Which prospects will be signed this season? A Calgary Flames prospect update
By Ryan Pike
1 month agoFolks, we’re obviously all a bit caught up in the 2024 trade deadline pandemonium. But once March 1 hit the calendar, another important period began: the opening of the window for teams to sign players to entry-level deals that begin next season.
So… which Flames prospects do we expect to get signed? (Parker Bell and Samuel Honzek already have NHL deals.)
There are couple obvious ones: Hunter Brzustewicz and Jaden Lipinski. They’re both 19 and eligible to play in the AHL with the Wranglers next season. Bruzstewicz is a dynamite offensive blueliner who should compliment the existing stay-at-home crop already in the AHL. And Lipinski is a pretty toolsy right shot centre who’s been a strong face-off presence for the Giants.
Beyond those two, though, we’re not sure if anybody needs to be signed. Joni Jurmo has had an up and down season in the Finnish Liiga, but there’s a time pressure as the Flames need to decide to sign him or not by June 1. But everybody else in the Flames system is either already signed or are players the Flames have a good amount of time left to make decisions on.
Let’s dive into this week’s prospect update!
Parker Bell – LW/C, Tri-City Americans, WHL
20; Calgary’s fifth round pick (155th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 51 | 27 | 26 | 53 | 41 | 30 | 26 | 200 | 25.74 |
| 2022-23 | 55 | 25 | 39 | 64 | 51 | 36 | 28 | 187 | 28.82 |
Bell continues to be a rock-solid player for Tri-City. He seems destined to join the Wranglers in a couple weeks once the WHL regular season concludes.
Jake Boltmann – D, University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish, NCAA/Big 10
22; Calgary’s third round pick (80th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 28 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 29 | 1.95 |
| 2022-23 (NCAA) | 37 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 42 | 3.69 |
Notre Dame was off this week. They’re back in action this weekend when the Big 10 conference tournament begins, with the Irish facing the University of Michigan.
Hunter Brzustewicz – D, Kitchener Rangers, OHL
19; Vancouver’s third round pick (75th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Vancouver
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 59 | 12 | 72 | 84 | 42 | 59 | 30 | 126 | 37.71 |
| 2022-23 (OHL) | 68 | 6 | 51 | 57 | 32 | 31 | 21 | 110 | 22.20 |
Brzustewicz had back-to-back two point games for the Rangers over the weekend.
Lucas Ciona – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
21; Calgary’s sixth round pick (173rd overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 11th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 44 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 54 | 4.53 |
| 2022-23 (WHL) | 63 | 28 | 47 | 75 | 53 | 54 | 37 | 194 | 29.48 |
Ciona had a two-goal game on Friday, doubling his season total.
Matt Coronato – RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
21; Calgary’s first round pick (13th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 2nd-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 40 | 15 | 27 | 42 | 28 | 27 | 17 | 137 | 41.84 |
| 2022-23 (NCAA) | 34 | 20 | 16 | 36 | 31 | 19 | 16 | 141 | 24.31 |
Coronato had an assist over the weekend, then was called up to the Flames to cover for an injury to Connor Zary.
Artem Grushnikov – D, Texas Stars/Calgary Wranglers, AHL
20; Dallas’s second round pick (48th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Dallas
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 47 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 45 | 4.24 |
| 2022-23 (OHL) | 65 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 10 | 14 | 9 | 116 | 6.93 |
Grushnikov made his Wranglers debut on Friday night after coming over in the Chris Tanev trade. He has yet to register a point with the Wranglers, but he’s been a steady defensive presence.
Samuel Honzek – LW/C, Vancouver Giants, WHL/Slovakia, WJC
19; Calgary’s first round pick (16th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 4th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| WHL season to date | 27 | 9 | 18 | 27 | 20 | 13 | 10 | 70 | 24.76 |
| WJC season to date | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 | n/a |
| 2022-23 (WHL) | 43 | 23 | 33 | 56 | 40 | 36 | 26 | 134 | 32.25 |
Honzek had two points in three games over the weekend. He’s scoring consistently, though scoring at slightly below last season’s pace. (We don’t want to point fingers at his early-season injury, but it likely didn’t help things.)
Axel Hurtig – D, Rögle BK, J20 Nationell/SHL / Kristianstads IK, HockeyEttan
18; Calgary’s seventh round pick (208th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| J20 season to date | 23 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 48 | 16.11 |
| SHL season to date | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| HockeyEttan season to date | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | n/a |
| 2022-23 (J20) | 34 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 47 | 3.82 |
Hurtig is quietly having a very nice season. He’s played a bit of minor-pro, he’s played a bit of SHL, and he’s been a big part of Rögle’s junior success this season. Considering he came back from off-season surgery, his performance has to be seen as a big step forward.
