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The 32-in-32 Series is an annual event here at DobberProspects and has been condensed from two articles to one. The article will bring you: The highlighted team’s draft; insights into its off-season moves; looking at prospect risers, fallers and likely prospects to play NHL games; and of course, the writers’ top-20 prospects. Articles may be brought back when an important team update occurs, so check back because we plan to fill your hockey withdrawal needs all off-season!
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Make sure to check out the Calgary Flames team page here: https://dobberprospects.com/team/calgary-flames/
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Head Coach Ryan Huska took a big step forward with the Calgary Flames during his first year. In 2024–25, the Flames improved to 41-27-4, 15th in the league, up from last season’s 38-39-5, which landed them 24th. The team barely missed the playoffs, finishing the season on the hunt for the last playoff spot in the West. Calgary ended up 4th in the Pacific Division.
In the two years since GM Craig Conroy has been at the wheel, he has built a roster capable of competing, and the Flames have drafted a balanced blend of high-ceiling and projectable role players – now on the cusp of securing NHL jobs. Conroy has said he believes their internal breakthrough will come from a youth movement. This is a bubble-playoff team with developing talent – a group that has shown a ton of resilience, overcoming significant departures and off-ice tragedy.
NHL Draft Recap
Round 1, 18 overall: Cole Reschny, C
Calgary gets a cerebral, meticulous playmaker in Cole Reschny with their first selection in the first round. Reschny scored 26 goals and posted 66 assists for 92 points in 62 WHL games. He is a subtle force driving play, opportunistic in the way he constantly facilitates in tight spaces.
Due to his intelligent and skilled play, Reschny is a reliable defensive forward despite his 5-11 frame. He provides positive value on both special teams. Reschny has committed to the University of North Dakota of the NCAA for the 2025–26 season and should get a chance to challenge himself further – this time against men.
Round 1, 32 overall: Cullen Potter, C
One of three 17-year-olds to play in the NCAA last year, Cullen Potter built his game around his fluid skating. His sheer speed, high-end skill, and IQ that keeps up is a foundational edge to his game – one you can’t coach.
As one of the youngest rookies in the NCAA, Potter posted 22 points in 35 games – 13 of which were goals. He has proven to be a valuable forward at the NCAA level, and next season should present more opportunities and better deployment for the young centre. If he takes another step, many teams will regret letting him slide to the end of the first round.
Round 2, 54 overall: Theo Stockselius, C
The largest forward selected by Calgary in 2025, Theo Stockselius (6-3) borderline dominated Sweden’s J20 league with 51 points in 40 games. His offensive impact is a product of his consistently deceptive playmaking. Stockselius has the skill to manipulate the play, is relentless on the puck, and doesn’t give it up before he can create space and connect a pass. At 54th overall, the Flames could have an effective middle-six centre on their hands. Expect him to develop for a couple of years in Sweden by moving up the ranks in the Djurgårdens system.
Round 3, 80 overall: Mace’o Phillips, D
Every great draft has a whiff or two, and considering the kind of talent available at 80th – Phillips fits that mold for Calgary’s 2025 class. Phillips is an aggressive, intensely physical defensive defenseman who can chase down a play better than he can anticipate one. Given his output of six points through 60 NTDP games, his upside is limited to a third-pairing role with situational usage.
Where this pick loses me is there was a lot of upside on the table, and the Flames are in need of high-end forwards in their current NHL top six. Cameron Schmidt, 5-8, was taken by Dallas at 94 overall. The undersized right winger was a leading scorer among draft eligibles in the WHL – with 78 points in 61 games, including 40 goals. Another forward with hidden potential was taken one spot ahead of Schmidt, at 93 overall by Ottawa. Blake Vanek – son of former NHLer Tomas Vanek – absolutely obliterated the high school circuit, stands at 6-4, and is expected to play in the WHL next year.
Instead, they selected a player with a projectable role but limited offensive impact in Phillips. Although a thunderous hit or sneaky cross-check by Phillips could spark offense from his teammates.
Round 5, 144 overall: Ethan Wyttenbach, LW
It is fitting that the Flames selected Wyttenbach – the first-ever recipient of the USHL’s Gaudreau Award. This fifth-round selection at 144 overall has immense value. The 5-10 winger slid in a draft hyper-focused on size. Wyttenbach racked up 24 goals and 27 assists for 51 points in 44 USHL games. His play is driven by his strengths – detail-oriented scanning and a hard-nosed, no-quit attitude. A common thread in the Flames’ 2025 class: if they opt for an undersized skilled player, they pack a punch or two. Wyttenbach will join the NCAA ranks in his D+1 season and may not be so under the radar by 2026.
