The Calgary Wranglers will finish their regular season on Apr. 20 – a couple Saturdays from now – when they visit the Abbotsford Canucks. Unlike their National Hockey League parent, the Wranglers’ season will continue into post-season play.
But the final four games could be really significant or a time for experimentation for Trent Cull and his coaching staff. And it all kind of depends on what happens above them in the standings.
In the AHL’s Pacific Division, the top seven teams make the playoffs. The top seed, Coachella Valley, gets a bye into the division semi-final round. Meanwhile, the other six teams – seeds 2 through 7 – compete in best-of-three series to determine who joins Coachella Valley in the next round.
Here’s how the playoff picture looks, ignoring the Firebirds at top spot.
Seed
Team
Points
Games Left
2
Tucson
83
COL (x2), CV, SJB (x2)
3
Ontario
83
CV, SD, HEN, BAK, COL (x2)
4
Colorado
81
TUC (x2), SD (x2), ONT (x2)
5
Abbotsford
79
CGY (x4)
6
Bakersfield
78
SD, CV, ONT, HEN (x2)
7
Calgary
78
ABB (x4)
It’s entirely possible for the Wranglers to (a) get home ice or (b) finish in the second seed. They have four games left and could potentially finish with 86 points. But aside from Abbotsford, everybody above them has more games left than they do, and so a lot of the ability to climb up the standings is up to how the other teams handle their business.
As of right now, officially, the Wranglers are carrying 29 players: 3 goalies, 10 defencemen and 16 forwards. (Brady Lyle is injured but counts as part of the total here.) And the expectation is that Samuel Honzek, Jaden Lipinski and Etienne Morin will join the Wranglers shortly, even if just to practice, which would swell the roster to 32 players. (And Dustin Wolf, Ilya Solovyov and Matt Coronato are expected to rejoin the club when the NHL season ends on Apr. 18.) That’s a lot of bodies to have around, even if the Flames’ development team will likely be working with some of the younger players.
But here’s the rub, the Wranglers are pursuing (and trying to balance) two goals right now:
  1. Get the AHL team ready for a long playoff run.
  2. Develop players for the NHL team.
So far, with the Wranglers’ playoff placement still able to change, the coaching staff has used their new faces sparingly – AHL signee David Silye played once, as did WHL call-up Parker Bell, while Joni Jurmo hasn’t dressed yet. But if the Wranglers’ playoff slot gets cemented, we could see more. We wouldn’t expect the Wranglers to go full youth, though, as they still want to keep momentum rolling as the start of the playoffs approach.
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
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0.00
2022-23 (WHL)
55
25
39
64
51
36
28
187
28.82
Bell made his AHL season debut on Friday. He played on the fourth line and was perfectly fine.

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

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
Season to date
67
13
79
92
46
65
34
140
36.37
2022-23 (OHL)
68
6
51
57
32
31
21
110
22.20
Kitchener beat Erie in overtime on Tuesday – their third OT win of the series – to advance to the second round of the OHL’s playoffs. Brzustewicz had four assists over the six game series.

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
54
4
2
6
5
6
5
64
4.43
2022-23 (WHL)
63
28
47
75
53
54
37
194
29.48
With the Wranglers juggling so many bodies right now, Ciona sat for two games last weekend.

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
40
15
27
42
28
27
17
137
41.84
2022-23 (NCAA)
34
20
16
36
31
19
16
141
24.31
Coronato is in the NHL. He’s eligible to return for the AHL’s playoffs.

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
64
11
13
24
19
16
13
94
14.94
2022-23 (AHL)
59
13
18
31
24
18
14
87
20.94
Damiani dressed once and sat once. When he dressed, he centred the third line.

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
60
1
5
6
5
6
5
64
3.99
2022-23 (OHL)
65
8
9
17
10
14
9
116
6.93
Grushnikov dressed once and sat once. When he dressed, he played with Ilya Solovyov on the shutdown pairing.

Samuel Honzek – LW/C, Vancouver Giants, WHL / Slovakia, WJC

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
2022-23 (WHL)
43
23
33
56
40
36
26
134
32.25
The Giants were eliminated from the playoffs last week. Honzek is expected to join the Wranglers imminently. He’s already under contract, so he’ll just be re-assigned by the big club.

