The Calgary Flames have a lot of flashy and exciting defensive prospects, but Yan Kuznetsov isn’t one of them.

Since selecting the 6’5″, 220-pound Russian in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft, the Flames have stocked their cupboards with some of the most offensively gifted young defenders in major junior. Between Zayne Parekh, Jeremie Poirier, Hunter Brzustewicz, Étienne Morin, and Henry Mews, the Flames have more than enough skilled puck-moving rearguards in their system.

As such, Kuznetsov has become a bit of a forgotten man around these parts, especially as the likes of Ilya Solovyov and Nikita Okhotiuk have earned longer trial runs in the NHL — and particularly now that Kevin Bahl and Brayden Pachal have become the club’s de facto shutdown options on the blue line.

But it might actually be time to start thinking about a future in which No. 37 patrols the defensive zone for this Flames team on the regular. Kuznetsov has been nothing short of excellent through 16 games with the Wranglers to kick off the 2024-25 AHL season and would be a leading candidate if the Flames needed to recall a defender at some point in the upcoming weeks and months.

Kuznetsov is a rock-solid defensive defender at the AHL level who is also a little better in the offensive zone than you might think. When he’s at his best, Kuznetsov looks a lot like a peak version of Michael Stone, calmly uncorking shot after shot from his point position — many of them with the clear purpose of being deflected.

Adam Klapka and Sam Morton were the beneficiaries of two low, accurate Kuznetsov wristers in a recent game against the Henderson Silver Knights, tipping them past goaltender Jordan Papirny to give the Wranglers a 2-0 lead before the midway mark of the first period. Simple, effective.

Kuznetsov has one goal and five points to go along with 17 shots on goal and six penalty minutes in 16 games with the Wranglers this year. And while those of us in the general public don’t have access to in-depth AHL analytics numbers (yet), we do know that Kuznetsov is second only to red-hot Rory Kerins with a plus-10 rating on the year, putting him in a tie for fourth in the entire AHL.

Although the Wranglers have continually shuffled their defensive alignment this season, Kuznetsov has largely retained control over the club’s No. 1 spot on the left side. In recent weeks, he’s spent a lot of time playing alongside Brzustewicz, whose game is still very much a work in progress. And while Brzustewicz has yet to find his scoring touch in the AHL, he’s already showing signs of improvement in the defensive zone under Kuznetsov’s watch.

Kuznetsov is no stranger to the growing pains that come with being introduced to AHL competition at a young age. He made his pro debut with the Stockton Heat mere months after being drafted by the Flames, ultimately skating in 18 games over parts of two seasons with Stockton before being given the chance to play in the 2022 Memorial Cup with the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs.

Upon returning to the AHL in 2022-23, Kuznetsov managed to cement himself as a regular with the Wranglers, although he still found himself rotated out of the lineup every now and then. He took another small step forward last year, particularly in his own zone, and earned his first and only NHL game with the Flames along the way.

Now, at age 22, Kuznetsov has vastly more experience playing pro hockey in North America than most other defencemen his age. Sunday’s game against the San Jose Barracuda was his 160th in the AHL, not including his 11 career playoff contests with the Wranglers.

But while it certainly feels like he’s been hanging around forever — after all, he’s in his fifth AHL season — Kuznetsov is still one of the Wranglers’ younger players. Not only is he the same age as Poirier and Kerins, neither of whom has played an NHL game, but Kuznetsov is more than a year younger than Solovyov, Klapka, and Jakob Pelletier.

The Flames have plenty of defenders already on their NHL roster. Bahl, Pachal, and MacKenzie Weegar all look like they’re here to stay, while the jury is out on Rasmus Andersson, Daniil Miromanov, and Jake Bean. But if and when spots open up, don’t be surprised if Kuznetsov gets one of the first calls. While he may not dazzle you with his skill, Kuznetsov has all the tools to become a dependable bottom-pairing option at the next level. Those players have plenty of value.