The Calgary Wranglers were in the spotlight this past week, as they entered the AHL’s Calder Cup playoffs as the lowest seed in the Pacific Division… and beat the Tucson Roadrunners twice on their home ice to sweep their way into the division semi-final round.
Because the series was a two game sweep and the Wranglers went with 11 forwards and seven defenders in the series, the line and pairing usages were pretty interesting.
Up front, Trent Cull used two offensive-minded lines:
  • Jakob Pelletier – Cole Schwindt – Matt Coronato
  • William Strömgren – Sam Morton – Adam Klapka
And then there were two checking lines:
  • Brett Sutter – Clark Bishop – Klapka or Riley Damiani
  • Mitch McLain – Ben Jones – Damiani or Klapka
On the blueline, it shook out like this:
  • Jordan Oesterle – Ilya Solovyov
  • Colton Poolman – Jeremie Poirier or Yan Kuznetsov
  • Jonathan Aspirot – Mark Pysyk
Dustin Wolf started both games, backed up by Oscar Dansk.
Now, the challenge for the Wranglers is they’re essentially entirely healthy now. And they got bodies back from the Flames. So that means that a bunch of good regular AHL roster players weren’t in the lineup for the first round. Among them: Alex Gallant, Lucas Ciona, Rory Kerins, Brady Lyle and Artem Grushnikov. But if the Wranglers are hoping to push a strong Coachella Valley team in the second round, they’ll need that depth.
Round 2 begins on Friday night in Calgary.
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 didn’t dress in first round.

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 didn’t dress in the first round.

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 didn’t dress in the first round.

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 had a goal and an assist against Tucson, including a very patient empty-netter in Game 1.

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 spent much of the Tucson series playing in a checking role, but he managed to score a goal off the rush.

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 didn’t dress in the first round.

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 didn’t dress in the first round.

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.

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 didn’t hit the scoresheet in the first round.

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 didn’t dress in the first round. He was released from his amateur try-out deal on Tuesday.

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 didn’t dress in the first round.

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
Man, Klapka came back to the AHL with some swagger, and he was one of the better Wranglers against Tucson. He had three assists over two games and was used in a lot of different roles.

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
Idaho advanced in the ECHL’s playoffs, but Koumontzis didn’t dress at all.

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 played alongside Poolman on the second pairing, with his usage skewed towards defensive situations.

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 didn’t dress in the first round. He was released from his amateur try-out deal last week.

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 returned to the Vees’ lineup for the second round and helped them advance to the conference finals, though he has yet to register a playoff point.

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 didn’t dress in the first round.

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 didn’t dress in the first round. He was released from his amateur try-out on Tuesday.

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 scored a goal in Game 1 against Tucson.

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 didn’t dress in the first round.

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 had an assist in the Tucson series.

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 played alongside Poolman on the second pairing, with his usage skewed towards offensive situations.

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
Schwindt had a goal and an assist in the Tucson series.

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
Playing on the top pairing with Oesterle, Solovyov was dynamite in all three zones for the Wranglers in round one. He scored a key goal in Game 2, and he was a shot-blocking machine throughout the series.

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 continues to be on a tear since the New Year. He had a goal and an assist against Tucson, including a doozy of a goal that stood up as the series-deciding marker.

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 was spectacular against Tucson, stopping 85 of 88 shots on net.

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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