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A look at the Calgary Wranglers’ projected line combinations

Photo credit: David Moll/Calgary Wranglers

By Paige Siewert

Sep 1, 2026, 14:00 EDTUpdated: Sep 1, 2026, 01:09 EDT

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The Calgary Wranglers are going to be a significantly different team this year. Only a handful of the well-known names remain after a very eventful off-season. The team has signed not only enough players to fill out their AHL depth chart, but also their ECHL depth chart. The organization struggled at all levels last season and it’s clear this season is trying to clear those demons from the past.

As we approach the last month before the regular season kicks in, the idea of how the Flames’ AHL affiliate is going to line up is a little clearer. Granted, with all the new players, line chemistry will likely go through a trial and error period before a regular lineup is really established. That’s if inevitable injuries and call-ups don’t derail that too soon into the season.

Goaltenders

There will be healthy competition in net for the Wranglers this year. Arsenii Sergeev and Owen Say both played about a half season’s worth of games last year before Say was shut down for season ending surgery and Sergeev got his time to shine. Also in the mix now are two 20 year old Russian rookies: Kirill Zarubin and Semyon Konopsky. The AHL spots aren’t 100% Sergeev’s and Say’s but they should be pushing to be in that position – assuming that Say is fully cleared after his surgery, that is. Zarubin is a Flames draft pick they’re going to want to develop the right way, so if he does not challenge the other two for an AHL spot, he’ll likely be the go-to starter for the Rapid City Rush.

While the AHL goalies were mostly healthy last season, they split the time in net pretty 50/50. When it was down to just Sergeev and Connor Murphy, Sergeev picked up the back to back starts and played a lot of games. The coaching staff is going to want to manage his workload better this season with the extra options they now have. I’d expect Sergeev to get the opening night start for the Wranglers with Owen Say dressed on the bench as back-up – again, if he’s good to go. Beyond that, as long as they’re both healthy, the workload should be pretty evenly split. With the opening weekend being a back-to-back too, I’d expect Say for game two.

Defencemen

None of the regular defencemen the Wranglers had last season will be returning this year. There is still some familiarity on the blue line but it’s a pretty fresh and new set of d-men. The Flames are carrying a lot of guys on the back end and that’ll likely push someone like Hunter Brzustewicz to the AHL as one of the most professionally experienced returning Wranglers defenders. Other returners include Kent Anderson and Kyle Walker, who joined the team on ATOs at the end of the 2025-26 season.

The true veteran the Wranglers will have on the back end is 30 year old Andreas Englund. Englund played mostly with the Milwaukee Admirals last season and has 200 games of NHL experience. He’s a left shot defencemen and could be an interesting pair for Brzustewicz.

Abram Wiebe is set to join the Wranglers as well after wrapping up his NCAA career with the University of North Dakota. He made a four game appearance with the Flames at the end of last season and would pair well with another NHL-seasoned right shot guy in Michael Benning. Benning played in 18 games with the Florida Panthers last season and the rest of the season with the Charlotte Checkers. He might challenge Brzustewicz for top pairing minutes and key special teams moments on the right side too so those two might flip flop a bit as the season settles in.

The AHL squad will also be receiving a local prospect on the blue line in Axel Hurtig. Hurtig captained the Calgary Hitmen last season and will make his debut in pro hockey this season. He’s going to be one of the guys the Flames are going to want to see a lot of playing time out of and as a left shot defender, he might challenge Wiebe for the second pairing but will likely start on the third pairing with someone like 27 year old NCAA product Jake Livingstone.

Projected pairings:

Andreas Englund – Hunter Brzustewicz

Abram Wiebe – Michael Benning

Axel Hurtig – Jake Livingstone

Even with these pairings, you still have guys with AHL experience that are knocked out of this lineup. Tyson Feist and Tyler Inamoto both played games in the AHL and ECHL last season and will likely serve as a Simon Mack-type for this season to hop between leagues. Kent Anderson and Kyle Walker are both Calgary guys coming to pro from collegiate hockey too, but they have a lot of competition for AHL time and could be bumped to the ECHL until called upon.

