When the Calgary Flames selected forward Matvei Gridin from the United States Hockey League’s Muskegon Lumberjacks in the 2024 NHL Draft’s first round, the general consensus was that he’s a very smart offensive forward that will need some time to polish some of the other details of his game.

The big question was where was he gonna play this season?

While Gridin was initially committed to the University of Michigan, but that option went off the table after he signed his entry-level deal with the Flames in July. (Regardless of his academic standing, he became ineligible when he signed a pro contract.) He was selected by the Val-d’Or Foreurs of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League in the CHL Import Draft in July, but he presently remains unsigned by that club.

After Gridin signed his ELC with the Flames, he told Postmedia’s Wes Gilbertson (in an interview for Sportsnet 960 The Fan) that he would be playing in the CHL this coming season: “I go to CHL for sure. I know same as you guys, I’ve just been taken first overall and after that my agent works.”

Following the Import Draft, The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler surmised that “the plan” was for the Windsor Spitfires to select Gridin but that Val-d’Or had jumped in instead. He also noted the rumblings that the Rimouski Oceanic, the hosts for the upcoming Memorial Cup tournament, were connected to a trade for Gridin.

However, the Oceanic have added two imports to their roster this off-season – winger Pavel Simek (from Czechia) and Vancouver blueline prospect Basile Sansonees (from Switzerland) – and so that door may be closed.

However, back in mid-July, Le Soleil reporter Matthew Vachon connected the Shawinigan Cataractes to Gridin, even going so far as to write that Gridin would become a member of the club once the window opens to trade 2024 import draft selections on the QMJHL’s opening day, Sept. 20.

Over the weekend, Val-d’Or reporter Pierre-Olivier Poulin tweeted that “the Matvei Gridin transaction with the Shawinigan Cataractes” would become official “at the start of the season.” The Cataractes announced their roster earlier this week and it included just a single import, forward Jiri Klima (from Czechia), so they have an available import slot should they acquire Gridin’s rights. Gridin would still need to sign a QMJHL Scholarship and Development Agreement before he could suit up for Shawinigan (or any QMJHL club), though.

While nothing’s official until it’s official, two prominent junior hockey reporters connecting Gridin with Shawinigan in such a definitive manner seems like a strong indicator that it’s probably happening. If there’s no fire, there’s at least quite a bit of smoke.

So where’s Gridin playing this coming season? Based on the available information and reporting out of Quebec, it sure sounds like he’ll be a member of the Shawinigan Cataractes, though his rights cannot be traded until Sept. 20 (at the earliest). In the meantime, he’s headed to Calgary and will be with the Flames for the Young Stars Classic tournament in Penticton (players are set to report on the second week of September). From there, he’ll likely play some exhibition games in main camp before being assigned to his junior club.

We’ll have more on Gridin’s junior hockey rights as the story unfolds.