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 is playing on the second pairing for Kristianstads IK as they play in the Hockeyettan Kvalserien till HockeyAllsvenskan (the play-in league to compete for a spot in the second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan). Currently, Kristianstads is in first place. Through five games, Hurtig has an assist and is plus-1.

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
68
21
22
43
34
28
22
201
25.20
2022-23 (AHL)
71
17
37
54
41
28
21
202
30.31
Jones is the only Wrangler to have dressed in every game this season. He had an assist in two games last week.

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 is with the Wranglers but hasn’t dressed quite yet.

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
51
15
16
31
26
21
17
109
24.22
2022-23 (ECHL)
38
17
20
37
31
25
21
117
22.36
Kerins has been streaky this season, but now he’s back on a hot streak. He had two goals in two games last week.

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
62
21
23
44
34
30
22
175
28.28
2022-23 (AHL)
60
13
12
25
18
16
11
103
16.61
Klapka played twice and had an assist last week. He continues to be one of their most consistent forwards offensively.

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
46
9
10
19
11
14
10
84
9.48
2022-23 (NCAA)
37
7
11
18
12
10
7
67
13.28
Koumontzis didn’t hit the scoresheet this week in the ECHL.

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
60
5
7
12
9
11
8
85
7.97
2022-23 (AHL)
63
5
14
19
11
19
11
65
12.02
Kuznetsov dressed once and sat once. He played on the second pairing with Colton Poolman when he dressed.

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
67
24
42
66
47
33
23
181
24.39
2022-23 (WHL)
66
19
32
51
36
35
23
152
19.14
The Giants were eliminated from the playoffs last week. Lipinski is expected to join the Wranglers imminently on an amateur try-out deal.

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 is injured, but the expectation is he could return in the playoffs should the Vees last for a little bit. They’re one of the top seeds in the league, so it doesn’t seem out of the realm of possibility that they could last a few rounds.

Brady Lyle – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

24; Free agent signing
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5 P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
46
6
9
15
9
7
3
100
13.00
2022-23 (AHL)
51
7
24
31
16
13
6
124
24.22
Lyle is injured. He last played on Feb. 19.

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
58
12
37
49
32
21
13
191
19.67
2022-23 (QMJHL)
67
21
51
72
47
34
21
213
25.03
The Wildcats were eliminated from the playoffs last week. Morin is expected to join the Wranglers imminently on an amateur try-out deal.

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
10
3
2
5
5
3
3
21
19.93
2022-23 (NCAA)
10
6
2
8
7
3
3
28
21.00
Morton had no points in two games last week. He’s become a pretty useful, reliable player for the Wranglers’ top six forward group.

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
4
2
3
5
5
4
4
11
28.70
2022-23 (ECHL)
40
13
20
33
21
22
15
97
18.94
The good news: Nikolaev is playing and producing offensively. The less-good news: it’s in the ECHL.

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
14
4
7
11
7
6
5
28
31.31
2022-23 (AHL)
35
16
21
37
32
18
14
92
42.13
Pelletier had three points over two games last week. He’s starting to get his offensive mojo back.

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
19
3
10
13
5
5
2
40
27.27
2022-23 (AHL)
69
9
32
41
20
21
13
172
23.68
Poirier dressed once and sat once – likely for load management reasons considering he missed so much time due to injury and the Wranglers have had a hectic schedule. When he dressed, he played with Colton Poolman.

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
62
14
20
34
25
22
14
120
21.85
2022-23 (AHL)
70
14
18
32
20
16
10
118
18.22
Schwindt played twice last week and registered an assist. He continues to have a quietly effective season for the Wranglers.

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
50
5
9
14
9
13
9
84
11.16
2022-23 (AHL)
68
4
14
18
9
16
8
82
10.55
Solovyov played two games, then was called up to the NHL. He’s eligible to return for the AHL’s playoffs.

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
64
7
18
25
22
16
14
72
15.57
2022-23 (SHL)
45
3
5
8
6
6
5
31
8.69
Strömgren had three points in one game and zero in the other. He continues to have a really strong second half to his season.

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
35
2025
.923
2022-23 (AHL)
55
3239
.932
Wolf is in the NHL. He’s eligible to return for the AHL’s playoffs.

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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