FlamesNation prospect update: winding down
By Ryan Pike
3 years agoThe bizarre 2020-21 season is beginning to wind down for a lot of Calgary Flames prospects.
It’s time for our weekly check-in on the non-NHL kids.
In case you missed it:
- Last week’s update
- Done for the season are Jake Boltmann (NCAA), Daniil Chechelev (MHL), Lucas Feuk (HockeyEttan), Demetrios Koumontzis (NCAA), Mitchell Mattson (NCAA), Josh Nodler (NCAA), Filip Sveningsson (HockeyAllsvenskan), Johannes Kinnvall (SHL) and Emil Heineman (SHL)
- The WHL announced they won’t have playoffs. They end in mid-May, so timelines likely wouldn’t work for Connor Zary or Dustin Wolf to join the Flames or rejoin the Heat.
- The OHL announced they won’t have a season.
- The QMJHL began their playoffs. They’ll be going for awhile, so timelines likely don’t work for Jakob Pelletier, Jeremie Poirier or Ryan Francis to join the Flames or Heat.
Walker Duehr- RW, Minnesota State University Mavericks, NCAA / Stockton Heat, AHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 28 | 10 | 7 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 20.91 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
Duehr has been added to Stockton’s roster but he has yet to make his debut.
Ryan Francis- C, Cape Breton Eagles/Saint John Sea Dogs, QMJHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 32 | 16 | 34 | 50 | 32 | 34 | 22 | 36.39 |
| Change from last week | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0.33 |
Francis had two power play secondary assists in the one regular season game he played – he was held out of Saint John’s finale to keep him fresh for the playoffs. He was back for their opening round robin game against Moncton on Tuesday night, putting up two assists in a 6-2 win.
Glenn Gawdin- C, Stockton Heat, AHL / EHC Visp, Swiss League
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| AHL up to date | 21 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 22.77 |
| Change from last week | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +0.63 |
| Swiss League up to date | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
Gawdin got back into the offensive groove, relatively speaking, for Stockton this week. He had two points, which (a) made him one of the top offensive players this week and (b) really speaks to their offensive challenges lately.
Emil Heineman- LW, Leksands IF, SHL/J20 Nationell / Team Sweden, WJC
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| SHL up to date | 43 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 14.78 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
| J20 up to date | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
Leksands was eliminated from the SHL playoffs, losing to Orebro in the quarterfinals. They’ll be back in the SHL next year and Heineman is under contract for that season. He spent the playoffs playing in their top six on the left side.
Rory Kerins- C, Stockton Heat, AHL / Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, OHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Change from last week | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a |
Well, Kerins’ Draft+1 season will be at most nine games long and spent playing against the pros now that the OHL has shuttered for the year. Stockton’s used him sparingly and tried to shelter him, given that he’s insanely young and probably a bit out of his depth. When he’s played, he’s been just fine (which is impressive for someone his age).
Johannes Kinnvall- D, HV71, SHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 32 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 8 | 12 | 5 | 33.60 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
Good news, bad news, folks. The bad news is that HV71 lost in their series with Brynas and will be relegated to the secondary HockeyAllsvenskan for 2021-22. The good news is that Kinnvall won’t have to endure this indignity, because he’ll be coming over to North America for that season, likely to play with Stockton.
When Kinnvall was healthy, he was among HV71’s best players and among the SHL’s best puck-moving offensive defensemen.
Justin Kirkland- LW, Stockton Heat, AHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 16 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 17.44 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
Kirkland is dealing with an injury and didn’t play this week. He was moved to the taxi squad for a day so that the Flames could move some players down to the AHL to get a game in. Kirkland ended up getting paid a bit more for that day, and giving him a bit of a financial bonus may have been part of the point of choosing him to be papered to the taxi squad for the day.
Yan Kuznetsov- D, University of Connecticut Huskies, NCAA / Stockton Heat, AHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| NCAA up to date | 16 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 12.08 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
| AHL up to date | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Change from last week | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a |
Kuznetsov made his pro debut at the age of 19. He had a shot and a minor penalty.
Carl-Johan Lerby- D, Stockton Heat, AHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 21 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 13.28 |
| Change from last week | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1.40 |
Lerby played twice and had zero points. He was also a healthy scratch so that Stockton could get some new faces into their lineup.