One other aspect to consider on the Flames’ end is a potential waiver assignment and clearing for Brayden Pachal. Brzustewicz is still waiver exempt so he is an easier assignment to make but the Flames might need to roll the dice on waiving Pachal if the depth stays as it is for opening night. Obviously, the goal of both of these defenders who battled for the same spot in the Flames lineup last year is to make the Flames out of camp but the numbers are against them and AHL time seems likely. If the Wranglers end up with Brzustewicz, Pachal and Benning on the right side, that’s pretty stiff competition for the top pairing and to be the first man up in a call-up situation.

Forwards

Like the rest of the depth, the Wranglers also have a lot of choices up front. There are a few guys who are locks for AHL time if they’re not pulled up to the Flames or make the team out of camp. That includes Rory Kerins, Ben Jones, Dryden Hunt, Tyson Gross, Aydar Suniev, William Stromgren, Sam Morton, Luke Philp, Andrew Basha and Jonathan Castagna. That’s 10 of a 12 forwards right there. That’s not including someone like Brennan Othmann, whose contract is still in the works and could also challenge for a spot on the Flames, or potentially Sam Honzek if his NHL spot is grabbed by someone else after his return back from injury.

So, with all those guys considered, who do you have left as realistic options? Carter Wilkie should get games in both leagues after playing 27 games with the Wranglers last season and alternate captain Alex Gallant has signed on for another season. Gallant hasn’t been playing a full season due to depth decisions and suspensions but will play in the AHL. If he is not playing, he’s not expected to be going down to the ECHL.

That leaves quite a few options with guys who have played both in the AHL and ECHL over the past few seasons that can be options with the Wranglers and find ways to stay on the radar for call-ups for the extra guys sent to the Rush. Some of the newcomers in this category include Braden Birnie, Alexander Campbell, Will Dineen, Ryan Hofer, Marko Sikic, and Alex Young.

Now how do you potentially line them up? Your most experienced line is expected to be the top line. That would include Dryden Hunt, Rory Kerins and Ben Jones. With Jones back and tons of centres to pick from, that likely bumps Kerins to the wing instead. The next line is likely to include your next best prospects of William Stromgren and Aydar Suniev. Initially, I thought Tyson Gross would be the best option to centre these two, but Suniev has played with Jonathan Castagna in the past, so that could elevate that line even further. Say Gross gets bumped to the third line, that leaves Andrew Basha and Luke Philp as potential wingers if you’re lining them up based on their skill set. Philp also plays a complementary game to Basha’s and would be interesting to see them connect on the ice.

Now the fourth line. That is probably one of the most unpredictable lines. Should Sam Morton really be centring your fourth line? Nope. Will he take the opportunity to move up the lineup? Absolutely. So say Castagna or Gross have a slow start, he’ll be the first one to slide in for them in their place. I’d even consider him to start the second line in case there are a bit of pro growing pains for either of the younger centres. Of the tweeners between the AHL and ECHL, Alexander Campbell, Ryan Hofer and Will Dineen are likely your most AHL ready guys. Because Campbell didn’t play a full season the last two years and spent the whole last season in the ECHL, I think you go with Hofer to start the season. Here’s how the forwards may line up. However, beyond Ben Jones, those other three could centre any of the other three lines.

Projected lines:

Rory Kerins – Ben Jones – Dryden Hunt

William Stromgren – Sam Morton – Aydar Suniev

Andrew Basha – Tyson Gross – Luke Philp

Ryan Hofer – Jonathan Castagna – Will Dineen

It’ll be a big month for many of these players between the NextGen Showcase, Flames training camp, a shortened pre-season and Wranglers training camp. How accurate these lines, pairings and tandems really are will be revealed in the season opener on Oct. 2 against the Abbotsford Canucks on home ice.

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