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Prospect signing season is just round the corner
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Photo credit: OHL Images
Ryan Pike
Feb 5, 2025, 14:00 ESTUpdated: Feb 5, 2025, 12:24 EST
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Friends, the hockey calendar has many milestones built into it – dates that have added significance for specific purposes.
March is notable for the annual NHL trade deadline, which falls on Friday, Mar. 7 this year. However, Mar. 1 is another date of some importance: it’s the first day that teams can sign players to contracts that don’t kick in until next season.
So if your team is looking to add a European free agent, or sign somebody out of the NCAA, or perhaps just sign one of its homegrown drafted prospects to an entry-level deal, Mar. 1 is the date that sort of business begins to be done.
When it comes to the Flames, there are a few things to keep an eye out for over the next few months:
  • They have a decision looming on Jaden Lipinski, whose rights will lapse on June 1 if he’s not signed. We’re also somewhat sure that the rights for Jake Boltmann and Demetrios Koumontzis will lapse on Aug. 15, but due to COVID and the vague eligibility extensions provided to impacted college players… we’re only mostly sure.
  • CHL players born in 2005 have the option of playing in the AHL or CHL (as overagers) next season, so Calgary Hitmen blueliner Axel Hurtig and Brampton Steelheads standout Luke Misa are players to keep an eye on there. If Hurtig returns to junior in 2025-26, he’ll be a “two-spotter”: taking up one of the Hitmen’s three 20-year-old slots and one of their two import slots, too. The Flames don’t need to sign either player to retain their rights, though – they have until June 1, 2026.
  • CHL players born in 2006 can’t play in the AHL in 2025-26, which impacts Henry Mews, Jacob Battaglia and Hunter Laing. Mews is heavily rumoured to be exploring the NCAA for next season (and so he likely won’t sign an ELC this year), but it seems probable that Battaglia and Laing go back to junior.
  • Does Aydar Suniev continue on for his junior year of college in 2025-26, or does he opt to go pro?
The unintended challenge caused by the Flames’ recent strong drafting is figuring out how to balance the ongoing development of several promising young players as they prepare to eventually turn pro.
Let’s dive into our weekly check-ins.

Jonathan Aspirot – D/LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

25; signed as a free agent; 6’0″, 200 pounds; shoots left
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
38
3
16
19
9
12
5
41
20.97
2023-24 (AHL)
66
6
27
33
19
12
9
94
19.93
Aspirot had zero points this week.

Andrew Basha – LW/C, Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL

19; Calgary’s second round pick (41st overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 5’11”, 174 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 5th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
23
9
20
29
24
12
9
73
31.22
2023-24 (WHL)
63
30
55
85
69
52
41
189
33.41
Basha is out long-term due to injury.

Jacob Battaglia – LW, Kingston Frontenacs, OHL

18; Calgary’s second round pick (62nd overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 196 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 11th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
48
31
40
71
53
45
35
167
39.18
2023-24 (OHL)
67
31
34
65
54
39
34
168
25.70
Battaglia had four goals and five assists in a busy four game week with Kingston.

Parker Bell – LW/C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

21; Calgary’s fifth round pick (155th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 192 pounds; shoots left
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
36
4
4
8
6
8
6
28
8.86
2023-24 (WHL)
59
33
31
64
50
35
31
231
26.86
Bell had an assist this week.

Jake Boltmann – D, Northeastern University Huskies, NCAA/Hockey East

23; Calgary’s third round pick (80th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 188 pounds; shoots right
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
23
1
8
9
2
9
2
13
10.68
2023-24 (NCAA)
30
0
2
2
2
2
2
36
1.82
Boltmann registered an assist in the Beanpot, though Northeastern lost their game handily.

Hunter Brzustewicz – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

20; Vancouver’s third round pick (75th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Vancouver; 6’0″, 190 pounds; shoots right; FN’s 3rd-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
44
3
14
17
10
11
8
39
15.40
2023-24 (OHL)
67
13
79
92
46
65
34
140
36.37
Brzustewicz had two assists this weekend.

Lucas Ciona – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

21; Calgary’s sixth round pick (173rd overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 210 pounds; shoots left
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
41
6
10
16
14
12
11
53
15.55
2023-24 (AHL)
55
4
2
6
5
6
5
67
4.35
Ciona had a two-goal game this weekend.

Matvei Gridin – RW, Shawinigan Cataractes, QMJHL

18; Calgary’s first round pick (28th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 182 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 6th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
44
25
33
58
41
30
22
175
30.70
2023-24 (USHL)
60
38
45
83
67
49
42
208
31.76
Gridin had three assists this weekend. He is currently ninth in the QMJHL in points overall, and he leads all QMJHL rookies in points. (He leads the next-best rookie by 15 points.)