Round 6, 176 overall: Aidan Lane, RW
What a gem in the rough. Lane (6-2) tore up the high school ranks, amassing 86 points in 56 games. He also played 13 games in the OHL, where he posted a point-per-game with seven goals and six assists. That seamless adaptation to a much more competitive league in the CHL indicates an untapped ceiling.
Round 7, 208 overall: Jakob Leander, D
With their second-last pick in the draft, the Flames selected Leander – a hulking right-handed defenseman out of Sweden’s J20 league. Leander is 6-4 and serves as a defensive anchor, posting 6 points through 39 games.
Round 7, 211 overall: Yan Matveiko, D
A relatively young re-entry, Matveiko – still 18 until August – was passed up on in 2024. He took a step offensively this year, with 10 goals and 14 assists in 42 MHL games. This is a good low-cost bet for the Flames – not a lot of 6-4 defensemen can put up substantial points.
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Off-Season Moves
The Flames, led by GM Craig Conroy, had a relatively quiet offseason. Conroy has said that their top targets in free agency signed with other teams, and the organization decided not to spend cap dollars for the sake of it. He added that this is an opportunity for internal development to take the next step, saying this to NHL.com about their young players: “Come take a spot. Come take a job. Earn it. Take it.”
Incoming
Ivan Prosvetov signed as a UFA. 1 year at $950K – The 26-year-old netminder is coming off a very successful KHL season: 2.32 GAA, .920 in 38 games. He should play as a backup option for Calgary.
Outgoing
Anthony Mantha declared free agency. Signed in Pittsburgh for $2.5M – Only played 13 games as a winger for the Flames, but provided his usual 0.5 points per game. Youth needs to step up and fill that hole.
Dan Vladar declared free agency. Signed in Philadelphia for $2.2M – Vladar should see increased opportunity in Philadelphia.
Re-Signed
Morgan Frost – re-signed to a 2-year deal at $4.375M average annual value (AAV) – This is a fair-value bridge contract for a centre proven capable of half a point per game, just entering his prime. As is, Frost adds positive value to Calgary’s middle six. He has the upside to develop his offensive tools and establish himself higher in the lineup. A safe and high-ceiling bet as a stop-gap for centre prospects further away — potentially a long-term fit.
Jeremie Poirier – re-signed to a 1-year two-way deal at $775K – This is a show-me deal for both team and player.
Yan Kuznetsov – re-signed to a 2-year two-way deal at $812.5K – The contract becomes a one-way deal in the second year. Provides the Flames with a reliable call-up option on the back end.
Rory Kerins – re-signed to a 1-year two-way deal at $775K – After a breakout season in the AHL, this is Kerins’ chance to lock down a bottom-six role in the NHL.
Matthew Coronato – extended for seven years at $6.5M per year – In May 2025, Matthew Coronato signed a seven-year contract extension with a $6.5M AAV. This is great value and shows the benefit of locking up core players early. Coronato has a lot of room to grow into his 30-goal potential.
Key Extension Eligible Players
Connor Zary – RFA, not arbitration eligible, for this upcoming season and his contract remains unresolved. The Flames have reportedly offered a contract with an AAV in the low $3 millions, and Zary’s camp seeks substantially more.
Dustin Wolf – RFA in 2026 and his extension remains unresolved. Prioritizing an extension for the Flames’ star netminder should be a top priority.
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In the System
Risers
Henry Mews, D, 74 overall in 2024
Coming into 2024, public sentiment viewed Mews as a talent worthy of a 2nd-round pick. Professional outlets were more mixed on him — and so were NHL teams. The Flames stole him in the third round after a huge season in the OHL. Mews improved on his 2023-24 performance (61 points in 65 games), racking up 82 points across 68 games. To quantify that: Mews had a high-end 0.94 PPG in the OHL in his draft year and followed it up with 1.21 PPG in his D+1 season. He was also the first CHL player to commit to the NCAA under their new agreement, and that bodes very well for his development. In fantasy leagues, he’s worth rostering — his upside is that of an offensive top-four defenseman.