Connor Mackey- D, Stockton Heat, AHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 25 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 23.91 |
| Change from last week | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -1.45 |
Mackey had a quiet week by his standards, which still involved getting an assist because even when the team goes cold offensively he finds ways to contribute. He’s one of the scoring leaders among AHL rookie defensemen.
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 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
Loko is down 3-1 to MHC Dynamo Moscow in the MHL’s championship series. Nikolayev had played twice, both times on the fourth line. It seems likely that he was a healthy scratch in the two games he didn’t play. He’s 19 and should be playing more after being returned from the pros, but Loko is on a monster playoff run and likely would prefer not to be messing with their existing chemistry.
Jakob Pelletier- LW, Val-d’Or Foreurs, QMJHL / Team Canada, WJC
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 28 | 13 | 30 | 43 | 26 | 29 | 20 | 35.75 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
Pelletier was off this week waiting for the playoffs for the Quebec-based teams. Val-d’Or gets going on the weekend.
Emilio Pettersen- LW, Stockton Heat, AHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 24 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 19.93 |
| Change from last week | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -0.94 |
Pettersen has been fairly consistent offensively this season.
Matthew Phillips- C/RW, Stockton Heat, AHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 25 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 11 | 15 | 9 | 30.29 |
| Change from last week | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | +1.31 |
Phillips drew even in points with Adam Ruzicka this week after putting up three points – Ruzicka has played two fewer games, so he’s still ahead on tiebreakers. Phillips is a tiny man, but remains the main offensive driver on the Heat.
Luke Philp- C/RW, Stockton Heat, AHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 25 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 25.51 |
| Change from last week | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3.47 |
Philp went quiet this week offensively.
Jeremie Poirier- D, Saint John Sea Dogs, QMJHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 33 | 9 | 28 | 37 | 21 | 29 | 14 | 26.11 |
| Change from last week | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | +0.57 |
Poirier had a three assist week to close out the regular season. Then he was named first star (with a goal and an assist) in Saint John’s 6-2 win over Moncton to kick off their round robin playoffs.
Colton Poolman- D, Stockton Heat, AHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 16 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 9.96 |
| Change from last week | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2.20 |
Poolman was quiet offensively this week.
Martin Pospisil- LW, Stockton Heat, AHL / HC Kosice, Tipsport Liga
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| AHL up to date | 14 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 31.31 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
| Liga up to date | 22 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 9 | 13 | 8 | n/a |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
Pospisil is done for the season due to shoulder surgery. (And a knee injury.)
Adam Ruzicka- C, Stockton Heat, AHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 23 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 12 | 16 | 11 | 32.92 |
| Change from last week | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1.50 |
Ruzicka spent past of this week on the NHL taxi squad, but was returned to the Heat to play in their final “home” game (in Calgary) this season.
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 | 24 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 8.30 |
| Change from last week | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.76 |
| 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 was quiet offensively. He’s having a bit of a step back, at least scoring-wise, compared to last season.
Alexander Yelesin- D, Stockton Heat, AHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| Up to date | 24 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 8.30 |
| Change from last week | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1.19 |
Yelesin was held off the scoresheet this week. But he’s already matched last season’s offensive production.
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 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 31.00 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
| WHL up to date | 9 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 44.02 |
| Change from last week | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -5.51 |
Zary had two assists in a Kamloops win, and no points in a Kamloops loss.
Dmitry Zavgorodniy- RW, Stockton Heat, AHL / SKA St. Petersburg, KHL
| GP | G | A | P | 5v5 P | P1 | 5v5 P1 | NHLe | |
| AHL up to date | 24 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4.98 |
| Change from last week | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | +3.08 |
| KHL up to date | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 32.88 |
| Change from last week | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | n/a |
Zavgorodniy finally got some puck luck, getting his first professional goal (yay!) and tripling his season-to-date offensive production.
Tyler Parsons- G, Stockton Heat, AHL
| GP | TOI | SV% | |
| Up to date | – | – | – |
| Change from last week | – | – | – |
Parsons dressed as backup this week, but has yet to actually play.
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 | – | – | – |
| WHL up to date | 13 | 755 | 0.939 |
| Change from last week | 2 | 120 | -0.002 |
Wolf’s save percentage continues to normalize, but he’s still playing really well. He’s 10-2-0 with three shutouts, a 1.83 goals against average and a .939 save percentage this season. He’s first, second or third among WHL goaltenders in every category.
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