Artem Grushnikov – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

21; Dallas’ second round pick (48th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Dallas; 6’1″, 203 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 17th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
37
1
3
4
3
4
3
24
4.31
2023-24 (AHL)
63
1
5
6
5
6
5
65
3.80
Grushnikov didn’t register any points this week.

Sam Honzek – LW/C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

20; Calgary’s first round pick (16th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 186 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 4th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
34
6
11
17
13
9
7
50
19.93
2023-24 (WHL)
33
10
21
31
22
16
11
86
23.26
Honzek had an assist this weekend, but missed the Wranglers’ second game due to an injury.

Trevor Hoskin – RW, Niagara University Purple Eagles, NCAA/AHA

20; Calgary’s fourth round pick (106th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 175 pounds; shoots right
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
28
10
21
31
24
23
20
60
17.61
2023-24 (OJHL)
52
42
58
100
85
60
50
189
5.36
Niagara lost to Sacred Heart twice this weekend. Hoskin had a goal and an assist. He’s been consistently productive this season, albeit in a weaker college conference.

Axel Hurtig – D, Calgary Hitmen, WHL

19; Calgary’s seventh round pick (208th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 202 pounds; shoots left
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
40
3
8
11
8
9
6
46
6.81
2023-24 (J20)
27
3
8
11
7
11
7
54
15.10
Hurtig registered no points this week.

Eric Jamieson – D, Everett Silvertips, WHL

19; Calgary’s seventh round pick (208th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 200 pounds; shoots left
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
50
8
19
27
17
21
13
130
13.37
2023-24 (WHL)
66
10
22
32
21
27
18
174
12.01
Jamieson registered no points this week.

Joni Jurmo – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL / Rapid City Rush, ECHL

22; Vancouver’s third round pick (82nd overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Vancouver; 6’3″, 190 pounds; shoots left
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
AHL season to date
9
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
0.00
ECHL season to date
9
2
5
7
6
4
4
12
17.86
2023-24 (Liiga)
46
1
4
5
3
4
3
63
4.03
Jurmo didn’t play this weekend; we think he’s still day-to-day with that minor injury he was dealing with.

Rory Kerins – C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

22; Calgary’s sixth round pick (174th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 5’10”, 175 pounds; shoots left
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
36
21
13
34
29
24
22
88
37.64
2023-24 (AHL)
54
16
16
32
27
22
18
115
23.62
In his return to the AHL after some time in the NHL, Kerins had no points.

Adam Klapka – RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

24; Free agent signing; 6’8″, 235 pounds; shoots right; FN’s 15th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
29
13
12
25
20
15
13
91
34.36
2023-24 (AHL)
65
21
24
45
34
31
22
182
27.59
Klapka is in the NHL.

Demetrios Koumontzis – LW/D, Idaho Steelheads, ECHL

24; Calgary’s fourth round pick (108th overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft; 5’10”, 183 pounds; shoots left
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
13
1
2
3
2
3
2
26
5.30
2023-24 (ECHL)
47
9
10
19
11
14
10
84
9.28
Koumontzis had no points this week.

Yan Kuznetsov – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

22; Calgary’s second round pick (50th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 209 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 20th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
45
3
11
14
8
12
7
58
12.40
2023-24 (AHL)
63
5
8
13
9
12
8
88
8.22
Kuznetsov had no points this week.

Hunter Laing – C/RW, Prince George Cougars/Saskatoon Blades, WHL

18; Calgary’s sixth round pick (170th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’5″, 205 pounds; shoots right
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
45
14
15
29
24
22
19
97
15.96
2023-24 (WHL)
66
11
14
25
18
20
14
101
9.38
Laing had three points this weekend.

Jaden Lipinski – C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL / Vancouver Giants, WHL

20; Calgary’s fourth round pick (112th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 204 pounds; shoots right; FN’s 16th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
WHL season to date
40
8
31
39
30
22
19
89
24.14
AHL season to date
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.00
2023-24 (WHL)
67
24
42
66
47
33
23
181
24.39
Lipinski had a good weekend, registering five points. He’s been hovering at right around the point-per-game scoring pace during his 20-year-old season.

Cade Littler – C/LW, University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, NCAA/NCHC

20; Calgary’s seventh round pick (219th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 197 pounds; shoots right
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
22
3
2
5
4
5
4
19
8.18
2023-24 (BCHL)
24
9
12
21
17
9
6
–
5.51
Littler had a goal over the weekend. He’s carving out a role for himself in North Dakota’s bottom six as a freshman.

