The Calgary Flames have the ultimate chance to redeem themselves after a failed 2022-23 season. Tony Ferrari explains which prospects can help get them there.

The NHL off-season is in full swing, giving us the chance to examine each team’s prospect pools. Today, the Calgary Flames are under the microscope.

In this series, Tony Ferrari digs into each team’s strengths and weaknesses, their latest draft class, where their positional depth chart stands, and who could be next in line for a shot at the NHL. Note that a player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is considered graduated and no longer considered a prospect for the purposes of these exercises.

Introduction

Are the Calgary Flames a playoff team, or will they be looking for a high pick in next year’s draft? They have the talent to avoid the league basement, but they also just suffered one of the most underrated dysfunctional seasons in recent memory. Their prospects looked good when they got into NHL action, but they didn’t get into the lineup often because of former coach Darryl Sutter’s persistence on playing his aging veterans.

Now that Sutter is gone, the question remains – can they get back to contender status? They have a few young players who could help them get there. 

Matt Coronato got into one game last year after a fantastic season with Harvard in the NCAA. With a coach no longer sitting him in the press box, he could be an impact player for Calgary this upcoming season thanks to his great hands, wicked shot, and intellectual play.

Jakob Pelletier got in 24 games last year, barely preserving his rookie status and qualifying him for this exercise. The highly skilled undersized forward brings creativity to the Flames that they lack in their forward corps. If he can consistently find his way into top six minutes, Pelletier could be a sneaky candidate to be among the league's top rookie scorers.

Dustin Wolf has stopped pucks at an elite level since his WHL days, and his AHL track record has been nearly spotless. He's been named the AHL's top goalie for the last two years, and he won the AHL MVP award this past season. Wolf may be just six-foot, but he's possibly the best netminder outside the NHL. If the goaltending in Calgary falters in any way this year, we could see Wolf take the crease and never let it go – if he doesn’t take it in training camp.

The blueline has some interesting players in the pipeline but certainly no stud. Jeremie Poirier and the recently drafted Etienne Morin have the puck-moving ability to be impact players, but their defensive games need some work. Yan Kuznetsov has NHL size and physicality, showcasing both as an AHL rookie last year. He must continue working on increasing his pace and dealing with faster players at the pro level.

2023 NHL Draft Class

Round 1, 16th overall - Samuel Honzek, LW, Vancouver (WHL)

Round 2, 48th overall - Etienne Morin, LD, Moncton (QMJHL)

Round 3, 80th overall - Aydar Suniev, LW, Penticton (BCHL)

Round 4, 112th overall - Jaden Lipinski, C, Vancouver (WHL)

Round 6, 176th overall - Yegor Yegorov, G, Dynamo Moscow (MHL)

Round 7, 208th overall - Axel Hurtig, LD, Rogle J20 (Sweden Jr.)

The Flames’ draft started with Samuel Honzek, a divisive prospect that some loved for his highly translatable game and excellent offensive tools and disliked by others because of the wild swings of inconsistency in his game. The Flames and new GM Craig Conroy are clearly betting that Honzek can bring his flashes of high-end play to the forefront more often.

Etienne Morin was another player loved by some because of his offensive game and ability to move the puck up ice. The flaws came in his own end, though, with his lack of size and strength playing a role in getting pushed around a bit. If he can develop more physically, the offensive and transition potential could be well worth the pick inside the top 50.

The Flames took a couple of raw talents in the third and fourth rounds by selecting Aydar Suniev and Jaden Lipinski. Suniev put up 90 points in the British Columbia League and will head to the University of Massachusetts next year. He must improve his skating, as it’s noticeably behind the rest of his game, but the tools are intriguing. It’s much of the same with Lipinski, but the skating issues aren’t as evident. Lipinski played in the WHL and used his frame to attack the middle and his vision to become a crafty playmaker. He needs to refine his game and use his shot more, but Lipinski could be a sneaky good pick.

Joining Calgary and the 2023 draft all-names team, Yegor Yegorov is a very young netminder for the draft class, and he had pretty solid numbers in a limited sample at the MHL level in Russia. They are betting on his frame, the athletic tools Yegorov possesses, and a slow and patient development path.

Axel Hurtig was their seventh-round pick after playing a solid role at the World Men's Under-18s for Sweden. He doesn’t have much puck skill or offensive dynamism, but he is a big, hulking defender who can make life difficult for his opponents. He is the classic ‘not fun to play against’ type of defender, and if he can improve his mobility and gain a bit of puck-moving ability, Hurtig could be a late-round gem.

Strengths

The Flames have a number of solid-scoring wingers with varying upsides and play styles. They added Honzek and Suniev at the draft as well, giving them depth in the position. Pelletier blends his skill with a high motor. William Stromgren has size and skill with another level still under the surface. Coronato is intelligent, shifty and has excellent dual-threat ability. Honzek is a monster when he is at the top of his game but has inconsistencies. Suniev is a very raw finisher who could be dangerous with development. All in all, the Flames have a diverse group of wingers coming up the pipeline.

Weaknesses

The blueline is a concern. The Flames have a few gambles in Morin and Poirier and a high-floor option in Kuznetsov on the way. There is a chance that one or none of them work out, and that would leave the club in a hard spot where they overpay a free agent. The blueline should be a priority at the draft next year and possibly at the trade deadline should they look to ship players out.

Next Men Up: Matt Coronato and Dustin Wolf

With Pelletier having played 24 games, Coronato gets the nod as the next man up from the skater contingent. His understanding of time and space, along with excellent puck skill and shooting talent, should allow him to step up and play an immediate role in the middle six for Calgary. 

But Dustin Wolf’s name hasn’t been mentioned enough as a possible netminder for the Flames as early as opening night. He has proven everything in every league he's been in – and he stopped 23 of 24 shots in his NHL debut last season. Both Coronato and Wolf could be key to revitalizing Calgary.

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Samuel Honzek, Jakob Pelletier, Aydar Suniev, William Stromgren

C: Connor Zary, Jaden Lipinski, Rory Kerins, Topi Ronni

RW: Matt Coronato, Cole Schwindt

LD: Jeremie Poirier, Etienne Morin, Yan Kuznetsov, Ilya Solovyov

RD: Jake Boltmann

G: Dustin Wolf, Arseni Sergeyev, Daniil Chechelev

For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Yearbook, Prospects Unlimited and Future Watch print editions of The Hockey News.