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Checking in on the Flames centre prospect pipeline
Photo credit: Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff
Gang, the Calgary Flames are on the cusp of a big changing of the guard up the middle.
Mikael Backlund, two-way ace and Swedish 200-foot stalwart, is 36 and turns 37 on St. Patrick’s Day. Nazem Kadri, the team’s top scorer for the last while, is 35 now. As the Flames progress through their retool, their ability to transition to a new crop of younger centres will determine how painful the process ends up being.
Right now, we’ll turn your attention to five active prospect centres – the sixth, Cullen Potter, is unfortunately out for the season with an injury, but don’t forget about him entirely.
In college, the Flames have Cole Reschny at North Dakota and Luke Misa at Penn State. Reschny is winning 55.5% of his face-offs and generating a ton offensively. Misa, meanwhile, is winning 55.4% of his draws… but his offensive production has lagged a bit.
In Europe, Russia’s Yan Matveiko (50.1%) and Sweden’s Theo Stockselius (50.5%) have performed well offensively but their face-off numbers are merely fine. Ditto for Andrew Basha (50.6%), who’s played a bunch at centre since being re-assigned from the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers to the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers.
The Flames need centres like someone dying of thirst needs water. If someone in their pipeline can show some prowess – looking at you, Reschny – watch out.
Onto the updates!
Andrew Basha – LW/C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL/Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL
20; Calgary’s second round pick (41st overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 5’11”, 174 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 8th-ranked prospect 2025
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
AHL season to date | 27 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 18 | 7.38 |
WHL season to date | 10 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 32 | 40.52 |
2024-25 (WHL) | 23 | 9 | 20 | 29 | 24 | 12 | 9 | 73 | 31.22 |
Basha had four points in two games this week.
Jacob Battaglia – LW/RW, Kingston Frontenacs/Flint Firebirds, OHL
19; Calgary’s second round pick (62nd overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 196 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 7th-ranked prospect 2025
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 44 | 17 | 14 | 31 | 24 | 22 | 17 | 123 | 18.66 |
2024-25 (OHL) | 68 | 40 | 50 | 90 | 67 | 57 | 45 | 239 | 35.06 |
Battaglia had zero points in two games this week.
Parker Bell – LW/RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; Calgary’s fifth round pick (155th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 192 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 32 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 40 | 3.74 |
2024-25 (AHL) | 61 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 67 | 7.84 |
Bell didn’t dress for either Wranglers game this week.
Hunter Brzustewicz – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
20; Vancouver’s third round pick (75th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Vancouver; 6’0″, 190 pounds; shoots right; FN’s 3rd-ranked prospect 2025
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 23 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 28 | 20.79 |
2024-25 (AHL) | 70 | 5 | 27 | 32 | 19 | 20 | 13 | 75 | 18.22 |
Brzustewicz is in the NHL.
Nick Cicek – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
25; free agent signing; 6’3″, 201 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 42 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 8 | 11 | 5 | 41 | 13.28 |
2024-25 (DEL) | 50 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 10 | 16 | 9 | 75 | 9.81 |
Cicek had a goal in two games this week.
Lucas Ciona – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; Calgary’s sixth round pick (173rd overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 210 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 30 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 38 | 6.64 |
2024-25 (AHL) | 68 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 91 | 12.89 |
Ciona had a goal in two games this week.
Matvei Gridin – RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
19; Calgary’s first round pick (28th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 182 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 4th-ranked prospect 2025
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 32 | 10 | 18 | 28 | 20 | 21 | 16 | 89 | 34.87 |
2024-25 (QMJHL) | 56 | 36 | 43 | 79 | 58 | 40 | 32 | 236 | 32.85 |
Gridin is in the NHL.
Artem Grushnikov – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; Dallas’ second round pick (48th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Dallas; 6’1″, 203 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 37 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 35 | 1.08 |
2024-25 (AHL) | 61 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 43 | 3.27 |
Grushnikov had zero points in two games this week.
Trevor Hoskin – RW, Merrimack College Warriors, NCAA
21; Calgary’s fourth round pick (106th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 175 pounds; shoots right
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 23 | 6 | 16 | 22 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 36 | 30.82 |
2024-25 (NCAA) | 36 | 12 | 27 | 39 | 29 | 28 | 23 | 80 | 17.23 |
Hoskin had an assist in two games this week.
Axel Hurtig – D, Calgary Hitmen, WHL
20; Calgary’s seventh round pick (208th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 202 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 40 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 62 | 6.19 |
2024-25 (WHL) | 55 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 66 | 7.20 |
Hurtig had zero points in two games this week.