Henry Mews – D, Ottawa 67’s/Sudbury Wolves, OHL

18; Calgary’s third round pick (74th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’0″, 181 pounds; shoots right; FN’s 9th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
47
12
50
62
41
29
20
175
34.94
2023-24 (OHL)
65
15
46
61
38
35
24
153
24.86
Mews had two assists this week.

Luke Misa – LW/C, Brampton Steelheads, OHL

19; Calgary’s fifth round pick (150th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 5’10”, 170 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 13th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
47
27
34
61
43
46
33
147
34.38
2023-24 (OHL)
66
26
55
81
56
58
39
210
32.51
Misa scored two goals this weekend.

Etienne Morin – D, Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL

19; Calgary’s second round pick (48th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’0″, 180 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 10th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
44
10
31
41
23
27
18
150
21.70
2023-24 (QMJHL)
58
12
37
49
32
21
13
191
19.67
Morin had an assist this week.

Sam Morton – C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

25; Free agent signing; 6’0″, 185 pounds; shoots left
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
45
13
18
31
23
14
10
87
27.45
2023-24 (NCAA)
37
24
10
34
32
20
19
151
24.00
Morton had a good weekend, scoring four points and continuing a really nice stretch for him offensively.

Zayne Parekh – D, Saginaw Spirit, OHL

18; Calgary’s first round pick (9th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’0″, 179 pounds; shoots right; FN’s 1st-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
42
24
43
67
50
35
27
178
42.25
2023-24 (OHL)
66
33
63
96
66
54
39
224
38.53
Parekh continued his scoring tear with eight points.

Jeremie Poirier – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

22; Calgary’s third round pick (72nd overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 196 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 7th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
45
3
22
25
14
16
9
88
22.14
2023-24 (AHL)
23
3
10
13
5
5
2
44
22.53
Poirier had no points this week, ending a very nice scoring stretch.

Ilya Solovyov – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

24; Calgary’s seventh round pick (205th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 208 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 14th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
41
6
15
21
10
16
8
56
20.41
2023-24 (AHL)
51
5
10
15
10
14
10
88
11.72
Solovyov had an assist this week.

William Strömgren – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

21; Calgary’s second round pick (45th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 175 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 8th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
44
12
25
37
27
21
17
78
33.51
2023-24 (AHL)
68
7
20
27
23
18
15
74
15.82
For the first time in awhile, Strömgren was held off the scoresheet this week.

Aydar Suniev – LW/C, University of Massachusetts Minutemen, NCAA/Hockey East

20; Calgary’s third round pick (80th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’2″, 198 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 12th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
23
14
13
27
22
14
11
86
37.83
2023-24 (NCAA)
35
12
13
25
19
16
12
100
23.02
Suniev missed this week’s games due to injury.

Daniil Chechelev – G, Yunison-Moskva, VHL

23; Calgary’s fourth round pick (96th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 187 pounds
GP
TOI
SV%
Season to date
3
125
.825
2023-24 (VHL)
5
271
.908
For the first time since November, Chechelev dressed for games, serving as backup for Yunison-Moskva twice.

Waltteri Ignatjew – G, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

24; Signed as a free agent; 6’3″, 200 pounds
GP
TOI
SV%
Season to date
16
866
.878
2023-24 (SWE-1)
45
2614
.918
Ignatjew didn’t dress for the Wranglers this week, as Connor Murphy served as Devin Cooley’s backup twice.

Arsenii Sergeev – G, Penn State University Nittany Lions, NCAA/Big 10

21; Calgary’s seventh round pick (205th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 192 pounds
GP
TOI
SV%
Season to date
19
1090
.909
2023-24 (NCAA)
16
934
.913
Sergeev backstopped Penn State to a weekend split against Michigan.

Yegor Yegorov – G, HC Tambov, VHL / MHC Tambov, NMHL / MHK Krylia Sovetov Moskva, MHL

19; Calgary’s sixth round pick (176th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 183 pounds
GP
TOI
SV%
VHL season to date
4
160
.870
NMHL season to date
8
449
.891
MHL season to date
12
630
.911
2023-24 (MHL)
25
1319
.917
Yegorov hasn’t gotten any game action in since Jan. 26… because he’s been practising with the KHL’s Spartak Moskva as their third goalie.

Kirill Zarubin – G, AKM Tula, MHL

19; Calgary’s third round pick (84th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 178 pounds; FN’s 19th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
TOI
SV%
Season to date
14
736
.928
2023-24 (MHL)
45
2473
.927
AKM Tula was off this week.

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