If you haven’t read this site often this season, here’s a minor spoiler: the Calgary Flames have a lot of prospects having strong seasons. So many, in fact, that one of the most common questions we’ve received from Flames fans throughout this season has been “Hey, who’s going pro next season?”
(We think Flames fans are excited to see how many of these promising youngsters could help out the big club over the next few seasons.)
Anyhow, here’s roughly who could be going pro next season.
Jaden Lipinski is a 2004-born player who’s finishing out his WHL eligibility as an overager with the Vancouver Giants. He hasn’t dominated as a 20-year-old with the Giants this season, but he’s been a really reliable player and with the Flames so lean at centre, he might get a contract. The Flames have until June 1 to sign him or they lose his NHL rights.
A pair of collegiate players are next up: 22-year-old goalie Arsenii Sergeev, who’s been white-hot for Penn State since January, and 20-year-old winger Aydar Suniev, who’s been consistently good and occasionally excellent for UMass offensively this season. Neither are players that need to be signed, but the Flames might prefer for Sergeev to not return for a senior year – he might be challenged and grow more as a pro.
The Flames have four 2005-born players that could go pro or could not. Etienne Morin and Andrew Basha are both under NHL deals for next season and are both probably destined for the Wranglers. Axel Hurtig and Luke Misa aren’t signed yet and could go back to junior as overagers.
Finally, Zayne Parekh and Matvei Gridin are both 2006-born players who are too young for the AHL, but they’re both unique cases. Parekh is an offensive powerhouse and while he’s subject to the CHL’s transfer agreement, we imagine he’ll be given every chance to make the NHL in 2025-26. Meanwhile Gridin falls into a wacky grey area in the CHL agreement: since he wasn’t drafted after playing in the CHL, but joined up afterwards, the agreement doesn’t apply to him and he’s actually eligible to play in the AHL next season. (We suspect he’ll get a long look at NHL camp to determine where best to place him for 2025-26.)
(Note from Ryan: After publishing this initially, we got some additional information on Gridin’s status so we’ve updated it from the original version.)
Now, let’s check in with the prospects this week!
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 | 50 | 5 | 18 | 23 | 11 | 14 | 6 | 56 | 18.33 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 66 | 6 | 27 | 33 | 19 | 12 | 9 | 94 | 19.93 |
Aspirot had a goal 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 remains out indefinitely with a lower-body 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 | 61 | 37 | 45 | 82 | 62 | 52 | 42 | 214 | 35.60 |
2023-24 (OHL) | 67 | 31 | 34 | 65 | 54 | 39 | 34 | 168 | 25.70 |
Battaglia had two points this week.
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 | 48 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 49 | 9.13 |
2023-24 (WHL) | 59 | 33 | 31 | 64 | 50 | 35 | 31 | 231 | 26.86 |
Bell had no points 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 | 32 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 19 | 10.24 |
2023-24 (NCAA) | 30 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 36 | 1.82 |
Boltmann had no points this week. Northeastern faces Merrimack College on Wednesday to kick off the Hockey East playoffs – it’s a one-game playoff in the opening round.
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 | 56 | 4 | 20 | 24 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 58 | 17.08 |
2023-24 (OHL) | 67 | 13 | 79 | 92 | 46 | 65 | 34 | 140 | 36.37 |
Brzustewicz had two assists this week.
Lucas Ciona – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; 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 | 53 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 74 | 13.53 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 55 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 67 | 4.35 |
Ciona had an assist this week.
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 | 52 | 32 | 39 | 71 | 52 | 37 | 29 | 214 | 31.80 |
2023-24 (USHL) | 60 | 38 | 45 | 83 | 67 | 49 | 42 | 208 | 31.76 |
Gridin had five points this week. He’s 14th in the QMJHL in points and goals, and first in both categories among rookies.
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 | 48 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 36 | 4.15 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 63 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 65 | 3.80 |
Grushnikov was scratched once and had no 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 | 40 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 55 | 17.93 |
2023-24 (WHL) | 33 | 10 | 21 | 31 | 22 | 16 | 11 | 86 | 23.26 |
Honzek remains out with 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 | 36 | 12 | 27 | 39 | 29 | 28 | 23 | 80 | 17.23 |
2023-24 (OJHL) | 52 | 42 | 58 | 100 | 85 | 60 | 50 | 189 | 5.36 |
Hoskin and Niagara were eliminated from the Atlantic conference’s playoffs in three games against Army – including two overtime losses. Hoskin was named to the conference’s year-end second all-star team and their all-rookie team, too. His season is now complete.
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 | 49 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 9 | 61 | 7.58 |
2023-24 (J20) | 27 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 54 | 15.10 |
Hurtig had a goal this week, as he’s now back from injury.
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 | 62 | 14 | 21 | 35 | 25 | 26 | 18 | 165 | 13.98 |
2023-24 (WHL) | 66 | 10 | 22 | 32 | 21 | 27 | 18 | 174 | 12.01 |
Jamieson had an assist 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 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0.00 |
ECHL season to date | 12 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 17 | 19.13 |
2023-24 (Liiga) | 46 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 63 | 4.03 |
Jurmo didn’t dress for the Wranglers this week.
