When the Calgary Wranglers unveiled their playoff roster in advance of their series with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, there were some things about the roster that made us go “Hmm…”
Not in terms of who wasn’t included, but in terms of who was. After a pair of impressive games over the weekend against the San Jose Barracuda, forward Carter King and blueliner Simon Mack were both included on the roster and actually suited up for their first AHL post-season games on Tuesday night against the Firebirds. The duo had just played their first pro games over the previous weekend.
Also included on the playoff roster was forward Carter Wilkie, who was scratched for Game 1 to facilitate David Silye’s return to the Wranglers lineup.
The Wranglers have done a pretty good job in recent years of finding interesting new faces down the stretch and giving them chances. But kudos to Mack and Wilkie in particular; these guys are on amateur try-out deals and don’t have an NHL contract like King does, but they impressed enough to make Wranglers brass go “Okay, we should keep these guys with us for the playoffs.”
Onto the updates!
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 | 65 | 5 | 24 | 29 | 13 | 17 | 8 | 80 | 17.78 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 66 | 6 | 27 | 33 | 19 | 12 | 9 | 94 | 19.93 |
Aspirot ended up having a nearly identical offensive season as he did last year.
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 |
Medicine Hat will face the Lethbridge/Calgary winner in the Eastern Conference Final. Basha remains out with an 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 | 68 | 40 | 50 | 90 | 67 | 57 | 45 | 239 | 35.06 |
2023-24 (OHL) | 67 | 31 | 34 | 65 | 54 | 39 | 34 | 168 | 25.70 |
Battaglia and Kingston have been eliminated from the OHL playoffs by the Barrie Colts. Battaglia had 16 points over 11 games.
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 | 61 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 67 | 7.84 |
2023-24 (WHL) | 59 | 33 | 31 | 64 | 50 | 35 | 31 | 231 | 26.86 |
Bell was unavailable for the final games of the regular season after a fight with Abbotsford’s Ty Glover last weekend.
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 | 70 | 5 | 27 | 32 | 19 | 20 | 13 | 75 | 18.22 |
2023-24 (OHL) | 67 | 13 | 79 | 92 | 46 | 65 | 34 | 140 | 36.37 |
Brzustewicz made his NHL debut and then played a ton in Game 1 of the Wranglers’ playoff series with the Firebirds.
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 | 68 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 91 | 12.89 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 55 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 67 | 4.35 |
Ciona had a strong week. He had a goal and an assist in the regular season finale, then had a goal in the Wranglers’ third period Game 1 comeback.
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 | 56 | 36 | 43 | 79 | 58 | 40 | 32 | 236 | 32.85 |
2023-24 (USHL) | 60 | 38 | 45 | 83 | 67 | 49 | 42 | 208 | 31.76 |
Shawinigan has advanced to the conference final round in the QMJHL and will face Rimouski. Gridin is third in playoff scoring with 14 points through nine games.
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 | 61 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 43 | 3.27 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 63 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 65 | 3.80 |
Grushnikov played in one of the two weekend games for the Wranglers, but suited up for Game 1 of the playoffs.
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 | 52 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 17 | 12 | 10 | 80 | 16.09 |
2023-24 (WHL) | 33 | 10 | 21 | 31 | 22 | 16 | 11 | 86 | 23.26 |
Honzek has been primarily playing centre lately and has been pretty solid.
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 | 55 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 66 | 7.20 |
2023-24 (J20) | 27 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 54 | 15.10 |
The Hitmen face Lethbridge on Wednesday night in Game 7 of their second round series. So far, Hurtig has three points through 10 games.
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 | 66 | 14 | 22 | 36 | 26 | 27 | 19 | 175 | 13.51 |
2023-24 (WHL) | 66 | 10 | 22 | 32 | 21 | 27 | 18 | 174 | 12.01 |
Jamieson’s junior career is over, as Everett was upset by Portland in seven games. Jamieson had four points through 13 games.
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 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 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 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 | 63 | 33 | 28 | 61 | 52 | 40 | 35 | 135 | 38.59 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 54 | 16 | 16 | 32 | 27 | 22 | 18 | 115 | 23.62 |
Kerins had an assist over the weekend, then two more points in the Wranglers’ Game 1 comeback.
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 was banged up in the Flames’ regular season finale. He’s expected to return to the Wranglers once he’s medically cleared.
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 | 72 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 12 | 16 | 10 | 95 | 11.62 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 63 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 88 | 8.22 |
Kuznetsov played in every Wranglers game this season.
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 | 62 | 14 | 44 | 58 | 29 | 40 | 24 | 222 | 21.79 |
2023-24 (QMJHL) | 58 | 12 | 37 | 49 | 32 | 21 | 13 | 191 | 19.67 |
Morin and Moncton have advanced to the conference final round, where they’ll face Rouyn-Noranda. Morin has 10 points through nine games.
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 | 70 | 20 | 25 | 45 | 33 | 23 | 17 | 161 | 25.62 |
2023-24 (NCAA) | 37 | 24 | 10 | 34 | 32 | 20 | 19 | 151 | 24.00 |
Morton made his NHL debut in Game 82, and returned to the Wranglers in time to centre the top line for the post-season.
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 | 71 | 5 | 37 | 42 | 23 | 26 | 15 | 132 | 23.57 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 23 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 44 | 22.53 |
Poirier had three assists over the final weekend of the season.
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 | 59 | 6 | 22 | 28 | 11 | 23 | 9 | 81 | 18.91 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 51 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 88 | 11.72 |
After playing in both weekend games, Solovyov didn’t dress for Game 1 against Coachella Valley. The team didn’t announce any injury updates, nor would you really expect that during the playoffs.
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 | 70 | 14 | 35 | 49 | 35 | 26 | 20 | 107 | 27.90 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 68 | 7 | 20 | 27 | 23 | 18 | 15 | 74 | 15.82 |
Strömgren scored a goal over the last weekend of the season, fully doubling his rookie year performance.
Waltteri Ignatjew – G, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
25; Signed as a free agent; 6’3″, 200 pounds
GP | TOI | SV% | |
Season to date | 28 | 1510 | .892 |
2023-24 (SWE-1) | 45 | 2614 | .918 |
Ignatjew has been really strong lately. He relieved Devin Cooley on Friday afternoon, then started and registered his first AHL shutout on Sunday. He started Game 1 of their playoff series on Tuesday and back-stopped the team as they pushed Coachella Valley to triple overtime.
Yegor Yegorov – G, HC Tambov, VHL / MHC Tambov, NMHL / MHK Krylia Sovetov Moskva/MHK Spartak 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 | 20 | 1032 | .904 |
2023-24 (MHL) | 25 | 1319 | .917 |
Yegorov is an extra goalie for MHK Spartak Moskva during the MHL playoffs. He hasn’t dressed yet.
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