The playoffs continue for some prospects: a Calgary Flames prospect update
Photo credit: Jenn Pierce/Calgary Wranglers
The Calgary Flames’ season ended in mid-April, as the National Hockey League club failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs. But here we are, about a month later, with several prospects still actively involved in the post-season.
The Calgary Wranglers, the top minor league affiliate of the Flames, are in the midst of the second round of the American Hockey League’s Calder Cup playoffs. They’re trailing the Coachella Valley Firebirds by a 2-1 margin through three games in the best-of-five series, but all three games have been close. When you consider that the Firebirds were the Pacific Division’s top team and the Wranglers were the lowest-ranked team to qualify for the playoffs in that division, the competitive balance shown in the series thus far is pretty impressive.
Down in the ECHL, Demetrious Koumonzis, who the Flames technically still have the rights to, has dressed a few times for the Idaho Steelheads. The Steelheads are playing Kansas City in the second round of the ECHL playoffs. Kansas City leads the series 2-1.
And down in the BCHL, Cade Littler has recently returned from a lengthy injury absence to rejoin the Penticton Vees in their playoff journey. The Vees are currently playing Salmon Arm in the conference final round, with the series tied 2-2.
Let’s dive into this week’s prospect update!
Parker Bell – LW/C, Tri-City Americans, WHL / Calgary Wranglers, AHL
20; Calgary’s fifth round pick (155th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
WHL season to date | 59 | 33 | 31 | 64 | 50 | 35 | 31 | 231 | 26.86 |
AHL season to date | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 |
2022-23 (WHL) | 55 | 25 | 39 | 64 | 51 | 36 | 28 | 187 | 28.82 |
Bell has yet to dress in the playoffs.
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 | 30 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 36 | 1.82 |
2022-23 (NCAA) | 37 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 42 | 3.69 |
Boltmann’s NCAA season is complete. He’s transferred to Northeastern University for the 2024-25 season.
Hunter Brzustewicz – D, Kitchener Rangers, OHL / Calgary Wranglers, AHL
19; Vancouver’s third round pick (75th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Vancouver
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
OHL season to date | 67 | 13 | 79 | 92 | 46 | 65 | 34 | 140 | 36.37 |
AHL season to date | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
2022-23 (OHL) | 68 | 6 | 51 | 57 | 32 | 31 | 21 | 110 | 22.20 |
Brzustewicz has yet to dress in the playoffs.
Lucas Ciona – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
21; 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 | 55 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 67 | 4.35 |
2022-23 (WHL) | 63 | 28 | 47 | 75 | 53 | 54 | 37 | 194 | 29.48 |
Ciona has yet to dress in the playoffs.
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 | 41 | 15 | 27 | 42 | 28 | 27 | 17 | 140 | 40.82 |
2022-23 (NCAA) | 34 | 20 | 16 | 36 | 31 | 19 | 16 | 141 | 24.31 |
Coronato’s been a fixture on the right side of the Wranglers’ top line through five playoff games. He has six points and is one of the players that’s always out there with the game up for grabs.
Riley Damiani – C, Texas Stars/Calgary Wranglers, AHL
23; Dallas’ fifth round pick (137th overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Dallas
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 66 | 11 | 13 | 24 | 19 | 16 | 13 | 94 | 14.49 |
2022-23 (AHL) | 59 | 13 | 18 | 31 | 24 | 18 | 14 | 87 | 20.94 |
Damiani has been used in a checking role for all five playoff games. He’s been perfectly fine.
Artem Grushnikov – D, Texas Stars/Calgary Wranglers, AHL
20; Dallas’ second round pick (48th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Dallas
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 63 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 65 | 3.80 |
2022-23 (OHL) | 65 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 10 | 14 | 9 | 116 | 6.93 |
Grushnikov has yet to dress in the playoffs. (The Wranglers are carrying a lot of defenders and even with them dressing seven per game, somebody has to sit.)
