Flames sign prospect Rory Kerins to entry level contract

The Calgary Flames have locked down one of their more exciting prospects. The club announced they’ve signed forward Rory Kerins to a three year entry level deal. The deal kicks in for the 2022-23 season. (Terms were not announced by the club.)

Kerins was selected 174th overall by the Flames in the sixth round of the 2022 NHL Draft. The Caledon, Ontario product put up 59 points in 64 games in his draft year with the Soo Greyhounds, only to have his following OHL season wiped out due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was limited to just four games with the Stockton Heat last season.

This season, Kerins has erupted offensively as one of the top producers in his league. He sits second in the OHL with 33 goals and 84 points through 50 points. He’s a difference-maker on one of the OHL’s top teams and has shown a lot of progression, despite missing crucial developmental reps last season.

Kerins turns 20 in April, so he’ll be eligible to play in the American Hockey League with Stockton or in the OHL as an overager with the Greyhounds next season. His offensive output this season strongly suggests he’ll get a long, long look with the Flames’ top affiliate rather than another year in junior.

Kerins is the fifth member of the Flames’ 2020 draft class to sign with the club, following Connor Zary, Yan Kuznetsov, Jeremie Poirier and Ilya Solovyov. Unsigned prospects from that class with their rights still with the Flames are Ryan Francis, Daniil Chechelev and Jake Boltmann.

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