The Calgary Flames selected Samuel Honzek in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft. Due to an injury suffered in training camp, Honzek played his first Western Hockey League of the season on Dec. 1.
After five games (and nine days), Honzek’s off to Slovakia to participate in their World Junior camp. As a member of last year’s World Junior entry, and a first-round NHL draft choice, he’s a virtual lock to make the team.
A year ago, Honzek suffered a nasty cut from a skate early in the World Juniors, and that injury derailed the momentum of his season. This season, the hope is that he can put together a strong, full tournament and build some momentum for the back half of the Vancouver Giants’ season. He’s a promising young player, but he’s missed a bunch of key developmental reps due to his recent injuries. He could catch up quite a bit with a strong World Juniors.
Let’s dive into this week’s prospect snapshot!
Parker Bell – LW/C, Tri-City Americans, WHL
20; Calgary’s fifth round pick (155th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 21 | 12 | 13 | 25 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 85 | 29.48 |
2022-23 | 55 | 25 | 39 | 64 | 51 | 36 | 28 | 187 | 28.82 |
Bell’s settled in really nicely with Tri-City. He’s playing on their second line and keeps generating offence consistently. He’s scoring at a slightly higher pace than he was a year ago, and he’s one of the most reliable players on his team.
Jake Boltmann – D, University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish, NCAA/Big 10
22; Calgary’s third round pick (80th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0.00 |
2022-23 (NCAA) | 37 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 42 | 3.69 |
Boltmann’s point-less streak has hit 19 games, dating back to February of last season. Notre Dame is off until Dec. 30.
Lucas Ciona – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
20; Calgary’s sixth round pick (173rd overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 11th-ranked prospect
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 20 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 22 | 3.99 |
2022-23 (WHL) | 63 | 28 | 47 | 75 | 53 | 54 | 37 | 194 | 29.48 |
Ciona continues to play a checking role for the Wranglers. He’s not in an offensive role and he’s figuring out the pro game as a 20-year-old.
Matt Coronato – RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
21; Calgary’s first round pick (13th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 2nd-ranked prospect
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 14 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 48 | 51.24 |
2022-23 (NCAA) | 34 | 20 | 16 | 36 | 31 | 19 | 16 | 141 | 24.31 |
Coronato spent the weekend in the NHL on a short-term call-up, filling in as a few Flames forwards had the flu.
Samuel Honzek – LW/C, Vancouver Giants, WHL
19; Calgary’s first round pick (16th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 4th-ranked prospect
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 5 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 34.67 |
2022-23 (WHL) | 43 | 23 | 33 | 56 | 40 | 36 | 26 | 134 | 32.25 |
Honzek had a productive weekend, playing on a line with Jaden Lipinski. He’s off to the World Juniors, so he likely won’t play another WHL game until early January.
Axel Hurtig – D, Rögle BK, J20 Nationell/SHL
18; Calgary’s seventh round pick (208th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
J20 season to date | 11 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 25 | 16.85 |
SHL season to date | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
2022-23 (J20) | 34 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 47 | 3.82 |
Rögle had spot in top 10 clinched – the second half of the J20 season moves the top five teams in each conference into a new conference that competes for playoff spots – so a few key players got the weekend off, including Hurtig.
Ben Jones – C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
24; Free agent signing; 12th-ranked prospect
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 22 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 14 | 16 | 11 | 53 | 34.42 |
2022-23 (AHL) | 71 | 17 | 37 | 54 | 41 | 28 | 21 | 202 | 30.31 |
Jones scored his first goal in a few weeks. And this one was a shorthanded goal, one of a pair of shorthanded goals the Wranglers scored in their overtime loss to Manitoba on Sunday.
Rory Kerins – C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
21; Calgary’s sixth round pick (174th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 14th-ranked prospect
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 16 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 43 | 39.85 |
2022-23 (ECHL) | 38 | 17 | 20 | 37 | 31 | 25 | 21 | 117 | 22.36 |
Kerins continues to chug along and put up points. He had four points over two games this weekend. He’s basically made it impossible for him to be removed from the Wranglers’ lineup. Good for him.
Adam Klapka – RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
23; Free agent signing; 18th-ranked prospect
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 22 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 58 | 32.61 |
2022-23 (AHL) | 60 | 13 | 12 | 25 | 18 | 16 | 11 | 103 | 16.61 |
Klapka continues to be a consistent offensive producer for the Wranglers. He’s seven points off of last year’s points production – for the entire season – after just 22 games.
Demetrios Koumonztis – D, Idaho Steelheads, ECHL
23; Calgary’s fourth round pick (108th overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0.00 |
2022-23 (NCAA) | 37 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 67 | 13.28 |
Koumontzis dressed a couple times for Idaho as a depth defender.
Yan Kuznetsov – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
21; Calgary’s second round pick (50th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 17th-ranked prospect
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 22 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 24 | 7.25 |
2022-23 (AHL) | 63 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 11 | 19 | 11 | 65 | 12.02 |
Kuznetsov continues to be used in a shutdown role. He continues to shut down, but not put up much in the way of offence.
Jaden Lipinski – C, Vancouver Giants, WHL
19; Calgary’s fourth round pick (112th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 16th-ranked prospect
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 29 | 10 | 15 | 25 | 19 | 10 | 7 | 80 | 21.35 |
2022-23 (WHL) | 66 | 19 | 32 | 51 | 36 | 35 | 23 | 152 | 19.14 |
Does Lipinski have his swagger back? He put up a bunch of points over the past couple of weeks, seemingly sparked by the return of Samuel Honzek from injury. The big question is if Lipinski can maintain this momentum while Honzek is away at the World Juniors.
