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What have we learned about Flames prospects early this season?
alt
Photo credit: David Moll/Calgary Wranglers
Ryan Pike
Nov 6, 2024, 16:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 6, 2024, 07:13 EST
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The fun thing about the early part of every hockey season is the chaos. The frustrating thing about the early part of every hockey season… is also the chaos.
The early part of the season is often noisy because teams are getting used to new players or schemes, and results often vary wildly because teams are facing opponents that might not match up well in terms of readiness or cohesion yet. Typically we see more structured results and patterns by mid-season, when teams have gotten themselves organized and we can figure out who’s good and who’s bad.
In terms of the many, many Calgary Flames prospects in the hockey world, there are a few patterns we’ve noticed that seem to be of note:
  • The 2024 draftees all seem to either be as good as last season (or having taken steps forward). We’ve discussed this recently, but the upper-echelon picks – guys like Zayne Parekh, Matvei Gridin and Andrew Basha – have all mostly maintained their previous scoring or NHLe paces. And the “lower-tier” prospects have mostly increased their production. It’s a strong look for what looked at the time, on paper, to be a draft class full of value.
  • In college, Aydar Suniev and Arsenii Sergeev look to have taken big steps forward. Suniev is an offensive driver for UMass, while Sergeev has held Penn State in a ton of games early on. Both are good signs.
  • With the Wranglers, there’s a bunch of players with NHLe performances of more than 20: Sam Morton, Jakob Pelletier, Ilya Solovyov and Rory Kerins.
It would be better if the Flames’ system had more centres in it, but they have a lot of bright spots early in November.
Let’s dive into the updates!

Jonathan Aspirot – D, 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
8
0
4
4
1
2
1
6
19.93
2023-24 (AHL)
66
6
27
33
19
12
9
94
19.93
Aspirot was quiet offensively this week.

Andrew Basha – LW/C, Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL

18; 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
15
6
13
19
16
7
5
53
31.37
2023-24 (WHL)
63
30
55
85
69
52
41
189
33.41
Basha keeps chugging along, scoring consistently. His production remains skewed towards the power play, though.

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
16
11
12
23
21
16
14
44
38.07
2023-24 (OHL)
67
31
34
65
54
39
34
168
25.70
It says something that Battaglia’s scoring pace “slowing down” sees him slow down to “just” a point-per-game pace.

Parker Bell – LW/C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

20; 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
10
1
0
1
1
1
1
8
3.99
2023-24 (WHL)
59
33
31
64
50
35
31
231
26.86
While Bell hasn’t scored in a few weeks, but he doubled his season-to-date shot total over the past week. He’s getting looks.

Jake Boltmann – D, Northeastern University Huskies, NCAA/Hockey East

22; Calgary’s third round pick (80th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 188 pounds; shoots right
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
3
0
2
2
0
2
0
0
18.20
2023-24 (NCAA)
30
0
2
2
2
2
2
36
1.82
Boltmann remains out with an injury.

Hunter Brzustewicz – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

19; 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
11
0
2
2
1
1
1
7
7.25
2023-24 (OHL)
67
13
79
92
46
65
34
140
36.37
Brzustewicz had an assist on Halloween, his first point since opening night.

Lucas Ciona – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

21; 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
9
1
3
4
4
2
2
7
17.71
2023-24 (AHL)
55
4
2
6
5
6
5
67
4.35
Ciona is out with an injury.

Matt Coronato – RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

21; Calgary’s first round pick (13th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 5’10”, 183 pounds; shoots right
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
2
2
0
2
2
2
2
6
39.85
2023-24 (AHL)
41
15
27
42
28
27
17
140
40.82
Coronato is in the NHL.

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
13
7
8
15
11
9
7
55
26.87
2023-24 (USHL)
60
38
45
83
67
49
42
208
31.76
Gridin had a hat trick this week, with all three goals scored on the power play.

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
11
0
0
0
0
0
0
11
0.00
2023-24 (AHL)
63
1
5
6
5
6
5
65
3.80
Grushnikov remains quiet offensively.

