The Calgary Wranglers didn’t have a great season in 2025-26. Sure, there were some strong individual performances, and some key young players took steps forward, but the Flames’ American Hockey League affiliate missed the post-season for the first time since relocating from Stockton.

Heck, in terms of standings results they were one of the worst teams in the AHL.

Based on results, it was natural to expect some change for the Wranglers this off-season. A big piece of their roster is seemingly headed elsewhere, as reports earlier this week out of Europe have indicated that Wranglers forward Martin Frk has agreed to a deal with the Shanghai Dragons of the Kontinental Hockey League.

A product of Czechia, Frk originally joined the Flames organization during the 2024 off-season, spending 2024-25 with the Wranglers while on a two-way NHL contract, then coming back for 2025-26 on an AHL contract. While far from a complete 200-foot player, the 32-year-old Frk is really good at what he’s good at, and that’s scoring goals and generating scoring chances. He’s renowned for his incredibly hard, accurate shot.

In two seasons with the Wranglers, Frk had 57 goals and 120 points across 133 games. He led the Wranglers in goals last season, scoring 30 times. That is very much in line with how he’s been as an AHLer. In 11 seasons split between the Grand Rapids Griffins, Ontario Reign, Springfield Thunderbirds and the Wranglers, he had 437 points in 536 AHL appearances. Unfortunately, Frk hasn’t had the same success in the NHL, and given the Flames’ youth movement it seemed unlikely that he would be getting another NHL opportunity if he stuck around the organization, so heading to the KHL makes a lot of sense for him. The Wranglers have already parted ways with assistant coach Joe Cirella, so between that and Frk’s departure we’ll see what other changes the summer has in store for the Flames’ affiliate.

Despite their name, the Shanghai Dragons play out of the SKA Arena in St. Petersburg, Russia. They were originally known as Kunlun Red Star and played out of Beijing, China until the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting travel restrictions led that club to relocate to Mytishchi, Russia, just outside of Moskva. The club was re-branded to its current name in 2025. The Dragons are undergoing some big off-season changes of their own, adding Mitch Love as head coach and changing over a lot of their roster, including the departure of former Flames forward Spencer Foo.

We’ll see if Frk’s arrival, along with the other changes that are being made, will help the Dragons rise to prominence in the KHL.