Samuel Honzek – LW/C, Vancouver Giants, WHL / Slovakia, WJC / Calgary Wranglers, AHL
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 | |
WHL season to date | 33 | 10 | 21 | 31 | 22 | 16 | 11 | 86 | 23.26 |
WJC season to date | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 | n/a |
AHL season to date | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 |
2022-23 (WHL) | 43 | 23 | 33 | 56 | 40 | 36 | 26 | 134 | 32.25 |
Honzek has yet to dress in the playoffs.
Axel Hurtig – D, Rögle BK, J20 Nationell/SHL / Kristianstads IK, HockeyEttan
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 | 27 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 54 | 15.10 |
SHL season to date | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
HockeyEttan season to date | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | n/a |
2022-23 (J20) | 34 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 47 | 3.82 |
Hurtig’s season is finished. He’ll be joining the Calgary Hitmen next season.
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 | 72 | 21 | 22 | 43 | 34 | 28 | 22 | 208 | 23.80 |
2022-23 (AHL) | 71 | 17 | 37 | 54 | 41 | 28 | 21 | 202 | 30.31 |
Jones has played every playoff game so far in a checking role. He has yet to register a point.
Joni Jurmo – D, Ilves Tampere/KooKoo Kuovola, Liiga/CHL / Calgary Wranglers, AHL
21; Vancouver’s third round pick (82nd overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Vancouver
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Liiga season to date | 46 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 63 | 4.03 |
CHL season to date | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | n/a |
AHL season to date | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
2022-23 (Liiga) | 52 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 6 | 118 | 9.27 |
Jurmo’s season is finished.
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 | 54 | 16 | 16 | 32 | 27 | 22 | 18 | 115 | 23.62 |
2022-23 (ECHL) | 38 | 17 | 20 | 37 | 31 | 25 | 21 | 117 | 22.36 |
Kerins has yet to dress in the playoffs.
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 | 65 | 21 | 24 | 45 | 34 | 31 | 22 | 182 | 27.59 |
2022-23 (AHL) | 60 | 13 | 12 | 25 | 18 | 16 | 11 | 103 | 16.61 |
On one hand, Klapka has seven points in five playoff games and has been very noticeable. On the other hand, he took six minutes in minor penalties in Game 3 against Coachella Valley… and the Firebirds scored twice with him in the box to win the game. He’s good, but he’s not perfect.
Demetrios Koumonztis – D/RW, 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 | 47 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 11 | 14 | 10 | 84 | 9.28 |
2022-23 (NCAA) | 37 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 67 | 13.28 |
Koumontzis has an assist in three playoff games.
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 | 63 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 88 | 8.22 |
2022-23 (AHL) | 63 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 11 | 19 | 11 | 65 | 12.02 |
Kuznetsov has a goal in five playoff games. He’s been playing primarily in a shutdown role with Colton Poolman.
Jaden Lipinski – C, Vancouver Giants, WHL / Calgary Wranglers, AHL
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 | |
WHL season to date | 67 | 24 | 42 | 66 | 47 | 33 | 23 | 181 | 24.39 |
AHL season to date | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
2022-23 (WHL) | 66 | 19 | 32 | 51 | 36 | 35 | 23 | 152 | 19.14 |
Lipinski’s season is finished.
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 | 24 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 17 | 9 | 6 | – | 5.51 |
2022-23 (BCHL) | 51 | 29 | 39 | 68 | 47 | 36 | 27 | – | 8.75 |
Littler has a goal in nine playoff games for Penticton. At present, the Vees are tied 2-2 with Salmon Arm in the conference final round.
Brady Lyle – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
24; Free agent signing
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 47 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 102 | 12.72 |
2022-23 (AHL) | 51 | 7 | 24 | 31 | 16 | 13 | 6 | 124 | 24.22 |
Lyle has yet to dress in the playoffs.
Etienne Morin – D, Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL / Calgary Wranglers, AHL
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 | |
QMJHL season to date | 58 | 12 | 37 | 49 | 32 | 21 | 13 | 191 | 19.67 |
AHL season to date | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 |
2022-23 (QMJHL) | 67 | 21 | 51 | 72 | 47 | 34 | 21 | 213 | 25.03 |
Morin’s season is finished.