Eric Jamieson – D, University of Denver Pioneers, NCAA
20; Calgary’s seventh round pick (208th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 200 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 27 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 8 | 13 | 8 | 54 | 18.67 |
2024-25 (WHL) | 66 | 14 | 22 | 36 | 26 | 27 | 19 | 175 | 13.51 |
Jamieson had an assist in two games this week.
Rory Kerins – C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
23; Calgary’s sixth round pick (174th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 5’10”, 175 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 15th-ranked prospect 2025
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 39 | 13 | 22 | 35 | 23 | 23 | 16 | 83 | 35.76 |
2024-25 (AHL) | 63 | 33 | 28 | 61 | 52 | 40 | 35 | 135 | 38.59 |
Kerins had two assists in two games this week.
Carter King – C/LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
23; free agent signing; 5’11”, 190 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 38 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 41 | 7.34 |
2024-25 (NCAA) | 44 | 21 | 22 | 43 | 31 | 16 | 14 | 116 | 35.18 |
King had zero points in two games this week.
Hunter Laing – C/RW, Saskatoon Blades, WHL
19; Calgary’s sixth round pick (170th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’5″, 205 pounds; shoots right
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 40 | 18 | 19 | 37 | 29 | 20 | 18 | 96 | 22.91 |
2024-25 (WHL) | 64 | 25 | 23 | 48 | 40 | 35 | 29 | 153 | 18.57 |
Laing had two points in three games this week.
Aidan Lane – RW, Harvard University Crimson, NCAA
18; Calgary’s sixth round pick (176th overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 192 pounds; shoots right
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 30 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 42 | 8.04 |
2024-25 (OHL) | 13 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 36 | 26.49 |
Lane had no points in three games this week.
Jakob Leander – D, HV71, U20 Nationell
18; Calgary’s seventh round pick (208th overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 196 pounds; shoots right
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 27 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 38 | 4.86 |
2024-25 (J20) | 39 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 33 | 2.52 |
Leander had no points in two games this week.
2gp, nada
Jaden Lipinski – C, University of Maine Black Bears, NCAA
20; Calgary’s fourth round pick (112th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 204 pounds; shoots right
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 21 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 30 | 12.28 |
2024-25 (WHL) | 59 | 17 | 41 | 58 | 45 | 30 | 27 | 134 | 24.34 |
Lipinski wasn’t in the lineup for Maine’s two weekend games. (It hasn’t been announced if he’s injured or not.)
Cade Littler – C, University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, NCAA
21; Calgary’s seventh round pick (219th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 197 pounds; shoots right
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 24 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 42 | 16.50 |
2024-25 (NCAA) | 33 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 30 | 9.82 |
Littler had zero points in two games this week.
Yan Matveiko – C, Krasnaya Armiya Moskva, MHL / Zvezda Moskva, VHL
19; Calgary’s seventh round pick (211th overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 150 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
MHL season to date | 34 | 13 | 17 | 30 | 18 | 24 | 14 | 54 | 10.35 |
VHL season to date | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | n/a |
2024-25 (MHL) | 42 | 10 | 14 | 24 | 20 | 21 | 17 | 68 | 6.70 |
Matveiko had one assist in two MHL games this week and made his pro debut on Tuesday in Russia’s second-tier VHL, registering an assist there, too.
Luke Misa – LW/C, Penn State University Nittany Lions, NCAA
19; Calgary’s fifth round pick (150th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 5’10”, 170 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 13th-ranked prospect 2025
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 24 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 62 | 12.52 |
2024-25 (OHL) | 67 | 34 | 51 | 85 | 58 | 63 | 43 | 211 | 33.60 |
Misa had zero points in two games this week.
Etienne Morin – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL/Rapid City Rush, ECHL
20; Calgary’s second round pick (48th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft; 6’0″, 180 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 10th-ranked prospect 2025
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
AHL season to date | 20 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 5.98 |
ECHL season to date | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 13.12 |
2024-25 (QMJHL) | 62 | 14 | 44 | 58 | 29 | 40 | 24 | 222 | 21.79 |
Morin played once and sat once, registering zero points.
Mace’o Phillips – D, Green Bay Gamblers, USHL / United States Junior Selects, WJAC
18; Calgary’s third round pick (80th overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft; 6’6″, 228 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 25 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 47 | 5.51 |
2024-25 (USHL) | 25 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 31 | 2.76 |
Phillips had an assist in two games this week.
