FlamesNation prospect update: closing out 2020
By Ryan Pike
3 years agoMuch of the focus of the hockey world this week will be on the NHL ramping up for the restart – the Calgary Flames open up camp on Jan. 3 – but let’s check in on the Flames’ many, many prospects as we close out the 2020 calendar year.
In case you missed it:
Jake Boltmann- D, Lincoln Stars, USHL / University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish, NCAA
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| USHL up to date | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
This past week, it was discovered that Boltmann (who had committed to Notre Dame) would be joining the team this season. His first NCAA game is likely on Jan. 9 against Arizona State.
Lucas Feuk- LW, AIK, Allsvenskan/J20 Nationell
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Allsvenskan up to date | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2.96 |
| Change from last week | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.30 |
| J20 up to date | 8 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 19.78 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
The 19-year-old Feuk is still puttering along. The junior J20 Nationell circuit is expected to start back up in January. In the meantime, Feuk is an extra body for AK: he played 32 seconds in their latest game.
Ryan Francis- C, Cape Breton Eagles, QMJHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 15 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 10 | 15 | 8 | 32.60 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
The QMJHL is paused until Jan. 21 due to COVID concerns.
Johannes Kinnvall- D, HV71, SHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 18 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 46.16 |
| Change from last week | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +0.16 |
Kinnvall played one game, but he remains one of the most impressive offensive blueliners in Sweden. He had an assist to keep his usual pace. He’ll finish out the SHL season and join the Flames (or Stockton) in 2021-22.
Demetrios Koumontzis- LW, Arizona State University Sun Devils, NCAA
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 12 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 18.20 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
Arizona State was off this week. They’re back in action on Jan. 3 against Minnesota.
Yan Kuznetsov- D, University of Connecticut Huskies, NCAA / Team Russia, WJC
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 16.11 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
Kuznetsov is in Edmonton for the World Juniors. He has zero points over three games thus far, playing primarily on Russia’s second pairing with 2021 top NHL Draft prospect Daniil Chayka (and for one game with Boston prospect Roman Bychkov). He’s been a pretty reliable, consistent defensive defender.
Kuznetsov’s first game back in college after the World Juniors is likely Connecticut’s Jan. 15 & 16 series with New Hampshire. (UConn has a Jan. 7 & 9 series, but it seems probable that he’ll be in transit back from Edmonton for at least one of those games.)
Mitchell Mattson- C, Michigan State University Spartans, NCAA
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10.24 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
Michigan State was off this week. They’re back in action on Jan. 3 against Penn State.
Ilya Nikolayev- C, Buran Voronezh, VHL / Loko Yaroslavl, MHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| VHL up to date | 27 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 13.06 |
| Change from last week | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1.64 |
| MHL up to date | 12 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 23.10 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
Some good and some bad in another game-filled week for the 19-year-old Russian.
- The bad: He played three games and had no points, while his ice time slid to about 10 minutes per night when he usually plays around 15-ish.
- The good: He won 56% of his draws at the face-off circle.
Josh Nodler- C, Michigan State University Spartans, NCAA
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 8 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 20.48 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
Michigan State was off this week. They’re back in action on Jan. 3 against Penn State.
Jakob Pelletier- LW, Val-d’Or Foreurs, QMJHL / Team Canada, WJC
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 9 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 33.64 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
Pelletier’s kept busy with the QMJHL shut down, representing Canada in the World Juniors. Through three games he has three goals and an assist, playing primarily in an energy/shutdown role on Canada’s third line. He’s been noticeable even ignoring his offense.
We’re waiting on word on if he’ll be headed back to the Q after the tournament (the Q won’t have games until Jan. 22) or if he’ll attend Flames camp instead.
Jeremie Poirier- D, Saint John Sea Dogs, QMJHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 15 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 24.84 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
The QMJHL is paused until Jan. 21 due to COVID concerns.
Ilya Solovyov- D, Dynamo Minsk, KHL / Dinamo Molodechno, Belarus
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| KHL up to date | 27 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7.31 |
| Change from last week | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.58 |
| Belarus up to date | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | n/a |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
Solvyov is back in the Minsk defensive rotation after being scratched off and on. He’s a non-entity offensively, but he’s getting over 12 minutes a night in the KHL as a 20-year-old.
Filip Sveningsson- LW, MODO Hockey, Allsvenskan
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 21 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 9.30 |
| Change from last week | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.47 |
Sveningsson was held off the scoresheet in a 7-2 MODO loss. But on the positive front, he was only on the ice for one of the seven goals against and led MODO with five shots on goal. He’s showing signs of life, at least.
Connor Zary- C, Kamloops Blazers, WHL / Team Canada, WJC
The WHL will start eventually, but in the interim Zary is spending his time in Edmonton playing for Team Canada. Playing in a mixture of roles – third line, fourth line and extra forward – he’s had an assist in three games. He has been noticeable as a role player, killing penalties and bringing energy in limited minutes.
Daniil Chechelev- G, Russkie Vityazi Chekhov, MHL / HC Ryazan, VHL / HC Vityaz Podolsk, KHL
| GP | TOI | SV% | |
| MHL up to date | 14 | 808 | 0.932 |
| Change from last week | 2 | 117 | -0.006 |
| VHL up to date | 14 | 695 | 0.915 |
| Change from last week | – | – | n/a |
With the KHL team getting healthy we’ve seen Chechelev bounce around a bit recently. He’s practised with his KHL team, played junior games, and been re-assigned back to the minor league team. He had two losses in junior, but they were his first games in two weeks and only four of the goals he allowed were at even strength.
Dustin Wolf- G, Everett Silvertips, WHL / Team USA, WJC
Wolf has started once at the World Juniors and played a game in relief. In 85 minutes, he’s allowed zero goals and made 21 saves. For a backup in his second World Juniors, that’s all you can possibly hope for.
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