Jacob Battaglia, RW, 62 overall in 2024
Getting Battaglia at the end of the 2nd round looked like good value at the time, but now it is looking like theft. The 6-2, 203-lb winger posted just under a point-per-game in the OHL in his draft year and rocketed to 1.32 points-per-game as a D+1 player. Battaglia has an excellent shot — it is hard and accurate — leading to 40 goals in 2024-25. At the time of the pick, Battaglia projected to be a high-octane third-liner who could make an impact — but he’s now shown a ceiling as a top-six winger. Expect Battaglia to spend one more year in the OHL, potentially making a professional appearance at the end of the season.
Rory Kerins, C, 174 overall in 2020
Calgary drafted Kerins in the 6th round of the 2020 draft and has patiently allowed him to develop internally ever since. He missed an entire season in his D+1 year, playing only four games. In his final OHL year, Kerins dominated with 118 points in 67 games. Since then, he’s bounced between the ECHL and AHL, but this past season he broke out with 33 goals and 28 assists for 61 points in 63 games. Kerins turned 23 at the end of the season, and being a natural centre, he just has to grab that open bottom-six spot by the horns.
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Fallers
Samuel Honzek, C, 16th overall in 2023
Since being selected 16th overall in the 2023 draft, Honzek has not taken a significant step forward. He was drafted after posting well over a point-per-game in the WHL, following it up with 31 points in 33 WHL games. This past year, Honzek spent the whole season in the AHL — garnering 21 points across 52 games. Getting a pro season under his belt so soon after his draft year is encouraging for his development, but he really needs to take a step and show why he was selected 16th overall. He’s been leapfrogged in the pipeline by players with far lower draft positions — Gridin, Battaglia, and Basha, for example.
Jeremie Poirier, D, 72nd overall in 2020
After three seasons in the AHL, Poirier has seemingly plateaued. He has just over 40 points in two of three seasons, and about the same ppg pace in his shortened 23-game season between them. Consistency is a positive sign, and those are respectable numbers for a defenseman — but AHL production rarely seamlessly translates to the NHL. Poirier has not taken any steps forward to assert himself over AHL competition. Offensive defensemen with projectable NHL ceilings tend to dominate at the AHL level — prospects like Denton Mateychuk and Brandt Clarke are two recent examples. Flames newcomer and fellow third-round pick Henry Mews has already surpassed Poirier in the defense prospect system.
Parker Bell, LW, 155th overall in 2022
Drafted in the 5th round, Parker Bell improved his game every year he spent in the WHL. Coming into 2024-25, the expectation was that the 6-5 winger would provide offense and grit for Calgary’s AHL team. Bell had a disappointing transition to the professional ranks, scoring just 7 goals and 5 assists over 61 games. Before the 2025-26 season, Bell will turn 22, and his game needs to find its stride in order to earn a contract renewal in 2026.
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Likely to See NHL Action
Adam Klapka – signed a bridge deal at $1.25M for two years. He has been dominant in the AHL and held his own at the NHL level. The 6-4 winger is a versatile bottom-six forward who can moonlight in the top six, and should see a career high in NHL games.
Zayne Parekh – took another step in the OHL, improving from 96 points to 107 points in 2024-25. He is too young to play in the AHL, and far too good to be challenged in the CHL — the Flames have to give him a long look in their top four.
Jeremie Poirier – previously seen as the Flames’ best defense prospect. That has changed with Parekh, Mews, Brzustewicz, and Morin all competing for their spots. Poirier has seemingly plateaued in the AHL with back-to-back 40-point seasons, and on his new one-year deal, he needs to assert himself as an NHL player. The Flames also need to see what they have.
Samuel Honzek – had a hard year as a rookie in the AHL last season. The Flames will surely let him spend the majority of the year developing with the AHL team, but use him as a call-up to see if he performs better with elevated competition.
There is a lot of opportunity ahead for 23-year-old Rory Kerins. Kevin Rooney’s departure leaves a glaring hole at centre in Calgary’s bottom six — one that Kerins projects to fit well into. Along with Kerins’ 33 goals and 61 points in 63 AHL games, he spent five games in the NHL last season, racking up an impressive four assists.
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Top 20 Prospects
This section is intended to paint a picture of the Calgary Flames prospects whose current trajectory projects them to make the most positive fantasy impact at the time that they reach the NHL. Arrival date and NHL certainty have been taken into consideration; however, potential upside is the most important factor in determining this list.