Jeremie Poirier – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
23; Calgary’s third round pick (72nd overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 196 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 33 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 55 | 7.25 |
2024-25 (AHL) | 71 | 5 | 37 | 42 | 23 | 26 | 15 | 132 | 23.57 |
Poirier played once and sat once, registering zero points.
Cole Reschny – C, University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, NCAA / Canada National Junior Team, WJC
18; Calgary’s first round pick (18th overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft; 5’11”, 183 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 2nd-ranked prospect 2025
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 22 | 4 | 21 | 25 | 18 | 14 | 12 | 44 | 40.91 |
2024-25 (WHL) | 62 | 26 | 66 | 92 | 70 | 48 | 46 | 213 | 36.75 |
Reschny had an assist in two games this week.
Theo Stockselius – C, Djurgårdens IF, U20 Nationell/SHL
18; Calgary’s second round pick (54th overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft; 6’2″, 181 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 12th-ranked prospect 2025
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
U20 season to date | 10 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 34 | 22.96 |
SHL season to date | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
2024-25 (J20) | 40 | 22 | 29 | 51 | 38 | 35 | 29 | 93 | 20.91 |
Stockselius played a game in the SHL and a game in the U20 Nationell, registering zero points. He got into a bit of a minor scrap in the U20 game, getting his visor ripped off and getting chucked from the game for his part in the shoving match.
William Strömgren – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; Calgary’s second round pick (45th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 175 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 16th-ranked prospect 2025
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 36 | 6 | 23 | 29 | 20 | 19 | 13 | 41 | 32.10 |
2024-25 (AHL) | 70 | 14 | 35 | 49 | 35 | 26 | 20 | 107 | 27.90 |
Stromgren had zero points in two games this week.
Aydar Suniev – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
20; Calgary’s third round pick (80th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’2″, 198 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 9th-ranked prospect 2025
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 31 | 9 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 41 | 14.14 |
2024-25 (NCAA) | 35 | 20 | 18 | 38 | 31 | 21 | 17 | 119 | 34.99 |
Suniev had a goal in two games this week.
Abram Wiebe – D, University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, NCAA / United States Collegiate Selects, Spengler Cup
22; Vegas’ seventh round pick (209th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Vegas; 6’3″, 209 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 26 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 49 | 20.77 |
2024-25 (NCAA) | 38 | 4 | 20 | 24 | 16 | 11 | 8 | 74 | 22.74 |
Wiebe had an assist in two games this week.
Ethan Wyttenbach – RW, Quinnipiac University Bobcats, NCAA
18; Calgary’s fifth round pick (144th overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft; 5’10”, 180 pounds; shoots right; FN’s 20th-ranked prospect 2025
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 26 | 14 | 22 | 36 | 29 | 21 | 17 | 59 | 31.79 |
2024-25 (USHL) | 44 | 24 | 27 | 51 | 42 | 38 | 30 | 127 | 26.61 |
Wyttenbach had three points across two games this week.
Daniil Chechelev – G, Olympia Kirovo-Chepetsk, VHL
24; Calgary’s fourth round pick (96th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 201 pounds
GP | TOI | SV% | |
Season to date | 7 | 391 | .929 |
2024-25 (VHL) | 11 | 399 | .888 |
Chechelev started once and won this week.
Owen Say – G, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
24; free agent signing; 6’2″, 185 pounds
GP | TOI | SV% | |
Season to date | 19 | 965 | .889 |
2024-25 (NCAA) | 27 | 1531 | .920 |
Say is out with an injury.
Arsenii Sergeev – G, Rapid City Rush, ECHL / Calgary Wranglers, AHL
21; Calgary’s seventh round pick (205th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 192 pounds
GP | TOI | SV% | |
AHL season to date | 9 | 481 | .911 |
ECHL season to date | 12 | 714 | .922 |
2024-25 (NCAA) | 33 | 1982 | .919 |
Sergeev started once and lost this week.
Yegor Yegorov – G, MHK Spartak-MAX, MHL
20; Calgary’s sixth round pick (176th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 183 pounds
GP | TOI | SV% | |
Season to date | 24 | 1438 | .927 |
2024-25 (MHL) | 20 | 1032 | .904 |
Yegorov started twice, winning once and losing in a shootout once.
Kirill Zarubin – G, AKM Tula, MHL
20; Calgary’s third round pick (84th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 178 pounds; FN’s 18th-ranked prospect 2025
GP | TOI | SV% | |
Season to date | 31 | 1686 | .929 |
2024-25 (MHL) | 21 | 1157 | .935 |
Zarubin played 31 minutes in relief this week.
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