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The Wranglers hit a “slump”: a Calgary Flames prospect update
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Photo credit: Jenn Pierce/Calgary Wranglers
Ryan Pike
Nov 22, 2023, 12:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 22, 2023, 01:24 EST
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For fans of the American Hockey League’s Calgary Wranglers, we’ve got good news and bad news for you. The good news is that the Wranglers have an impressive 11-3-1 record through 15 games, and are by points percentage the class of the league.
The bad news is they’re in the midst of a horrible, season-high losing streak… of two games.
This week represented the duality (and unique challenges) of minor league hockey. The Wranglers had two games, both wins, where they scored eight combined goals (and allowed five). Then they had a pair of games, both losses, where they scored two combined goals (and allowed six). Four game weeks are pretty rare in the AHL, especially this current stretch where they play eight games in two week (and travel back and forth from California twice in the progress) – this stretch ends with their game with Tucson on Wednesday night.
The Wranglers are a really solid AHL squad. Their defensive game isn’t spectacular, but they’re deep and versatile. But even a deep, good team can get bogged down by a hectic schedule.
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
13
6
10
16
13
8
8
51
30.48
2022-23
55
25
39
64
51
36
28
187
28.82
Bell returned after missing a few games after being cranked in the head by a high hit a couple weeks back. He registered four points over two games after returning, so his offensive mojo remains intact so far.

Jake Boltmann – D, University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish, NCAA/Big 10

21; 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
9
0
0
0
0
0
0
12
0.00
2022-23 (NCAA)
37
1
4
5
3
5
3
42
3.69
Boltmann has resumed his spot on the third pairing after missing a few games with an apparent injury. He has no points this season and is a team-worst minus-8 on the season.

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
13
1
1
2
1
2
1
12
6.13
2022-23 (WHL)
63
28
47
75
53
54
37
194
29.48
Ciona played in three of four Wranglers game this week, all of ’em on the fourth line, registering an assist. He was scratched against Tucson as the Wranglers rotated Alex Gallant and Mitch McLain back in.

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
9
5
4
9
8
5
4
34
39.85
2022-23 (NCAA)
34
20
16
36
31
19
16
141
24.31
Coronato slowed his production a bit – not for lacking of trying with 16 shots over four games – only registering a goal and an assist this week. He’s playing a lot in most game situations, as you would expect for a recent first-round pick.

Samuel Honzek – LW/C, Vancouver Giants, WHL

18; 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
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
2022-23 (WHL)
43
23
33
56
40
36
26
134
32.25
Honzek remains out with an injury. He’s expected to return sometime in the next week or two, though.

Axel Hurtig – D, Rögle BK U20, J20 Nationell

18; Calgary’s seventh round pick (208th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
6
2
2
4
3
4
3
18
24.71
2022-23 (J20)
34
2
6
8
3
7
3
47
3.82
Returning from the international break, Hurtig remains productive. He had two assists over two games, both Rögle wins, playing as a top pairing defender.

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
15
4
9
13
8
11
6
34
34.54
2022-23 (AHL)
71
17
37
54
41
28
21
202
30.31
This is basically what Ben Jones is at the AHL level. He had 11 shots over four games, registering a goal and an assist. He’s centring Kerins and Klapka.

Rory Kerins – C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

20; 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
9
3
5
8
6
5
3
24
35.42
2022-23 (ECHL)
38
17
20
37
31
25
21
117
22.36
Kerins continues to make it very, very challenging for the Wranglers’ coaching staff to rotate him out of the lineup. He had a pair of goals and an assist on 10 shots over four games, and he’s quietly becoming a really important cog in their offence both at even strength and on the power play.

Adam Klapka – RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

22; Free agent signing; 18th-ranked prospect
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
15
5
6
11
9
8
6
39
29.22
2022-23 (AHL)
60
13
12
25
18
16
11
103
16.61
Klapka had a quiet offensive week, at last by his standards from this season, with a pair of helpers over four games. He’s been playing on a line with Ben Jones and Rory Kerins.

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
15
0
2
2
1
2
1
11
5.31
2022-23 (AHL)
63
5
14
19
11
19
11
65
12.02
A pure shutdown defender, playing alongside Colton Poolman on the de facto third pairing, Kuznetsov had zero points and one shot on goal over four games this week.