Sam Honzek – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

19; 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
1
1
0
1
1
0
0
4
39.85
2023-24 (WHL)
33
10
21
31
22
16
11
86
23.26
Honzek scored a goal in his AHL season debut on Tuesday night.

Trevor Hoskin – RW, Niagara University Purple Eagles, NCAA/AHA

20; Calgary’s fourth round pick (106th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 175 pounds; shoots right
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
9
4
7
11
9
7
7
16
19.44
2023-24 (OJHL)
52
42
58
100
85
60
50
189
5.36
Hoskin was named the Atlantic Hockey conference’s rookie of the month for October.

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
15
0
3
3
2
2
1
14
4.95
2023-24 (J20)
27
3
8
11
7
11
7
54
15.10
Hurtig doesn’t score a ton, but that’s not really his game.

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
15
3
4
7
4
7
4
28
11.56
2023-24 (WHL)
66
10
22
32
21
27
18
174
12.01
Jamieson remains pretty steadily on last season’s scoring pace.

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
Season to date
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
2023-24 (Liiga)
46
1
4
5
3
4
3
63
4.03
Jurmo was re-assigned to Rapid City on Tuesday to get some games after he spent October as the eighth defender for the Wranglers.

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
11
9
3
12
10
8
7
33
43.47
2023-24 (AHL)
54
16
16
32
27
22
18
115
23.62
Kerins keeps chipping in with points here and there, and remains near the top of the AHL’s scoring leaderboard.

Adam Klapka – RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

23; 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
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
7
0.00
2023-24 (AHL)
65
21
24
45
34
31
22
182
27.59
Klapka got back into AHL action after being sent down from the Flames earlier in the week, but failed to register any points.

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
11
1
1
2
1
2
1
8
7.25
2023-24 (AHL)
63
5
8
13
9
12
8
88
8.22
Kuznetsov remains consistent, albeit with a pretty understated offensive statline.

Hunter Laing – C/RW, Prince George Cougars, WHL

18; Calgary’s sixth round pick (170th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’5″, 205 pounds; shoots right
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
16
5
5
10
9
8
7
27
15.48
2023-24 (WHL)
66
11
14
25
18
20
14
101
9.38
Laing was quiet offensively this week, but is still way ahead of last season’s scoring pace.

Jaden Lipinski – C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL / Vancouver Giants, WHL

19; Calgary’s fourth round pick (112th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 204 pounds; shoots right; FN’s 16th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
WHL season to date
6
1
5
6
5
3
2
11
24.76
AHL season to date
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.00
2023-24 (WHL)
67
24
42
66
47
33
23
181
24.39
Lipinski has settled in nicely back in the WHL over the past few weeks.

Cade Littler – C/RW, University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, NCAA/NCHC

20; Calgary’s seventh round pick (219th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 197 pounds; shoots right
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
5
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
7.20
2023-24 (BCHL)
24
9
12
21
17
9
6
–
5.51
Littler has found some traction in the North Dakota lineup, as he’s remained on their fourth line for the past few games.

Henry Mews – D, Ottawa 67’s, OHL

18; Calgary’s third round pick (74th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’0″, 181 pounds; shoots right; FN’s 9th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
14
2
12
14
9
3
1
59
26.49
2023-24 (OHL)
65
15
46
61
38
35
24
153
24.86
Mews finally scored this week, potting a pair of goals in Ottawa’s overtime win over Guelph.

Luke Misa – LW/C, Brampton Steelheads, OHL

18; Calgary’s fifth round pick (150th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 5’10”, 170 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 13th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
14
7
8
15
12
10
8
36
28.38
2023-24 (OHL)
66
26
55
81
56
58
39
210
32.51
After a slow start, Misa’s really come on offensively over the past few weeks.

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
15
4
14
18
10
11
7
51
27.95
2023-24 (QMJHL)
58
12
37
49
32
21
13
191
19.67
Morin slowed down a bit offensively this week, but he remains on quite a tear to begin this season.

