What Calgary Flames prospects should get called up to the NHL?

The Calgary Flames are out of the playoff race. That means we should start to see some young players get an opportunity to play NHL games.

The Flames have done a great job incorporating youth in their lineup this season. We have seen Matt Coronato, Connor Zary, Martin Pospisil, Jakob Pelletier, Cole Schwindt, Adam Klapka, Yan Kuznetsov, Ilya Solovyov, and Dustin Wolf all play NHL minutes. Injecting youth in the Flames lineup is something Craig Conroy talked about when he was introduced as GM, and he’s delivered.

But there are still others in the AHL who could get some NHL minutes between now and the end of the season.

In order for that to happen, the Flames are either going to have to shut down veteran players for injury related reasons, or healthy scratch players who are currently in the lineup.

Here are some players who could get the call to join the Flames if roster spots open up between now and the end of the season.

This has been a bit of a lost developmental season for Poirier as he missed 47 games with a laceration injury. He got back in the Wrangler lineup on Mar. 5 and has started to get his legs back underneath him.

Before his injury, Poirier put up seven points in his first three games. Had he not got hurt, he likely would have been called up to the Flames in November around the same time Zary and Pospisil were summoned.

It would be a nice reward for a player who went through a lot to get back on the ice this season after a frightful injury. Plus, the Flames have the NHL’s 30th ranked power play. Giving Poirier a chance to quarterback the first or second unit would be great for his development, and might actually give the Flames lifeless power play a new look.

Coronato is already playing for the Flames. But I want to see him in an elevated role on the team.

He is currently playing on the fourth line with Kevin Rooney and Dryden Hunt. At this point of the season, there is no reason for Coronato not playing higher in the lineup.

It would also serve the Flames well to add Coronato to the first power play unit. He has the best shot on the team, so why not use it on one of the worst power plays in the NHL?

Similar to Poirier, Pelletier has had his season derailed by injuries. He hasn’t been the same tenacious, energetic player since returning to the Flames lineup after dealing with multiple shoulder injuries. Ryan Huska said it best when he said Pelletier needs to “play with less fear.”

Hearing a statement like that is a little concerning. There is no need to rush Pelletier back to the NHL when he’s not ready to play and compete at that level. The right thing to do is keep him in the AHL. Let him get his confidence back. Play big minutes for a team competing for playoff positioning. And make sure he is ready to come to training camp and win a job.

(Editor’s Note: The NHL deals for Sam Morton and Joni Jurmo don’t begin until next season, so neither is eligible to be called up to the NHL this season.)