Sam Morton – C, Minnesota State University Mankato Mavericks, NCAA / Calgary Wranglers, AHL
24; Free agent signing
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
NCAA season to date | 37 | 24 | 10 | 34 | 32 | 20 | 19 | 151 | 24.00 |
AHL season to date | 13 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 25 | 21.46 |
2022-23 (NCAA) | 10 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 28 | 21.00 |
Morton has four points in five games so far in the playoffs, centring the second line. Remember, he came in on an amateur try-out deal – his NHL deal begins next season – but he was so good so quickly that they couldn’t take him out of the lineup.
Ilya Nikolaev – C/LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL / Rapid City Rush, ECHL
22; Calgary’s third round pick (88th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
AHL season to date | 29 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 33 | 8.25 |
ECHL season to date | 6 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 16 | 30.61 |
2022-23 (ECHL) | 40 | 13 | 20 | 33 | 21 | 22 | 15 | 97 | 18.94 |
Nikolaev has yet to dress in the playoffs.
Jakob Pelletier – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; Calgary’s first round pick (26th overall); 3rd-ranked prospect
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 18 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 45 | 26.57 |
2022-23 (AHL) | 35 | 16 | 21 | 37 | 32 | 18 | 14 | 92 | 42.13 |
Pelletier has three points in five playoff games, working the left side of the Wranglers’ top line.
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 | 23 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 44 | 22.53 |
2022-23 (AHL) | 69 | 9 | 32 | 41 | 20 | 21 | 13 | 172 | 23.68 |
Poirier has four points in five playoff games, with three of them coming in Game 3 against Coachella Valley. The Wranglers have used seven defenders seemingly in an effort to manage Poirier’s minutes and usage… and it seems to be doing a decent job keeping him fresh.
Cole Schwindt – C/RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; Florida’s third round pick (81st overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Florida; 9th-ranked prospect
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 66 | 14 | 22 | 36 | 27 | 23 | 15 | 128 | 21.74 |
2022-23 (AHL) | 70 | 14 | 18 | 32 | 20 | 16 | 10 | 118 | 18.22 |
Playing up the middle on the first line, Schwindt has five points in five playoff games. He’s been quite effective.
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 | 51 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 88 | 11.72 |
2022-23 (AHL) | 68 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 9 | 16 | 8 | 82 | 10.55 |
Solovyov has a goal over five playoff games. He’s been playing on the top pairing, primarily with Jordan Oesterle.
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 | 68 | 7 | 20 | 27 | 23 | 18 | 15 | 74 | 15.82 |
2022-23 (SHL) | 45 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 31 | 8.69 |
Strömgren has four points over five playoff games. He was excellent against Tucson, but he’s been merely pretty decent against Coachella Valley.
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 | 35 | 12 | 13 | 25 | 19 | 16 | 12 | 100 | 23.02 |
2022-23 (BCHL) | 50 | 45 | 45 | 90 | 73 | 47 | 40 | – | 11.81 |
Suniev’s season is finished.
Daniil Chechelev – G, HC Vityaz, KHL / Ryazan-VDV, VHL
22; Calgary’s fourth round pick (96th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft
GP | TOI | SV% | |
KHL season to date | 1 | 58 | .880 |
VHL season to date | 5 | 271 | .908 |
2022-23 (ECHL) | 39 | 2135 | .892 |
Chechelev’s season is finished.
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 | 16 | 934 | .913 |
2022-23 (NCAA) | 19 | 1104 | .912 |
Sergeev’s season is finished. He’ll be joining Penn State for the 2024-25 season.
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 | 36 | 2082 | .922 |
2022-23 (AHL) | 55 | 3239 | .932 |
Wolf’s been pretty good through five playoff games, winning three and losing twice. Teams seem to be trying to crowd his crease to throw him off his rhythm and trying to get him moving laterally to open up holes in his positioning. It’s had mixed results.
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 | 25 | 1319 | .917 |
2022-23 (MHL) | 15 | 786 | .915 |
Yegorov’s season is finished.
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