Ben Jones – C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
24; Free agent signing; 12th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 53 | 19 | 18 | 37 | 30 | 25 | 20 | 145 | 27.82 |
| 2022-23 (AHL) | 71 | 17 | 37 | 54 | 41 | 28 | 21 | 202 | 30.31 |
The thing about Jones is he’s consistently effective in all three zones, and occasionally he pops off for multi-point games. He had six points over three games this week.
Joni Jurmo – D, Ilves Tampere/KooKoo Kuovola, Liiga/CHL
21; Vancouver’s third round pick (82nd overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Vancouver
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Liiga season to date | 45 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 63 | 4.12 |
| CHL season to date | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | n/a |
| 2022-23 (Liiga) | 52 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 6 | 118 | 9.27 |
Jurmo has had a weird stretch. He’s been scratched recently and when he has played, he hasn’t played a ton.
Rory Kerins – C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
21; Calgary’s sixth round pick (174th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 14th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 43 | 12 | 16 | 28 | 23 | 18 | 14 | 98 | 25.95 |
| 2022-23 (ECHL) | 38 | 17 | 20 | 37 | 31 | 25 | 21 | 117 | 22.36 |
Kerins was scratched once this week, but he also registered an assist when he did play. He’s definitely a good AHLer, but he needs to be in an offensive-oriented line in order to be at his most effective.
Adam Klapka – RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
23; Free agent signing; 18th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 47 | 13 | 18 | 31 | 25 | 23 | 17 | 126 | 26.29 |
| 2022-23 (AHL) | 60 | 13 | 12 | 25 | 18 | 16 | 11 | 103 | 16.61 |
Klapka had five points in three games, including three points against Tucson on Tuesday evening.
Demetrios Koumonztis – D/RW, Idaho Steelheads, ECHL
23; Calgary’s fourth round pick (108th overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 34 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 64 | 10.80 |
| 2022-23 (NCAA) | 37 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 67 | 13.28 |
Koumontzis continues to be a pretty solid depth forward in the ECHL.
Yan Kuznetsov – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
21; Calgary’s second round pick (50th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 17th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 49 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 73 | 9.76 |
| 2022-23 (AHL) | 63 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 11 | 19 | 11 | 65 | 12.02 |
Kuznetsov had an assist over three games.
Jaden Lipinski – C, Vancouver Giants, WHL
19; Calgary’s fourth round pick (112th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 16th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 59 | 17 | 38 | 55 | 36 | 25 | 15 | 154 | 23.09 |
| 2022-23 (WHL) | 66 | 19 | 32 | 51 | 36 | 35 | 23 | 152 | 19.14 |
Lipinski had six points in three games this week, and now he has more points this season than last. Progression!
Cade Littler – C, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, USHL / Penticton Vees, BCHL
19; Calgary’s seventh round pick (219th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| USHL season to date | 13 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 30 | 19.43 |
| BCHL season to date | 24 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 17 | 9 | 6 | – | 5.51 |
| 2022-23 (BCHL) | 51 | 29 | 39 | 68 | 47 | 36 | 27 | – | 8.75 |
Littler is injured and didn’t play this week.
Brady Lyle – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
24; Free agent signing
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 46 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 100 | 13.00 |
| 2022-23 (AHL) | 51 | 7 | 24 | 31 | 16 | 13 | 6 | 124 | 24.22 |
Lyle is injured and didn’t play this week.
Etienne Morin – D, Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL
18; Calgary’s second round pick (48th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft; tied for 5th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 49 | 9 | 32 | 41 | 26 | 17 | 11 | 163 | 19.49 |
| 2022-23 (QMJHL) | 67 | 21 | 51 | 72 | 47 | 34 | 21 | 213 | 25.03 |
Morin had no points this week.
Ilya Nikolaev – C/LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; Calgary’s third round pick (88th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 26 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 29 | 9.20 |
| 2022-23 (ECHL) | 40 | 13 | 20 | 33 | 21 | 22 | 15 | 97 | 18.94 |
Nikolaev was scratched for all three games this week.
Jakob Pelletier – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; Calgary’s first round pick (26th overall); 3rd-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 29.89 |
| 2022-23 (AHL) | 35 | 16 | 21 | 37 | 32 | 18 | 14 | 92 | 42.13 |
Pelletier is in the NHL.
