Flames place Byron Froese and Justin Kirkland on waivers

The Calgary Flames may have settled on their opening forward group. Per multiple reports, the club has placed Byron Froese and Justin Kirkland on waivers. If they clear, they would both presumably be assigned to the American Hockey League’s Stockton Heat on Sunday.

Heading into Saturday, here’s which forwards the Flames had on their camp roster:

That’s 18 players and the Flames will likely start the season with 13 or 14 on their active roster.

Zary is injured and will start the season on the season-opening injury reserve (SOIR). Pitlick is also injured and will probably start the season on the SOIR. Richardson left Friday’s pre-season game with Winnipeg with an injury and his status is unclear. Coleman is suspended for the first game of the season. These four players bring us down to 14 active forwards, 15 if Richardson is available for opening night.

Waiving Froese and Kirkland drops the Flames to 12 or 13 active forwards for opening night and suggests that at least one, if not both, of Glenn Gawdin and Walker Duehr have made the team. Gawdin requires waivers to send to the AHL, while Duehr is waiver exempt.

The Flames have to submit a cap compliant roster of between 20 to 23 active players to the NHL’s Central Registry by 3 p.m. on Monday. They begin their 2021-22 regular season on Saturday night against Edmonton.