First Hunter Brzustewicz was traded to the Calgary Flames, then he was signed, and now he is set to play his first professional game with their AHL affiliate the Calgary Wranglers.
Hunter Brzustewicz has had quite the season. He was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks last June in the third round, but his rights were traded to Calgary in a trade between the two teams at the NHL Trade Deadline.
Since then, he has signed his three year entry-level deal with the Calgary Flames, and now he is set to play his first professional games by ending the season with the Calgary Wranglers (AHL).
Brzustewicz signed an ATO (Amateur Tryout) with the Wranglers today.
The Kitchener Rangers defenceman has had a phenomenal season in the OHL, quickly becoming one of the best defensive prospects in his draft class. He began creating offence much more frequently this season, and his hockey sense and passing vision is off the charts.
He was "the guy" on Kitchener's blue line this season. Whether his team was on the power play, penalty kill, trying to get a goal, or defending a lead — Brzustewicz was on the ice.
Unfortunately, the Kitchener Rangers fell short of their playoff hopes and were swept by the London Knights in the second round of this year's OHL playoffs. Now, Brzustewicz has the flexibility to join the Calgary Wranglers and get his first taste of professional hockey.
Brzustewicz' intelligence and vision will translate seamlessly to the professional level, and he continues to flash shades of former Flames prospect Adam Fox. The Flames potentially have a future top pair defender on their hands, and there is a real chance that Brzustewicz could be lining up in the NHL sooner than most of us thought.