In the midst of a seven game winless run and about to head out on the road, the Calgary Flames have called up one of the more reliable depth options. On Thursday morning, the Flames announced that they’ve recalled forward Dryden Hunt from the American Hockey League’s Calgary Wranglers.

The 29-year-old Hunt is a left shot forward that plays both wings. He joined the Flames prior to the 2023 trade deadline in a swap with the Toronto Maple Leafs, with Radim Zohorna going the other way. Since joining the Flames organization, Hunt has become one of the most trusted forwards at both the NHL and AHL level.

At the AHL level, Hunt is a versatile veteran and part of the club’s leadership group as an alternate captain. More importantly, he’s been utilized as a reliable two-way presence on the wing and often paired with younger players with less defensive polish to their games. When you notice how good Rory Kerins was offensively for the Wranglers last season, it’s worth noting that Hunt was often on his wing throughout the year.

At the NHL level, Hunt has racked up 236 games, often as a short-notice fill-in. It’s not the most glamorous role in pro sports, but Hunt’s shown an ability to be someone that a team can carry as a 13th forward and throw in a moment’s notice and get solid minutes from. He seemed to become a favourite of head coach Ryan Huska over the past few seasons because he plays a simple, structured, predictable, reliable brand of hockey. Again: it might not be the sexiest role and he might not have the most jaw-dropping style, but Hunt is a pro’s pro and a really reliable fill-in player.

Hunt’s addition brings the Flames roster to 23 players: two goaltenders, seven defenders and 14 forwards. Per Sportsnet’s Pat Steinberg, injured forward Martin Pospisil hasn’t skated with the main group yet and Nazem Kadri, who took some punishment in Wednesday’s loss to Montreal, missed practice for maintenance. If there are any additional question marks up front, Hunt is a prudent insurance option waiting in the wings.

The Flames return to action on Friday in Winnipeg against the Jets.

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