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FN’s 2025 Flames summer prospect rankings – #15: Rory Kerins
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Photo credit: Eric Boldt/Calgary Wranglers
Adrian Kiss
Aug 13, 2025, 10:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 12, 2025, 17:32 EDT
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The recipient of the 15th spot in this summer’s FlamesNation prospect rankings is one of the most intriguing storylines to emerge from within the Calgary Flames organization last season.
Going from a relatively unknown name to a powerhouse in the AHL, and enjoying a short yet successful stint in the NHL, Rory Kerins gets the nod at No. 15.

Rory Kerins

Centre, shoots left
Born Apr. 12, 2002 (age 23) in Caledon, ON
5’10”, 175 pounds
Drafted in the sixth round (174th overall) by Calgary in the 2020 NHL Draft
Kerins is the first player in this year’s prospect rankings to appear on everyone’s ballot, landing between 13th and 19th across the board. After going unranked last season, jumping to 15th is a well-deserved accomplishment following an incredible year.
Kerins is entering his sixth official year with the Flames organization. After posting 118 points (43G, 73A) with the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds in 2021-22, he initially struggled to find consistency at the pro level. Following a few unsuccessful short stints with both the Stockton Heat and Calgary Wranglers in the early 2020s, Kerins spent most of the 2022-23 season in the ECHL with the Rapid City Rush.
That season proved to be a turning point. Amassing 17 goals and 20 assists in 38 games showed he was ready to take the next step to the AHL.
In his first full season with the Wranglers, Kerins recorded 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 points in 54 games — respectable numbers, though not ones that generated much buzz.
Heading into last season, expectations weren’t high. He wasn’t really on the NHL radar, and the year was likely to be another developmental step, focusing on improving various aspects of his game.
When Cole Schwindt was claimed off waivers at the start of the season, it opened the door for Kerins to play top minutes with the Wranglers — an opportunity he seized.
Playing largely alongside Jakob Pelletier and Dryden Hunt early on, Kerins’ production skyrocketed. Over the AHL season, he posted 33 goals and 21 assists for 61 points in 63 games — nearly a point per game. Despite missing roughly a month, he finished fourth in AHL goal scoring and was named one of three Wranglers representatives at the AHL all-star game.
Still, many Flames fans weren’t familiar with Kerins’ name until he was called up in January. After Connor Zary suffered a knee-on-knee injury, the Flames needed to replace his production, and Kerins — red-hot in the AHL — got the call.
Kerins’ NHL stint was short but memorable. In his debut, he earned his first NHL point with an assist on a Jakob Pelletier goal just over a minute into the game, then added another assist later in the first period.
He finished with four assists in five games before being sent back to the Wranglers. Initially, the move was thought to be so he could participate in the AHL all-star festivities, but as a shock to many Flames fans, a return to the NHL never came, and he finished the season in Calgary’s farm system.
FlamesNation’s Paige Siewert had this to say about Kerins’ breakout:
“Rory Kerins was the shock of the season last year. His off-season improvement was unprecedented and the results of him maturing in his body and his game put him as one of the Wranglers’ best. He made an immediate impact in the AHL last season when previous years, he wouldn’t crack the lineup. He’s a true success story of development from the ECHL, AHL and NHL and his season earned him recognition as one of the team’s All-Star representatives. If his path continues in this direction, we could see him with the Flames much more commonly.”

Expectations for 2025-26

After entering last season with no real expectations, things have changed. Kerins’ play at both the AHL and NHL levels has earned him at least consideration for more time with the Flames this season.
It won’t be an easy path. With a fourth line projected to feature Ryan Lomberg, Martin Pospisil and Adam Klapka, there isn’t much room. Other young forwards — including William Strömgren, Sam Morton and last year’s other Cinderella story, Justin Kirkland — will also be vying for NHL time.
By no means is the fourth line, or any line, set in stone. Injuries, slumps and breakout performances can quickly change a lineup. For Kerins, the best strategy is to replicate last season’s success and force the Flames’ hand.
He should be near the top of the NHL call-up list, and if he doesn’t see much time early on, it’s a fair bet we could see more of him in the second half of the season.

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