FlamesNation prospect update: playoffs looming
By Ryan Pike
3 years agoHockey’s been weird in 2020-21. Some junior leagues haven’t gotten going yet, but the collegiate and European leagues are starting to get ready for the playoffs. This may be the weirdest calendar the hockey world has ever seen, but that’s par for the course given the state of the non-hockey world.
Let’s check in on all the Flames’ prospects, shall we?
In case you missed it:
- Last week’s update
- Glenn Gawdin and Artyom Zagidulin are currently with the Flames, though that probably changes once Derek Ryan and Jacob Markstrom get healthy.
- Rory Kerins is with Stockton but has yet to dress.
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 |
| NCAA up to date | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Change from last week | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a |
Heading into the final weekend of the Big Ten’s regular season, Boltmann has zero points. The Fighting Irish have two more regular season games left, then it’s onto the single elimination playoffs.
Lucas Feuk- LW, AIK, Allsvenskan/J20 Nationell / Kalix HC, HockeyEttan
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Allsvenskan up to date | 14 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2.33 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
| HockeyEttan up to date | 17 | 12 | 6 | 18 | 13 | 17 | 13 | n/a |
| Change from last week | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a |
| J20 up to date | 8 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 19.78 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
Kalix’s season is winding down. Feuk had an unusually quiet week offensively, but the 19-year-old is still one of his team’s top scorers.
Ryan Francis- C, Cape Breton Eagles/Saint John Sea Dogs, 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 |
Good news! Francis will debut for Saint John when they play on March 9. He hasn’t played since Nov. 18, back when he was with Cape Breton.
Johannes Kinnvall- D, HV71, SHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 29 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 8 | 12 | 5 | 37.08 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
Kinnvall is injured. HV71 is dead-last in the SHL with seven games left. They’re on pace to play in the relegation playoffs, where they’ll try to stay in the SHL for 2021-22.
Justin Kirkland- LW, Stockton Heat, AHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9.96 |
| Change from last week | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +9.96 |
Kirkland had a power play assist for the Heat this week.
Demetrios Koumontzis- LW, Arizona State University Sun Devils, NCAA
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 20 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 13.65 |
| Change from last week | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1.52 |
Koumontzis had another quiet weekend as the Sun Devils lost and tied with Michigan. They’re an independent team, so their season ends next weekend.
Yan Kuznetsov- D, University of Connecticut Huskies, NCAA / Team Russia, WJC
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 14 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 13.81 |
| Change from last week | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +0.38 |
Kuznetsov had an assist as Maine split their weekend series with Maine. Their season is winding down and the Hockey East playoff start on Mar. 10.
Carl-Johan Lerby- D, Stockton Heat, AHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 19.93 |
| Change from last week | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | n/a |
Lerby had a power play assist to maintain his North American pro scoring pace.
Connor Mackey- D, Stockton Heat, AHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 19.93 |
| Change from last week | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +19.93 |
It took him a few games, but Mackey has exceeded his NHL scoring totals in the AHL.
Mitchell Mattson- C, Michigan State University Spartans, NCAA
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 18 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6.07 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
Mattson was scratched for both of MSU’s games this week. At this point, we might not see him dress again this season considering the Spartans are healthy.
Ilya Nikolayev- C, Buran Voronezh, VHL / Loko Yaroslavl, MHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| VHL up to date | 37 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 5 | 12 | 5 | 11.27 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
| MHL up to date | 21 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 18.27 |
| Change from last week | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.92 |
Nikolayev is on the injured list. But the good news is Loko made the playoffs and is the top seed in their conference, so barring anything crazy happening he’ll return to play in the playoffs.
Josh Nodler- C, Michigan State University Spartans, NCAA
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 24 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 12.52 |
| Change from last week | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1.13 |
The Spartans are headed into the last weekend of their regular season. Nodler played in both games, but MSU were shut out in each one.
Jakob Pelletier- LW, Val-d’Or Foreurs, QMJHL / Team Canada, WJC
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 19 | 7 | 23 | 30 | 18 | 19 | 13 | 36.77 |
| Change from last week | 3 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | +1.84 |
Val-d’Or remains undefeated in their last 10 outings as of this writing, with Pelletier having a big role and a productive week. He was held off the scoresheet on Tuesday for just the third time this season.
Emilio Pettersen- LW, Stockton Heat, AHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 29.89 |
| Change from last week | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | +29.89 |
The AHL rookie had a productive week, putting up points in both games.
