Nation Sites
The Nation Network
FlamesNation has no direct affiliation to the Calgary Flames, Calgary Sports and Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
When might reinforcements arrive for the Wranglers?
Photo credit: Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff
Friends, I don’t think we’re being unfair or telling tales out of school when we say that the Calgary Wranglers, the Calgary Flames’ top minor-league affiliate, is a depleted group.
They haven’t won a ton of late and they haven’t scored of late. Their defensive zone play is a bit mucky, and they gave up five power play goals in a recent game against the Henderson Silver Knights. Their group is working hard, but the roster is pretty lean right now.
Could some new faces be on the way to give them a boost down the stretch? Well, maybe.
The Flames have three players currently playing in the Western Hockey League: Axel Hurtig (Calgary Hitmen), Andrew Basha (Medicine Hat Tigers) and Hunter Laing (Saskatoon Blades). When any of those gentlemen have their junior seasons end, Hurtig or Laing would be eligible for amateur try-out deals while Basha could be simply re-assigned back to the AHL. (We wouldn’t expect any college help this spring: Abram Wiebe and Jonathan Castagna probably go right to the NHL when/if they sign their entry-level deals.)
Basha may be awhile. The Tigers were a certified wagon in the regular season, and especially so once Basha rejoined his old team. They seem like a group that could make a run at their second consecutive WHL championship. Meanwhile, Hurtig’s Hitmen and Laing’s Blades are in pretty evenly-matched first-round series: the Hitmen play Brandon and the Blades get Edmonton.
The earliest Hurtig or Laing’s series could be done is Apr. 2, at which point Flames and Wranglers brass would need to ponder the merits of bringing them in. We’ll see how everything unfolds over the next little while.
Onto the updates!
Andrew Basha – LW/C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL/Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL
20; Calgary’s second round pick (41st overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 5’11”, 174 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 8th-ranked prospect 2025
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
AHL season to date | 27 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 18 | 7.38 |
WHL season to date | 32 | 18 | 32 | 50 | 31 | 29 | 20 | 116 | 38.69 |
2024-25 (WHL) | 23 | 9 | 20 | 29 | 24 | 12 | 9 | 73 | 31.22 |
Basha finished off the regular season strong. The Tigers will face the Regina Pats in the first round of the WHL’s playoffs.
Parker Bell – LW/RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; 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 | 47 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 54 | 3.39 |
2024-25 (AHL) | 61 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 67 | 7.84 |
Bell remains on the Wranglers’ fourth line.
Jonathan Castagna – C, Cornell University Big Red, NCAA
20; Arizona’s third round pick (70th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Utah; 6’2″, 203 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 32 | 15 | 19 | 34 | 25 | 22 | 13 | 100 | 24.40 |
2024-25 (NCAA) | 32 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 61 | 10.76 |
Castagna and Cornell will be facing Denver in the first round of the NCAA’s national tournament on Friday.
Nick Cicek – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
25; free agent signing; 6’3″, 201 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 61 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 11 | 18 | 8 | 66 | 13.72 |
2024-25 (DEL) | 50 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 10 | 16 | 9 | 75 | 9.81 |
Cicek missed a game with an injury.
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 | 43 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 52 | 6.49 |
2024-25 (AHL) | 68 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 91 | 12.89 |
Ciona is on the shelf with an injury.
Artem Grushnikov – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; Dallas’ second round pick (48th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Dallas; 6’1″, 203 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 55 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 50 | 1.45 |
2024-25 (AHL) | 61 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 43 | 3.27 |
Grushnikov is playing primarily with Daniil Miromanov on the Wranglers’ de facto first pairing.
Trevor Hoskin – RW, Merrimack College Warriors, NCAA
21; 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 | 33 | 13 | 22 | 35 | 26 | 18 | 14 | 66 | 34.18 |
2024-25 (NCAA) | 36 | 12 | 27 | 39 | 29 | 28 | 23 | 80 | 17.23 |
Hoskin and Merrimack won the Hockey East’s playoff tournament as heavy underdogs – they were eighth in the conference in the regular season and went on a run. They’ll be facing North Dakota on Thursday in the first round of the NCAA’s national tournament.
Axel Hurtig – D, Calgary Hitmen, WHL
20; 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 | 64 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 10 | 18 | 9 | 100 | 7.35 |
2024-25 (WHL) | 55 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 66 | 7.20 |
Hurtig ended up beating out last year’s offensive production by a few points. The Hitmen will be facing the Brandon Wheat Kings in the first round of the WHL’s playoffs.
Eric Jamieson – D, University of Denver Pioneers, NCAA
20; Calgary’s seventh round pick (208th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 200 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 39 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 9 | 13 | 8 | 71 | 14.77 |
2024-25 (WHL) | 66 | 14 | 22 | 36 | 26 | 27 | 19 | 175 | 13.51 |
Jamieson and Denver won the NCHC’s conference playoff tournament. They’ll be facing Cornell on Friday in the first round of the NCAA’s national tournament.
