Top Prospect Contender: Glenn Gawdin

You could be forgiven if you aren’t terribly excited about Glenn Gawdin as a prospect. If you look at his hockey history, he’s always been a player with tons of intangibles but questionable high-end skill. But on the back of three really strong seasons of growth, he was quietly the most important player for the Stockton Heat in 2019-20.

But is he the Flames’ top prospect right now?

A product of B.C. minor hockey, Gawdin joined the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos and developed a reputation as being a smart, responsible two-way player. He was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the fourth round in 2015, but his offensive numbers didn’t progress in the two seasons that followed. Losing their AHL team to Vegas and lacking developmental spots, the Blues didn’t offer Gawdin a contact.

Gawdin shrugged off the adversity, signed with the Flames mid-season, and assumed a spot with hot-shot NHL prospects Tyler Steenbergen and Alexei Heponiemi. He doubled his previous point total with 125 that season, missing out on the scoring title by four points. He ended up being named playoff MVP as the Broncos marched to the Memorial Cup.

Simply put? Gawdin is going to play NHL games. He’s a savvy two-way player who has shown that he can score at the pro level and defend against strong opposition players. He can play center or wing, and his versatility will give him chances at the NHL level.

He’s also shown the ability to play with high-end players. Gawdin has great hockey sense and while he might not have high-end talent on his own, his monster junior season showcased his ability to play alongside strong linemates and contribute. He might not ever be Sean Monahan or Johnny Gaudreau, but he’s got the chops to play with them.

Gawdin’s got a high floor but also a questionable ceiling. He’ll play in the NHL, but it’s unclear if he’ll top out as a fourth liner, a bottom six piece or a middle six piece. Heck, he could turn into a Paul Byron type that plays everywhere in a lineup – it’s hard to say until he gets a taste of the NHL.

But Gawdin’s lack of a high ceiling may be the only big knock against him. He’s a smart player who’s grown since he’s gone pro and has a lot of attributes that will help his team succeed at the NHL level.