Emilio Pettersen – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
23; Calgary’s sixth round pick (167th overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft; 20th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 53 | 7 | 23 | 30 | 23 | 19 | 13 | 80 | 22.56 |
| 2022-23 (AHL) | 61 | 19 | 25 | 44 | 35 | 35 | 29 | 118 | 28.75 |
Pettersen left Sunday’s game after an awkward collision, but he was back for Tuesday’s game in Tucson. He’s one of two Wranglers to play every game this season, along with Ben Jones.
Jeremie Poirier – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
21; Calgary’s third round pick (72nd overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; tied for 5th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 6 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 46.49 |
| 2022-23 (AHL) | 69 | 9 | 32 | 41 | 20 | 21 | 13 | 172 | 23.68 |
Poirier returned on Sunday after being out since late October, when he suffered a nasty arm laceration when his arm collided with a skate blade. He hasn’t hit the scoresheet yet and is still finding his rhythm on the ice.
Topi Rönni – C, Tappara Tampere, Liiga/SM-sarja U20/CHL
19; Calgary’s second round pick (59th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft; 10th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date (Liiga) | 22 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 3.37 |
| Season to date (U20) | 18 | 9 | 20 | 29 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 41 | 26.42 |
| Season to date (CHL) | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | n/a |
| 2022-23 (Liiga) | 22 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 8.42 |
Rönni played once this week and didn’t hit the scoresheet.
Cole Schwindt – C/RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; Florida’s third round pick (81st overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Florida; 9th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 47 | 14 | 14 | 28 | 21 | 19 | 13 | 85 | 23.74 |
| 2022-23 (AHL) | 70 | 14 | 18 | 32 | 20 | 16 | 10 | 118 | 18.22 |
Schwindt continues to be on a nice little run since being sent down by the Flames. He had three points this week, including the overtime winner over Tucson on Tuesday.
Ilya Solovyov – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
23; Calgary’s seventh round pick (205th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 8th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 38 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 76 | 10.49 |
| 2022-23 (AHL) | 68 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 9 | 16 | 8 | 82 | 10.55 |
Solovyov is injured.
William Strömgren – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
20; Calgary’s second round pick (45th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 19th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 49 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 53 | 12.20 |
| 2022-23 (SHL) | 45 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 31 | 8.69 |
Strömgren had three points this week. He’s played well enough to stay in the lineup consistently, but he’s seemed to find his confidence making offensive plays in the second half of the season.
Aydar Suniev – LW/C, University of Massachusetts Minutemen, NCAA/Hockey East
19; Calgary’s third round pick (80th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 13th-ranked prospect
| GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
| Season to date | 31 | 12 | 13 | 25 | 19 | 16 | 12 | 84 | 25.99 |
| 2022-23 (BCHL) | 50 | 45 | 45 | 90 | 73 | 47 | 40 | – | 11.81 |
Suniev had three points – a goal and two assists – in an overtime win on Saturday over UMass Lowell.
Daniil Chechelev – G, HC Vityaz, KHL / Ryazan-VDV, VHL
22; Calgary’s fourth round pick (96th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft
| GP | TOI | SV% | |
| KHL season to date | 1 | 58 | .880 |
| VHL season to date | 5 | 271 | .908 |
| 2022-23 (ECHL) | 39 | 2135 | .892 |
Chechelev’s season is complete.
Arsenii Sergeev – G, University of Connecticut Huskies, NCAA/Hockey East
20; Calgary’s seventh round pick (205th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 15th-ranked prospect
| GP | TOI | SV% | |
| Season to date | 13 | 757 | .912 |
| 2022-23 (NCAA) | 19 | 1104 | .912 |
Sergeev started on Friday and picked up an overtime win for UConn over Northeastern.
Dustin Wolf – G, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; Calgary’s seventh round pick (214th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft; 1st-ranked prospect
| GP | TOI | SV% | |
| Season to date | 33 | 1909 | .924 |
| 2022-23 (AHL) | 55 | 3239 | .932 |
Wolf started once, and was in net as the Wranglers frittered away a four goal lead and lost 5-4 on Friday. He backed up on Sunday and Tuesday, presumably to get him a bit of a reset after a tough outing (and also because Oscar Dansk was really good on Sunday against Colorado and earned another start against Tucson).
Yegor Yegorov – G, MHK Dynamo Moskva, MHL
18; Calgary’s sixth round pick (176th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft
| GP | TOI | SV% | |
| Season to date | 25 | 1319 | .917 |
| 2022-23 (MHL) | 15 | 786 | .915 |
MHK Dynamo enjoyed their playoff bye this week. They’re back in action this weekend, likely with Yegorov starting the playoffs as backup.
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