Jaden Lipinski – C, Vancouver Giants, WHL

18; 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
21
7
9
16
12
9
7
57
18.87
2022-23 (WHL)
66
19
32
51
36
35
23
152
19.14
Lipinski had a hat trick, his first in the WHL, against Prince George last week. He continues to set the pace for the Giants offensively this season.

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
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
2022-23 (BCHL)
51
29
39
68
47
36
27
–
8.75
Littler returned from injury, played one last game for Cedar Rapids, and then headed off to join Penticton in the BCHL. He’s expected to debut for the Vees this coming weekend.

Brady Lyle – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

24; Free agent signing
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
15
3
4
7
3
4
1
37
18.60
2022-23 (AHL)
51
7
24
31
16
13
6
124
24.22
Lyle had two assists (and 10 shots) over four games.

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
16
5
11
16
8
7
3
53
23.29
2022-23 (QMJHL)
67
21
51
72
47
34
21
213
25.03
Morin had three assists in two games, both Moncton wins, over a pretty lean week in terms of game action.

Ilya Nikolaev – C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

21; 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
5
2
2
4
4
4
4
10
31.88
2022-23 (ECHL)
40
13
20
33
21
22
15
97
18.94
Nikolaev played three of the four games, getting bumped to the press box against Tucson as the Wranglers brought Alex Gallant and Mitch McLain back in. He had two assists.

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
15
3
7
10
9
8
7
20
26.57
2022-23 (AHL)
61
19
25
44
35
35
29
118
28.75
Playing on the second line, Pettersen had a productive week with a goal and two assists on seven shots across four games. He was one of the better Wranglers at putting pucks on net.

Jeremie Poirier – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

20; 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

23; 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/CHL

18; 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)
12
1
1
2
1
1
1
13
6.18
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 returned to Tappara on Nov. 6 while his legal proceedings related to rape changes continue to work through the Finnish courts. Tappara’s played two games since, with Rönni not dressing in either.

Cole Schwindt – C/RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

21; Acquired in a trade with Florida; 9th-ranked prospect
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
15
3
3
6
5
4
3
17
15.94
2022-23 (AHL)
70
14
18
32
20
16
10
118
18.22
Serving as the centre between Dryden Hunt and Matt Coronato, Schwindt’s primary gig is winning face-offs and being a two-way conduit for those players. He had a goal over four games this past week.

Ilya Solovyov – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

22; 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
13
2
2
4
2
4
2
26
12.26
2022-23 (AHL)
68
4
14
18
9
16
8
82
10.55
Playing primarily on a pairing with Brady Lyle, Solovyov had a goal across four games this past week. He’s primarily a defence-first guy, but he’s generating shots and points at a slightly higher clip than he was a year ago.

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
14
0
2
2
2
1
1
8
5.69
2022-23 (SHL)
45
3
5
8
6
6
5
31
8.69
Playing a checking role, Strömgren had zero points (and two shots) over four games.

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

18; 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
11
4
1
5
5
3
3
25
14.65
2022-23 (BCHL)
50
45
45
90
73
47
40
–
11.81
Suniev played two games, got zero points, and got yeeted from his second game for a kneeing penalty.

Connor Zary – LW/C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

21; 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.

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
After getting yanked after two periods in his last outing, Sergeev dressed as Ethan Haider’s back up in each UConn game this past week. It feels like he’s getting a bit of a reset after having a few challenging outings.

Dustin Wolf – G, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

21; Calgary’s seventh round pick (214th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft; 1st-ranked prospect
GP
TOI
SV%
Season to date
8
482
.909
2022-23 (AHL)
55
3239
.932
Wolf returned from the NHL and split a pair of starts, giving up seven goals between a shootout win and a regulation loss. I wouldn’t say his performances are worse than last year’s, but I would say the blueline group is a bit leaner than he had in front of him a year ago.

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
11
599
.921
2022-23 (MHL)
15
786
.915
After being third string for a little bit, Yegorov rotated back in. He dressed as backup initially, but MHK’s starting netminder, Ilya Podsukha, suffered an injury early in the game. So Yegorov finished that game (and got the win) and started MHK’s Monday game, also getting a win. Typically MHK has ridden the hot hand and then, when their goalie cools off, swaps to one of the other two netminders.
We’ll see how long Yegorov can hold onto the net.
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