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 | 48 | 26 | 20 | 46 | 40 | 33 | 30 | 111 | 38.19 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 54 | 16 | 16 | 32 | 27 | 22 | 18 | 115 | 23.62 |
Kerins had two points this week.
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 | 33 | 14 | 12 | 26 | 21 | 16 | 14 | 101 | 31.40 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 65 | 21 | 24 | 45 | 34 | 31 | 22 | 182 | 27.59 |
Klapka returned to the AHL from the Flames and had a goal this week.
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 | 26 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 43 | 7.95 |
2023-24 (ECHL) | 47 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 11 | 14 | 10 | 84 | 9.28 |
Koumontzis had three 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 | 57 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 11 | 15 | 10 | 72 | 11.89 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 63 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 88 | 8.22 |
Kuznetsov had a goal 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 | 58 | 23 | 19 | 42 | 35 | 32 | 27 | 139 | 17.93 |
2023-24 (WHL) | 66 | 11 | 14 | 25 | 18 | 20 | 14 | 101 | 9.38 |
Laing had seven points this week and was named the WHL’s player of the week.
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 | 54 | 15 | 38 | 53 | 42 | 29 | 26 | 124 | 24.31 |
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 three points this week.
Cade Littler – C/RW/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 | 30 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 24 | 7.20 |
2023-24 (BCHL) | 24 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 17 | 9 | 6 | – | 5.51 |
Littler was scratched for both of North Dakota’s games this week. They’ll face Omaha in the NCHC conference playoffs this coming weekend.
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 | 63 | 14 | 66 | 80 | 50 | 40 | 27 | 219 | 33.63 |
2023-24 (OHL) | 65 | 15 | 46 | 61 | 38 | 35 | 24 | 153 | 24.86 |
Mews had five points this week, including four assists in Tuesday’s game against Brampton.
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 | 62 | 34 | 46 | 80 | 57 | 59 | 43 | 193 | 34.18 |
2023-24 (OHL) | 66 | 26 | 55 | 81 | 56 | 58 | 39 | 210 | 32.51 |
Misa had two goals this week, both in Tuesday’s game against Sudbury.
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 | 57 | 13 | 38 | 51 | 26 | 34 | 21 | 207 | 20.84 |
2023-24 (QMJHL) | 58 | 12 | 37 | 49 | 32 | 21 | 13 | 191 | 19.67 |
Morin had a goal 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 | 56 | 15 | 20 | 35 | 27 | 15 | 11 | 118 | 24.91 |
2023-24 (NCAA) | 37 | 24 | 10 | 34 | 32 | 20 | 19 | 151 | 24.00 |
Morton had three points this week.
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 | 58 | 32 | 69 | 101 | 67 | 51 | 39 | 234 | 46.12 |
2023-24 (OHL) | 66 | 33 | 63 | 96 | 66 | 54 | 39 | 224 | 38.53 |
Parekh had five points this week, pushing across the 100 point barrier for this first time in his junior career. (And the first time for any OHLer since Tyler Ennis in 2010-11.)
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 | 56 | 4 | 29 | 33 | 19 | 21 | 12 | 109 | 23.48 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 23 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 44 | 22.53 |
Poirier continues a strong offensive run, posting four assists.
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 | 45 | 6 | 16 | 22 | 10 | 17 | 8 | 60 | 19.48 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 51 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 88 | 11.72 |
Back from the NHL, 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 | 55 | 12 | 28 | 40 | 30 | 23 | 19 | 86 | 28.98 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 68 | 7 | 20 | 27 | 23 | 18 | 15 | 74 | 15.82 |
Strömgren had an assist 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 | 31 | 17 | 18 | 35 | 28 | 18 | 14 | 113 | 36.38 |
2023-24 (NCAA) | 35 | 12 | 13 | 25 | 19 | 16 | 12 | 100 | 23.02 |
Suniev had two assists this week. UMass faces Vermont on Wednesday in a one-game playoff to kick off Hockey East’s conference playoffs.
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 | 11 | 399 | .888 |
2023-24 (VHL) | 5 | 271 | .908 |
Chechelev backstopped Yunison-Moskva to a win over Almetyevsk last week.
Waltteri Ignatjew – G, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
25; Signed as a free agent; 6’3″, 200 pounds
GP | TOI | SV% | |
Season to date | 19 | 1024 | .888 |
2023-24 (SWE-1) | 45 | 2614 | .918 |
Ignatjew dressed as backup twice but didn’t get any game time in.
Arsenii Sergeev – G, Penn State University Nittany Lions, NCAA/Big 10
22; Calgary’s seventh round pick (205th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 192 pounds
GP | TOI | SV% | |
Season to date | 29 | 1711 | .915 |
2023-24 (NCAA) | 16 | 934 | .913 |
Sergeev backstopped Penn State to a pair of wins over Michigan in the opening round of Big 10’s playoffs. They’ll face Ohio State on Saturday.
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 | 19 | 1022 | .908 |
2023-24 (MHL) | 25 | 1319 | .917 |
Yegorov was pulled after allowing three goals in a 3-2 loss to SKA-1946 last week.
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 | 19 | 1036 | .935 |
2023-24 (MHL) | 45 | 2473 | .927 |
Zarubin made 39 saves in a 2-1 win over AKM-Junior this week.
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