgary’s second round pick (48th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft; tied for 5th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 38 | 9 | 27 | 36 | 22 | 15 | 10 | 131 | 22.06 |
| 2022-23 (QMJHL) | 67 | 21 | 51 | 72 | 47 | 34 | 21 | 213 | 25.03 |
Morin missed Moncton’s games this week, reportedly due to an illness.
Ilya Nikolaev – C/LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; Calgary’s third round pick (88th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 20 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 18 | 9.96 |
| 2022-23 (ECHL) | 40 | 13 | 20 | 33 | 21 | 22 | 15 | 97 | 18.94 |
Nikolaev played in zero of the Wranglers’ games this week.
Jakob Pelletier – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; Calgary’s first round pick (26th overall); 3rd-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 29.89 |
| 2022-23 (AHL) | 35 | 16 | 21 | 37 | 32 | 18 | 14 | 92 | 42.13 |
Pelletier played three games, got three points, and then was called up to the NHL.
Emilio Pettersen – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
23; Calgary’s sixth round pick (167th overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft; 20th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 42 | 7 | 20 | 27 | 21 | 19 | 13 | 66 | 25.62 |
| 2022-23 (AHL) | 61 | 19 | 25 | 44 | 35 | 35 | 29 | 118 | 28.75 |
Pettersen earned a point this week, snapping a few quiet weeks for him offensively.
Jeremie Poirier – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
21; Calgary’s third round pick (72nd overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; tied for 5th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 4 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 69.74 |
| 2022-23 (AHL) | 69 | 9 | 32 | 41 | 20 | 21 | 13 | 172 | 23.68 |
The good news: Poirier is back skating, according to his Instagram. There’s still no timeline for his return quite yet.
Topi Rönni – C, Tappara Tampere, Liiga/SM-sarja U20/CHL
19; Calgary’s second round pick (59th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft; 10th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date (Liiga) | 22 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 3.37 |
| Season to date (U20) | 13 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 18 | 10 | 10 | 35 | 26.49 |
| Season to date (CHL) | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | n/a |
| 2022-23 (Liiga) | 22 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 8.42 |
Rönni played in Liiiga on the fourth line in three games.
Cole Schwindt – C/RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; Florida’s third round pick (81st overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Florida; 9th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 40 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 14 | 15 | 10 | 73 | 19.93 |
| 2022-23 (AHL) | 70 | 14 | 18 | 32 | 20 | 16 | 10 | 118 | 18.22 |
Schwindt was quiet offensively, but played a strong 200-foot game. He was called up to the Flames.
Ilya Solovyov – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
23; Calgary’s seventh round pick (205th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 8th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 34 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 61 | 11.72 |
| 2022-23 (AHL) | 68 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 9 | 16 | 8 | 82 | 10.55 |
Solovyov had an assist this week. He keeps playing a reliable 200-foot game.
William Strömgren – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
20; Calgary’s second round pick (45th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 19th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 39 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 38 | 9.20 |
| 2022-23 (SHL) | 45 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 31 | 8.69 |
Strömgren has quietly had a really solid season in a two-way checking role.
Aydar Suniev – LW/C, University of Massachusetts Minutemen, NCAA/Hockey East
19; Calgary’s third round pick (80th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 13th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 23 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 57 | 23.82 |
| 2022-23 (BCHL) | 50 | 45 | 45 | 90 | 73 | 47 | 40 | – | 11.81 |
Suniev had zero points in a pair of weekend games, but he was noticeable in both. He’s found a home on UMass’ first line.
Daniil Chechelev – G, HC Vityaz, KHL / Ryazan-VDV, VHL
22; Calgary’s fourth round pick (96th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft
| GP | TOI | SV% | |
| KHL season to date | 1 | 58 | .880 |
| VHL season to date | 4 | 238 | .926 |
| 2022-23 (ECHL) | 39 | 2135 | .892 |
Chechelev made his KHL debut over the weekend, albeit in a loss.
Arsenii Sergeev – G, University of Connecticut Huskies, NCAA/Hockey East
20; Calgary’s seventh round pick (205th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 15th-ranked prospect
| GP | TOI | SV% | |
| Season to date | 10 | 580 | .920 |
| 2022-23 (NCAA) | 19 | 1104 | .912 |
Sergeev continues to split starts with teammate Ethan Haider.
Dustin Wolf – G, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; Calgary’s seventh round pick (214th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft; 1st-ranked prospect
| GP | TOI | SV% | |
| Season to date | 28 | 1612 | .927 |
| 2022-23 (AHL) | 55 | 3239 | .932 |
Wolf start twice and played in a third game in relief of Oscar Dansk. He also played in, and won, his second consecutive AHL All-Star Classic.
Yegor Yegorov – G, MHK Dynamo Moskva, MHL
18; Calgary’s sixth round pick (176th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft
| GP | TOI | SV% | |
| Season to date | 21 | 1160 | .926 |
| 2022-23 (MHL) | 15 | 786 | .915 |
Yegorov dressed as backup this week but didn’t get any action in.
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