Cade Littler – C, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, USHL / Penticton Vees, BCHL
19; Calgary’s seventh round pick (219th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
USHL season to date | 13 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 30 | 19.43 |
BCHL season to date | 7 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | – | 5.62 |
2022-23 (BCHL) | 51 | 29 | 39 | 68 | 47 | 36 | 27 | – | 8.75 |
Littler is starting to get some momentum after moving back to the BCHL a few weeks ago. He’s putting up points, but so far he’s pretty reliant on special teams for production.
Brady Lyle – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
24; Free agent signing
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 22 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 51 | 18.11 |
2022-23 (AHL) | 51 | 7 | 24 | 31 | 16 | 13 | 6 | 124 | 24.22 |
Lyle didn’t hit the scoresheet this week. He’s a fixture on the Wranglers’ blueline and on their power play.
Etienne Morin – D, Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL
18; Calgary’s second round pick (48th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft; tied for 5th-ranked prospect
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 24 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 79 | 19.41 |
2022-23 (QMJHL) | 67 | 21 | 51 | 72 | 47 | 34 | 21 | 213 | 25.03 |
Morin continues to put up shots and play quite a bit in all situations for Moncton. He had two assists this past week.
Ilya Nikolaev – C/LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; Calgary’s third round pick (88th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 11 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 14.49 |
2022-23 (ECHL) | 40 | 13 | 20 | 33 | 21 | 22 | 15 | 97 | 18.94 |
Nikolaev had zero points this week, playing in the Wranglers’ bottom six.
Emilio Pettersen – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
23; Calgary’s sixth round pick (167th overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft; 20th-ranked prospect
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 22 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 31 | 28.98 |
2022-23 (AHL) | 61 | 19 | 25 | 44 | 35 | 35 | 29 | 118 | 28.75 |
Pettersen had a quiet week, by his standards, scoring just a single goal.
Jeremie Poirier – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
21; Calgary’s third round pick (72nd overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; tied for 5th-ranked prospect
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 4 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 69.74 |
2022-23 (AHL) | 69 | 9 | 32 | 41 | 20 | 21 | 13 | 172 | 23.68 |
Poirier is out indefinitely after suffering an arm laceration that required surgery.
Martin Pospisil – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
24; Calgary’s fourth round pick (105th overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 39.85 |
2022-23 (AHL) | 20 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 48 | 19.93 |
Pospisil is in the NHL.
Topi Rönni – C, Tappara Tampere, Liiga/SM-sarja U20/CHL
19; Calgary’s second round pick (59th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft; 10th-ranked prospect
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date (Liiga) | 14 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 5.29 |
Season to date (U20) | 4 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 28.70 |
Season to date (CHL) | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | n/a |
2022-23 (Liiga) | 22 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 8.42 |
Rönni dressed for one Liiga game and one U20 game. He was left off Finland’s World Junior selection camp roster.
Cole Schwindt – C/RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; Acquired in a trade with Florida; 9th-ranked prospect
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 22 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 30 | 23.55 |
2022-23 (AHL) | 70 | 14 | 18 | 32 | 20 | 16 | 10 | 118 | 18.22 |
Schwindt had a strong week offensively, breaking out for four points over two weekend games (one goal and three assists).
Ilya Solovyov – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
23; Calgary’s seventh round pick (205th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 8th-ranked prospect
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 16 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 30 | 12.45 |
2022-23 (AHL) | 68 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 9 | 16 | 8 | 82 | 10.55 |
Solovyov is in the NHL.
William Strömgren – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
20; Calgary’s second round pick (45th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 19th-ranked prospect
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 20 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 3.99 |
2022-23 (SHL) | 45 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 31 | 8.69 |
Strömgren remains a fixture in the Wrangler’s bottom six, but, like Ciona, he’s in a checking role and still learning the North American pro game.
Aydar Suniev – LW/C, University of Massachusetts Minutemen, NCAA/Hockey East
19; Calgary’s third round pick (80th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 13th-ranked prospect
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 15 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 42 | 25.78 |
2022-23 (BCHL) | 50 | 45 | 45 | 90 | 73 | 47 | 40 | – | 11.81 |
Suniev was named the Hockey East conference’s rookie of the week after posting three goals and three assists over a pair of games against Alaska Anchorage.
Connor Zary – LW/C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; Calgary’s first round pick (24th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; tied for 5th-ranked prospect
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 6 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 15 | 66.42 |
2022-23 (AHL) | 72 | 21 | 37 | 58 | 36 | 31 | 21 | 183 | 32.10 |
Zary is currently in the NHL.
Daniil Chechelev – G, Ryazan-VDV, VHL
22; Calgary’s fourth round pick (96th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft
GP | TOI | SV% | |
Season to date | – | – | – |
2022-23 (ECHL) | 39 | 2135 | .892 |
Chechelev dressed as Ryazan’s backup goalie a couple times, but he hasn’t faced any game action yet.
Arsenii Sergeev – G, University of Connecticut Huskies, NCAA/Hockey East
20; Calgary’s seventh round pick (205th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 15th-ranked prospect
GP | TOI | SV% | |
Season to date | 6 | 340 | .897 |
2022-23 (NCAA) | 19 | 1104 | .912 |
UConn is off until New Year’s Eve.
Dustin Wolf – G, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; Calgary’s seventh round pick (214th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft; 1st-ranked prospect
GP | TOI | SV% | |
Season to date | 13 | 744 | .920 |
2022-23 (AHL) | 55 | 3239 | .932 |
Wolf is in the NHL.
Yegor Yegorov – G, MHK Dynamo Moskva, MHL
18; Calgary’s sixth round pick (176th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft
GP | TOI | SV% | |
Season to date | 12 | 659 | .925 |
2022-23 (MHL) | 15 | 786 | .915 |
MHK was off for the first two weeks of December.
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