Rory Kerins – C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
23; Calgary’s sixth round pick (174th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 5’10”, 175 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 15th-ranked prospect 2025
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 50 | 17 | 28 | 45 | 31 | 30 | 22 | 105 | 35.87 |
2024-25 (AHL) | 63 | 33 | 28 | 61 | 52 | 40 | 35 | 135 | 38.59 |
Kerins remains out week-to-week with an injury.
Carter King – C/LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
23; free agent signing; 5’11”, 190 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 59 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 65 | 8.78 |
2024-25 (NCAA) | 44 | 21 | 22 | 43 | 31 | 16 | 14 | 116 | 35.18 |
King has remained a utility player for the Wranglers, bouncing between lines (and centre and the wing) depending on what the team needs.
Hunter Laing – C/RW, Saskatoon Blades, WHL
19; 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 | 62 | 24 | 31 | 55 | 37 | 32 | 23 | 166 | 21.97 |
2024-25 (WHL) | 64 | 25 | 23 | 48 | 40 | 35 | 29 | 153 | 18.57 |
Saskatoon is facing the Edmonton Oil Kings in the first round of the WHL’s playoffs.
Jakob Leander – D, HV71, U20 Nationell
18; Calgary’s seventh round pick (208th overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 196 pounds; shoots right
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 38 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 52 | 5.61 |
2024-25 (J20) | 39 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 33 | 2.52 |
Leander has three points in four games in the J20’s round robin relegation playoffs. HV71 is undefeated so far, so they’re likely to remain in the top division going forward.
Cade Littler – C, University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, NCAA
21; 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 | 33 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 50 | 14.18 |
2024-25 (NCAA) | 33 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 30 | 9.82 |
Littler and North Dakota are facing Merrimack on Thursday in the first round of the NCAA’s national tournament.
Yan Matveiko – C, Krasnaya Armiya Moskva, MHL/Zvezda Moskva, VHL
19; Calgary’s seventh round pick (211th overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 150 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
MHL season to date | 48 | 15 | 22 | 37 | 23 | 28 | 17 | 86 | 9.04 |
VHL season to date | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | n/a |
2024-25 (MHL) | 42 | 10 | 14 | 24 | 20 | 21 | 17 | 68 | 6.70 |
Krasnaya Armiya has qualified for the MHL post-season, but don’t have a set opponent yet.
Luke Misa – LW/C, Penn State University Nittany Lions, NCAA
19; Calgary’s fifth round pick (150th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 5’10”, 170 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 13th-ranked prospect 2025
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 35 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 88 | 14.82 |
2024-25 (OHL) | 67 | 34 | 51 | 85 | 58 | 63 | 43 | 211 | 33.60 |
Penn State opens the NCAA’s national tournament on Friday when they face Minnesota-Duluth.
Etienne Morin – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL/Rapid City Rush, ECHL
20; Calgary’s second round pick (48th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft; 6’0″, 180 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 10th-ranked prospect 2025
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
AHL season to date | 34 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 32 | 7.03 |
ECHL season to date | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 13.12 |
2024-25 (QMJHL) | 62 | 14 | 44 | 58 | 29 | 40 | 24 | 222 | 21.79 |
Morin is playing on the Wranglers’ third pairing.
Brennan Othmann – LW, Hartford Wolf Pack/Calgary Wranglers, AHL
23; NY Rangers’ first round pick (16th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with NY Rangers; 6’0″, 192 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 34 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 18 | 14 | 13 | 64 | 23.44 |
2024-25 (AHL) | 27 | 12 | 8 | 20 | – | – | – | – | 29.52 |
Othmann is playing in the Wranglers’ top six. He had an assist this week.
Mace’o Phillips – D, Green Bay Gamblers, USHL / United States Junior Selects, WJAC
18; Calgary’s third round pick (80th overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft; 6’6″, 228 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 40 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 69 | 5.74 |
2024-25 (USHL) | 25 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 31 | 2.76 |
Phillips had an assist this week. Green Bay is a good bet to make the USHL’s playoffs.
Cole Reschny – C, University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, NCAA / Canada National Junior Team, WJC
18; Calgary’s first round pick (18th overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft; 5’11”, 183 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 2nd-ranked prospect 2025
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 33 | 5 | 29 | 34 | 23 | 18 | 14 | 65 | 37.09 |
2024-25 (WHL) | 62 | 26 | 66 | 92 | 70 | 48 | 46 | 213 | 36.75 |
Reschny and North Dakota are facing Merrimack on Thursday in the first round of the NCAA’s national tournament.
