Flames Top 15 Prospects 2013: #13 Kenny Agostino

One of the more prominent new faces on the list (and in the Flames organization) is Yale University forward Kenny Agostino. If he sounds familiar, he’s one of three assets that Calgary acquired for Jarome Iginla in March, as well as a newly-minted NCAA National Champion.

Agostino’s a 2010 draft pick (drafted seven spots after Michael Ferland) with three years of college hockey under his belt – albeit in the ECAC conference – and is slated to return to Yale for his senior year. More optimistically, he’s been one of the Bulldogs’ better players over his tenure, including being clutch during their lengthy playoff run.

Looking at his playoff success and scouting reports, it’s easy to see why the Flames had eyes for Agostino. He’s not tiny, but not huge, listed at 5’11” and just under 200 pounds. He’s noted for his work ethic and his tenacity, as well as his leadership skills – he was team captain on his high school team, which went on an unprecedented winning tear during his tenure.

Whether his skills translate from college to the pros is an unknown, but he made the leap from the offense-first world of New Jersey high school hockey to the NCAA without losing a step, amassing 100 points over 101 college games. He’ll be counted on to continue his prominent scoring and leadership role for Yale next year, when the Bulldogs will hope to repeat as NCAA champions. This season, he was second on the team with 41 points in 37 games, behind only 23 year-old Andrew Miller.

Agostino’s a low-ceiling player with a decently high floor. He’s not physically frail, but his game doesn’t rely on him over-powering his opponents, like perhaps Michael Ferland, nor is he so small one worries about him competing against grown men. He has decently high hockey IQ and succeeds because his game is much more strategic than others.

Will Agostino break into the Flames line-up and light things up offensively? Probably not, but he’s going to (at the very least) be a productive bottom-six forward – either in Calgary or on the farm – within a year or two. Beyond that, who knows?

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