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
11
1
7
8
7
3
3
26
28.98
2023-24 (NCAA)
37
24
10
34
32
20
19
151
24.00
After a slow start offensively, Morton has picked it up over the past few weeks.

Ilya Nikolaev – C/LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

23; Calgary’s third round pick (88th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft; 6’0″, 190 pounds; shoots left
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
AHL season to date
8
0
4
4
3
2
1
7
19.93
2023-24 (AHL)
29
3
3
6
6
6
6
33
8.25
Nikolaev didn’t dress for the last two Wranglers games.

Zayne Parekh – D, Saginaw Spirit, OHL

18; Calgary’s first round pick (9th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’0″, 179 pounds; shoots right; FN’s 1st-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
13
4
11
15
9
6
4
60
30.56
2023-24 (OHL)
66
33
63
96
66
54
39
224
38.53
Parekh remains pretty consistent, generating many, many shots and putting up points – often on the power play.

Jakob Pelletier – RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

23; Calgary’s first round pick (26th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft; 5’9″, 170 pounds; shoots left
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
11
0
10
10
5
7
4
26
36.23
2023-24 (AHL)
18
5
7
12
8
7
6
45
26.57
Pelletier had eight shots on goal over the past two Wranglers games, but didn’t register any points.

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
11
0
2
2
0
2
0
16
7.25
2023-24 (AHL)
23
3
10
13
5
5
2
44
22.53
Poirier registered an assist against San Diego, but remains really quiet offensively compared to last season’s pace.

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
7
2
2
4
2
4
2
8
22.77
2023-24 (AHL)
51
5
10
15
10
14
10
88
11.72
Solovyov is off to a pretty solid start from an offensive production standpoint.

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
11
2
3
5
3
2
2
14
18.11
2023-24 (AHL)
68
7
20
27
23
18
15
74
15.82
Strömgren had three points in a game against San Diego this past week.

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

19; Calgary’s third round pick (80th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’2″, 198 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 12th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
8
6
4
10
8
4
4
30
40.28
2023-24 (NCAA)
35
12
13
25
19
16
12
100
23.02
Suniev registered nine shots on goal (and the assist on the goal that stood as the game-winner) in UMass’ lone game this week.

Daniil Chechelev – G, HC Vityaz, KHL / Yunison-Moskva, VHL

23; Calgary’s fourth round pick (96th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 187 pounds
GP
TOI
SV%
VHL season to date
3
125
.825
2023-24 (VHL)
5
271
.908
Chechelev started a game and was pulled midway through after allowing three shots, the second time that’s happened to him in three starts this season.

Waltteri Ignatjew – G, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

24; Signed as a free agent; 6’3″, 200 pounds
GP
TOI
SV%
Season to date
3
180
.927
2023-24 (SWE-1)
45
2614
.918
Ignatjew started once and won. He’s been playing behind Devin Cooley, but he’s performed really well.

Arsenii Sergeev – G, Penn State University Nittany Lions, NCAA/Big 10

21; Calgary’s seventh round pick (205th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 192 pounds
GP
TOI
SV%
Season to date
7
421
.929
2023-24 (NCAA)
16
934
.913
Sergeev played a pair of games against a really strong University of Minnesota team, losing twice but only allowing three goals on many, many shots.

Yegor Yegorov – G, HC Tambov, VHL / MHC Tambov, NMHL

19; Calgary’s sixth round pick (176th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 183 pounds
GP
TOI
SV%
VHL season to date
3
100
.837
NMHL season to date
5
304
.916
2023-24 (MHL)
25
1319
.917
Yegorov dressed a couple times as backup in the VHL but didn’t get any game action in, so he was loaned to their NMHL team and picked up a victory.

Kirill Zarubin – G, AKM Tula, MHL

18; Calgary’s third round pick (84th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 178 pounds; FN’s 19th-ranked prospect 2024
GP
TOI
SV%
Season to date
6
327
.909
2023-24 (MHL)
45
2473
.927
Zarubin didn’t dress in either of AKM Tula’s games this week.

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