Theo Stockselius – C/RW, Djurgårdens IF, U20 Nationell/SHL
18; Calgary’s second round pick (54th overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft; 6’2″, 181 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 12th-ranked prospect 2025
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
U20 season to date | 11 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 39 | 23.85 |
SHL season to date | 16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 3.05 |
2024-25 (J20) | 40 | 22 | 29 | 51 | 38 | 35 | 29 | 93 | 20.91 |
Stockselius’ SHL team was eliminated from their playoffs in three games. The day after that game, he was back in the U20 Nationell, where he scored four goals in an overtime win for Djurgardens’ junior team to advance them in their playoffs.
William Strömgren – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; Calgary’s second round pick (45th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 175 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 16th-ranked prospect 2025
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 57 | 10 | 32 | 42 | 32 | 28 | 22 | 74 | 29.36 |
2024-25 (AHL) | 70 | 14 | 35 | 49 | 35 | 26 | 20 | 107 | 27.90 |
Stromgren is a bit quiet offensively of late.
Aydar Suniev – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
20; Calgary’s third round pick (80th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’2″, 198 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 9th-ranked prospect 2025
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 52 | 15 | 5 | 20 | 19 | 13 | 12 | 79 | 15.33 |
2024-25 (NCAA) | 35 | 20 | 18 | 38 | 31 | 21 | 17 | 119 | 34.99 |
Suniev remains a top six fixture for the Wranglers and one of their most dangerous offensive players.
Gavin White – D, Texas Stars/Calgary Wranglers, AHL
23; Dallas’ third round pick (72nd overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; Acquired in trade with Dallas; 6’0″, 196 pounds; shoots right
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 42 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 72 | 6.64 |
2024-25 (AHL) | 46 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 60 | 9.53 |
White is playing primarily on the Wranglers’ second pairing lately.
Abram Wiebe – D, University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, NCAA / United States Collegiate Selects, Spengler Cup
22; Vegas’ seventh round pick (209th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Vegas; 6’3″, 209 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 37 | 5 | 22 | 27 | 16 | 12 | 6 | 71 | 26.27 |
2024-25 (NCAA) | 38 | 4 | 20 | 24 | 16 | 11 | 8 | 74 | 22.74 |
Wiebe and North Dakota are facing Merrimack on Thursday in the first round of the NCAA’s national tournament.
Ethan Wyttenbach – RW, Quinnipiac University Bobcats, NCAA
18; Calgary’s fifth round pick (144th overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft; 5’10”, 180 pounds; shoots right; FN’s 20th-ranked prospect 2025
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 38 | 24 | 34 | 58 | 45 | 36 | 28 | 99 | 35.04 |
2024-25 (USHL) | 44 | 24 | 27 | 51 | 42 | 38 | 30 | 127 | 26.61 |
Wyttenbach and Quinnipiac are facing Providence on Thursday in the first round of the NCAA’s national tournament.
Arsenii Sergeev – G, Rapid City Rush, ECHL / Calgary Wranglers, AHL
21; Calgary’s seventh round pick (205th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 192 pounds
GP | TOI | SV% | |
AHL season to date | 23 | 1269 | .894 |
ECHL season to date | 12 | 714 | .922 |
2024-25 (NCAA) | 33 | 1982 | .919 |
Sergeev has been getting the bulk of the work for the Wranglers down the stretch.
Yegor Yegorov – G, MHK Spartak-MAX, MHL
20; Calgary’s sixth round pick (176th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 183 pounds
GP | TOI | SV% | |
Season to date | 38 | 2122 | .918 |
2024-25 (MHL) | 20 | 1032 | .904 |
Spartak-MAX missed the playoffs in the MHL.
Kirill Zarubin – G, AKM Tula, MHL/AKM Tula Region, VHL
20; Calgary’s third round pick (84th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 178 pounds; FN’s 18th-ranked prospect 2025
GP | TOI | SV% | |
MHL season to date | 46 | 2481 | .934 |
VHL season to date | 1 | 60 | .967 |
2024-25 (MHL) | 21 | 1157 | .935 |
AKM Tula is playing against SKA Academy in a best-of-three play-in series, starting Wednesday.
This article is presented by Bon Ton Meat Market
A Tradition of quality products and personalized service for 104 years.
Proud to feature only the finest premium AAA Alberta Beef, Locally raised fresh pork, locally raised fresh free range chicken and turkey, fresh Alberta lamb and milk fed veal.
Over 20 varieties of in store made salads, delicious desserts and of course our famous in store made meat pies. Proud to be Calgary, and Southern Alberta’s Consumers Choice Award Winner for best Meat and Deli for 24 consecutive years! Bon Ton Meat Market, 28 Crowfoot Circle NW.
Breaking News
- When might reinforcements arrive for the Wranglers?
- Flames run streak to season-high four games with win over Kings
- Wranglers game day: One last meeting with the Firebirds
- Beyond the Boxscore: Flames fourth straight win puts dent in Kings playoff hopes
- Instant Reaction: Flames work overtime, beat Kings in shootout