Matthew Phillips- C/RW, Stockton Heat, AHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 39.85 |
| Change from last week | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | +39.85 |
Phillips may be a wee fella, but the baby-faced assassin is quite good at ice hockey. He had a pair of multi-point games and is scoring at a point-per-game pace overall.
Luke Philp- C/RW, Stockton Heat, AHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 19.93 |
| Change from last week | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | n/a |
Arguably the best pure goal-scorer in the system, Philp scored his second power play goal of the season.
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 Sea Dogs return to action on March 9. It’ll be Poirier’s first game in three and a half months.
Colton Poolman- D, Stockton Heat, AHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9.96 |
| Change from last week | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | +9.96 |
Poolman got his first pro point! Only one, but it’s a start.
Martin Pospisil- LW, Stockton Heat, AHL / HC Kosice, Tipsport Liga
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| AHL up to date | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 39.85 |
| Change from last week | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | +19.93 |
| Liga up to date | 22 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 9 | 13 | 8 | n/a |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
Pospisil had a Gordie Howe hat trick against the Marlies.
Adam Ruzicka- C, Stockton Heat, AHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 4 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 59.78 |
| Change from last week | 2 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 3 | +59.78 |
Ruzicka had a pair of three point games, with two goals and an assist in each outing. It’s a very nice start to the season for a player the Flames have high hopes for.
Ilya Solovyov- D, Dynamo Minsk, KHL / Dinamo Molodechno, Belarus
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| KHL up to date | 41 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 14.44 |
| Change from last week | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | +0.95 |
| Belarus up to date | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | n/a |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
Dynamo Minsk has moved onto the KHL’s Gagarin Cup playoffs! The bad news is they’re already down 1-0 to SKA St. Petersburg and aren’t favoured to advance.
Filip Sveningsson- LW, MODO Hockey, Allsvenskan
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 43 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 8.33 |
| Change from last week | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.62 |
Sveningsson has slid to the third line for MODO. He’s also not scoring a ton and it’s nearing the end of the regular season – and it seems unlikely that MODO will be in either the Allsvenskan playoffs or the relegation playoffs. It seems unlikely the Flames will sign him to an NHL deal.
Eetu Tuulola- RW, Stockton Heat, AHL / Vasterviks IK, HockeyAllsvenskan / SaiPa, SM-Liiga
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| AHL up to date | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Change from last week | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a |
| Allsvenskan up to date | 11 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 8.88 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
| Liiga up to date | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
Tuulola is one of the few Heat players who didn’t get any points this week in their two wins over the Marlies.
Alexander Yelesin- D, Stockton Heat, AHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Change from last week | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a |
Yelesin was a scratch once this week, as Stockton juggles 10 defensemen on their roster.
Connor Zary- LW, Stockton Heat, AHL / Kamloops Blazers, WHL / Team Canada, WJC
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| AHL up to date | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 19.93 |
| Change from last week | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | +19.93 |
Zary’s headed back to junior now that the WHL’s B.C. teams have a return date set. But he’s heading back after having registered his first two pro points in his last pro game.
Dmitry Zavgorodniy- RW, Stockton Heat, AHL / SKA St. Petersburg, KHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| AHL up to date | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Change from last week | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a |
| KHL up to date | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 32.88 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
Zavgorodniy is still awaiting his first AHL point, though he was originally credited with an assist in Stockton’s rout over the Marlies before a scoring correction took it back. He already registered three KHL points.
Daniil Chechelev- G, Russkie Vityazi Chekhov, MHL / HC Ryazan, VHL / HC Vityaz Podolsk, KHL
| GP | TOI | SV% | |
| MHL up to date | 19 | 1107 | 0.924 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – |
| VHL up to date | 21 | 1116 | 0.912 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – |
Chechelev’s season has come to an end, as his junior team, his minor pro team and his KHL team have all missed the playoffs.
Dustin Wolf- G, Stockton Heat, AHL / Everett Silvertips, WHL / Team USA, WJC
| GP | TOI | SV% | |
| AHL up to date | 3 | 148 | 0.895 |
| Change from last week | 2 | 120 | +0.350 |
After a rough opening outing to kick off his pro career, Wolf settled in nicely and won both of his starts this past week. With a bit of confidence now, he’s headed back to Everett to chase the WHL’s all-time shutout record.
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