Calgary Flames select Matvei Gridin at 28th overall in 2024 NHL Draft
By Ryan Pike
2 days agoThe Calgary Flames have made their second selection of the first round at the 2024 NHL Draft. At 28th overall, the Flames have selected Russian winger Matvei Gridin from the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League.
A product of Kurgan, Russia, Gridin is a left shot winger (listed on the right side) who’s listed at 6’1″ and 185 pounds. He had 38 goals and 45 assists for 83 points in 60 games in the USHL. He led the USHL in points and assist, and was fourth in goals. (The three players ahead of him in the goal-scoring race were all older.)
2023-24 was Gridin’s second year in North America after coming over in 2022. He played his youth hockey in the Spartak St. Petersburg and Avangard Omsk organizations. He’s committed to the University of Michigan for the 2024-25 season.
Here’s what Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis wrote in his top 120 rankings (he had Gridin at 52):
Gridin captured the USHL scoring crown for 2023-24. The University of Michigan product had the most multi-point efforts in the league this season, too. His two-way game needs some work, but he’s been more engaged without the puck the final few viewings I had compared to, say, the Fall Showcase. His offensive upside is interesting as long as he can keep putting up similar numbers in the NCAA, and I do think he’ll be a top-six threat with the Wolverines. Maybe he’ll be a nice pickup for someone in the second round.
Gridin was listed as the 21st-best North American skater in the NHL Central Scouting Service’s final rankings. Over at Elite Prospects, they had him listed at 91st overall in their draft guide.
Gridin might be a player who takes a bit longer to go pro, as he seems destined to spend a bit of time maturing in college, but you can understand why the Flames would think he’s got some upside.
And yes, friends, Gridin is a Dan Milstein client. Milstein also represents Dan Vladar, Yegor Sharangovich, Martin Pospisil, Daniil Miromanov, Ilya Solovyov, Ilya Nikolaev and Nikita Okhotiuk. So… there’s some connective tissue there.
Get ready for the Daily Faceoff Live Free Agency Special, coming to you on July 1st, 2024 LIVE from 11am to 2pm Eastern Standard Time. Join Tyler Yaremchuk, Frank Seravalli and friends from all over the league 3 hours of non-stop action as they dive deep into the heart of the Free Agency. We will be breaking down every trade, discussing the impact on teams, predicting the future of the Free Agents, and giving you the inside scoop on all the wheeling and dealing happening around the league. Catch all the action live on July 1st from 11 AM to 2 PM EST for the The Daily Faceoff Live Free Agency Special you won’t want to miss!
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