1. Zayne Parekh
2. Cole Reschny
3. Hunter Brzustewicz
4. Matvei Gridin
5. Jacob Battlagia
6. Andrew Basha
7. Samuel Honzek
8. Cullen Potter
9. Henry Mews
10. Luke Misa
11. Jeremie Poirier
12. William Stromgren
13. Adam Klapka
14. Theo Stockselius
15. Etienne Morin
16. Aydar Suniev
17. Rory Kerins
18. Trevor Hoskin
19. Jaden Lipinski
20. Ethan Wyttenbach
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Off-Season Updates
The Calgary Flames have had a successful off-season by virtue of sticking to the organization’s plan. There were no significant losses from the roster as of yet, and no major additions — but they still have unfinished business.
Rasmus Andersson is an unrestricted free agent in 2026, and the expectation is that he will be moved ahead of the 2025-26 season. Teams have done this in the past — the recent trade sending K’Andre Miller to Carolina, and the trade which shipped Granlund off to San Jose, are prime examples of clubs attempting to maximize asset value. Craig Conroy has been engaged in negotiations with numerous teams about Andersson, but is not going to rush to make a move if it doesn’t make sense. One way or another, the Flames manager will have to resolve the situation early on to avoid affecting the roster’s chemistry. This group has seen success by playing as a tight-knit unit, and it’s critical to continue fostering a healthy locker room. In a Canadian market where media coverage is quick and constant — especially around core players pending UFA status — avoiding too much scrutiny on Andersson’s contract situation is crucial.
Another situation unfolding currently for the Flames is centered around RFA Connor Zary. The Flames reportedly offered Zary a contract carrying an AAV in the low $3 millions, but Zary’s camp seeks a significantly higher figure. Zary has outperformed his 2020 draft position of 24th overall, and the Flames have done a great job developing him into a top-six centre. In 2023-24, the AHL was too easy for Zary, who put up 10 points in six games. After he was called up to the big club, he finished his rookie NHL campaign with over half a point-per-game in 64 games. He was continuing on his positive trajectory in 2024-25 until suffering a season-ending injury. This is a contract situation that needs to be resolved. A lot is hinging on Zary playing on the second line.
Conroy’s decision to lean into the youth movement instead of spending in free agency is one that teams should consider making more often. Free agent frenzy can typically bring the frenzy out of NHL GMs — overpaying for depth and role players. Which has led to deals like Vancouver’s infamous 2016 signing of Loui Eriksson, earning a $36-million contract spanning six years.
Although not as pressing as unresolved contract negotiations, Nazem Kadri’s name has been circulating the rumour mill. There is speculation that the Flames could be motivated to trade the 34-year-old centre and his $7M contract with four years remaining. This move would make sense for the Flames and simplify their future cap outlook. Many young players are moving up onto the roster, and more extensions are to come over the next four years.
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Final Thoughts
The Calgary Flames under Craig Conroy and Ryan Huska are a patient and calculated team, on and off the ice. This off season could have gone better, but it also could have gone a lot worse. The Flames missed out on their top targets in a weak free agent class, but encouraging their youth to step up could pay off long-term. The 2025-26 season — heralded by Calgary’s young core — will have turbulence, but those challenges will give their future core valuable experience. They will be competing for a playoff spot, and no one in that organization will be surprised if they make it.
Looking ahead, one gleaming bright spot is Coronato’s seven-year extension at $6.5M. Coronato broke out in the NHL in 2024-25 with 24 goals — without consistent time on the powerplay. There’s a ton of ceiling to grow into for the young winger. These are the kinds of early big swings teams with healthy cap structures tend to chase — and the Flames would be wise to do it again with their core.
Dustin Wolf is currently extension eligible, and his contract should be the top priority — following Zary’s, and equal to Andersson’s. He has one more year in a rising cap environment to prove he is not just a great starter — but a star netminder. That is the kind of difference that can add millions onto a player’s salary.
There’s still some work to do, but Craig Conroy and company have done a great job building for the future.
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Thanks for taking the time to read this Calgary Flames edition of 32-in-32 at Dobber Prospects. It’s been a pleasure to update you on the happenings and outlook for the Flames – my name is Arden McLeod. You can find more from me below:
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