FlamesNation has no direct affiliation to the Calgary Flames, Calgary Sports and Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
20 Days, 20 Questions: Is there an NHL roster spot for Hunter Brzustewicz?
Photo credit: © Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Friends, the National Hockey League – and pro hockey in general – can be a tough place to make a living. Often, it’s not about whether you are good enough to play at a certain level, but whether or not there’s a role available that matches your specific skillset.
So with that in mind, let’s talk about young defenceman Hunter Brzustewicz, and where the heck he’s going to play in the upcoming season.
A third round selection by the Vancouver Canucks back in 2023, Brzustewicz joined the Flames organization via the Elias Lindholm trade and went pro in the Flames’ system starting in 2024-25. The upcoming 2026-27 campaign will be the third and final season on his entry-level system, and his final year of waiver exemption.
In 2024-25, Brzustewicz spent most of the season with the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers, playing on a pairing with Yan Kuznetsov. There was probably some concern about how an offensive-minded junior defender who had 92 points with the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers the season prior would adjust to the rigours of pro hockey, so a two-way partner like Kuznetsov made sense. Well, Brzustewicz adjusted really well and had 32 points over 70 games.
In 2025-26, Kuznetsov spent the majority of the season with the Flames, so Brzustewicz kinda bounced around a bunch, playing 34 games in the NHL (scoring seven points) and 34 games in the AHL (scoring 13 points). In the NHL, he played with Olli Maatta, Joel Hanley and Yan Kuznetsov. In the AHL, he played with Nick Cicek and Turner Ottenbreit. In other words: Brzustewicz bounced up and down between hockey’s top two levels, and between a bunch of different partners at both levels, and still had a pretty good season.
As the 2026-27 season approaches, Brzustewicz is in a bit of a weird spot.
- Is he too good for the AHL? Not necessarily, but if he’s down with the Wranglers, he’s undoubtedly be their best defender on paper and probably the top contender for a call-up.
- He is good enough for the NHL? Definitely. We saw him play 34 games over the course of last season. And while he was never dominant – we never saw him develop the swagger that Zayne Parekh displayed late in the season – he went from being a bit tentative early on to being pretty poised late in the season. Like we saw in his first AHL year, there was a progression.
- Is there an obvious spot or role for him on the Flames roster? We’re not quite sure of that.
The Flames have seven defencemen on one-way NHL contracts for the upcoming season – Zach Whitecloud, Kevin Bahl, Jacob Middleton, Simon Nemec, Brayden Pachal, Hanley and Kuznetsov – plus Parekh, who’s still waiver exempt and on his entry-level deal, but a virtual lock to be an everyday NHL defender. On paper, it feels like the Flames have a pretty well-defined starting six… and then Hanley and Pachal as extras.
Because he’s still waiver exempt, Brzustewicz feels like the easiest guy to send down to the AHL. And because he’s still young and developing as a pro blueliner, there’s no upside in having him sit in the NHL as a healthy scratch. So the question facing him coming into camp isn’t whether he can be one of the eight best defenders in camp but whether he can be one of the best six, and that’s a pretty tall order.
In other words: at this point, because of the lack of an obvious NHL role for him on the Flames roster, we’re thinking Brzustewicz starts the season as a Wrangler. But if he has a strong camp, perhaps he can force the Flames’ hand when it comes to making a spot for him on the big club.
PRESENTED BY NATION GEAR
THE OFFSEASON SOCIAL CLUB HAS ARRIVED! The new era of Nation Gear starts here. Introducing the Nation Gear x Levelwear Offseason Social Club Collection — a limited edition collection built for the fans who know the sports lifestyle doesn’t stop. Designed for golf rounds, patio hangs, weekend trips, and every plan in between, this collection blends premium performance with everyday leisure. It’s versatile enough to dress up, comfortable enough to live in, and made for wherever the offseason takes you. Because being a sports fan isn’t a season — it’s a personality. Welcome to the club. Shop the Offseason Social Club now. nationgear.ca
Breaking News
- 20 Days, 20 Questions: Is there an NHL roster spot for Hunter Brzustewicz?
- FN’s 2026 Flames summer prospect rankings – #2: Cole Reschny
- NHL Notebook: Cale Makar signs largest contract in NHL history
- 20 Days, 20 Questions: Where do Joel Hanley and Brayden Pachal fit on the Flames blueline?
- A Flame from the Past: Josh Leivo
Calgary FlamesTeam Cap Summary
Cap Summary
2026-27
2027-28
Projected Cap Hit
$89,116,666
$70,041,666
Projected Cap Space
$14,883,334
$43,458,334
Current Cap Space
$14,883,334
$43,458,334
Active Players
23/23
16/23
Draft Picks
Round
'26
'27
1
2
1
2
3
2
3
1
2