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FN Report Cards: Matvei Gridin burst on the scene in a big way
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Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Flash Stevens
May 28, 2026, 14:00 EDTUpdated: May 28, 2026, 02:36 EDT
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When the 2025-26 season started there were expectations to see a 19 year old play some NHL games in Calgary. What was unexpected is that they got quality performances from not just one, but two teenagers, as Matvei Gridin burst on to the professional scene in a big way. 
Let’s look at the ascension of the 28th overall pick from the 2024 NHL Draft.

Expectations

Simply put his expectations were to continue developing. He’s a prospect in his D+2 season, hoping to see maybe 0.5 a point per game in the AHL while developing some solid professional defensive awareness. 
That bar wasn’t just too low, it was buried in the ground.
Gridin first made noise in training camp, always moving his feet and having a knack for driving the middle lane of the ice. He was so dominant Calgary could not simply send him to the minors right away. It did not help that the veteran team in front of him didn’t have any open spots – playing even Connor Zary on the fourth line at times, but it was clear as day that Gridin had earned a job.
Without needing to rush him the Flames sent him to the Wranglers after giving him four games in October, where he could play top minutes and learn to thrive. 

Performance

The thing is, he didn’t need to learn to thrive. Gridin already had the attitude that he knew what he was doing and could play at a high level. He immediately dominated AHL competition producing points nightly in the early portion of the season. It became clear by Christmas that Matvei Gridin was already an NHL player. The Flames – who were faltering and failing to score regularly – needed to make room for him. Injuries occur, trades happen, and in mid-January Gridin was called up for an extended look. 
He only went back to the AHL because of the Olympic break, if that scenario did not exist that January call-up would be the only one he should ever need for his career again. 
His belonging goes beyond just the ability to put up the points, it’s how confident he plays every shift. He has what I call Russian Superstar confidence, the swagger to not just know he should be in the NHL, the swagger to know he can thrive in the NHL. The minute he has possession of the puck and they enter the attacking zone he is aggressively finding ways to get the puck to the middle of the ice to generate a scoring opportunity. He added a dynamic flair to the offence that had not been seen in Calgary all season long.
By the end of the year he was a top-6 winger earning first unit power play looks – an ascension from a draft position very rarely seen in the modern NHL. 

Outlook

I’m probably more optimistic than most. Typically if a player thrives like that in the NHL, at that age, they go on to keep that rapid ascension. No other young forward is going to be pressing for his time to start the season, as the Flames are still a few years away from having their recent top draft picks graduate to the NHL. Cole Reschny and Ethan Wyttenbach could be wearing a Flames jersey by the 2026-27 season’s end, but that leaves the pathway for ice time and opportunity wide open for Gridin in the fall. 
I think we see at least 20 goals, and he certainly has the potential to get to 20 assists as well. However, I think those are light expectations. If Gridin can hit 53-58 points I think we aren’t far from him turning into a point-per-game player. He had 20 points in 37 games this last year, so he should be able to top that with a full year in the show.
With his combination of skill and confidence, the sky is the limit for Matvei Gridin. I’m excited to get to watch him in Calgary for years to come. 

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