Prospect System Ranking – 9th (Last Year - 13th)
GM: Craig Conroy Hired: May 2023
COACH: Ryan Huska Hired: June 2023
The Calgary Flames have quietly assembled one of the more impressive prospect pipelines in the league over the past few drafts — and that system is on the verge of receiving a supercharge. In the midst of a full-scale rebuild, Calgary finds itself near the bottom of the standings and positioned to secure a high selection (likely top five) in the 2026 NHL Draft. And beyond their own pick, the Flames have accumulated considerable draft capital. The organization is projected to make six selections in the first two rounds of the 2026 draft and holds two selections in each of the first two rounds over the next three drafts. If development progresses as expected, Calgary will soon be in a position to shift from accumulation to execution, leveraging those draft picks to acquire win-now pieces to complement the young core.
Leading the system is Zayne Parekh, McKeen’s highest-ranked defensive prospect, who has now established himself as a full-time presence on Calgary’s blue line. Then you have Matvei Gridin (43rd), who has quickly emerged as a key piece of the organization’s offensive future. He not only transitioned to the NHL already, but is thriving early in his career. At the collegiate level, several prospects continue to round out their games. Cole Reschny (40th) is enjoying a strong freshman season with the North Dakota program, competing for a Frozen Four appearance. Meanwhile, Cullen Potter (84th), Abram Wiebe, and newly acquired Jonathan Castagna (now signed) have all posted encouraging campaigns. The biggest riser, however, has been Ethan Wyttenbach (156th). The 2025 fifth-round pick has exploded onto the NCAA scene with 59 points in 40 games, earning recognition as a Hobey Baker finalist and this year’s unanimous top freshman. Further depth comes from players such as Andrew Basha, Samuel Honzek (112th) and Aydar Suniev, who continue to climb within the system and add to an already impressive pool of young talent.
With a deep prospect base and significant draft capital still to come, the Flames are building toward something substantial. If Craig Conroy can continue to balance patience with timely roster decisions, Calgary’s next competitive window may arrive sooner than expected.
| NHL | RNK | PLAYER | POS | AGE | HT/WT | 2024-25 TM | GP | G(W) | A(L) | PTS(GAA) | PIM(SPCT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cgy | 1 | Zayne Parekh | D | 20 | 6-0/180 | Calgary (NHL) | 37 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Cgy | 1 | Zayne Parekh | D | 20 | 6-0/180 | Calgary (AHL) | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
| Cgy | 2 | Cole Reschny | C | 19 | 5-11/185 | North Dakota (NCAA) | 36 | 6 | 29 | 35 | 22 |
| Cgy | 3 | Matvei Gridin | RW | 20 | 6-2/190 | Calgary (AHL) | 37 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 18 |
| Cgy | 3 | Matvei Gridin | RW | 20 | 6-2/190 | Calgary (NHL) | 37 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 2 |
| Cgy | 4 | Cullen Potter | C | 19 | 5-10/170 | Arizona State (NCAA) | 24 | 12 | 14 | 26 | 16 |
| Cgy | 5 | Samuel Honzek | LW | 21 | 6-4/185 | Calgary (NHL) | 18 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Cgy | 6 | Hunter Brzustewicz | D | 21 | 5-11/185 | Calgary (NHL) | 34 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Cgy | 6 | Hunter Brzustewicz | D | 21 | 5-11/185 | Calgary (AHL) | 34 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 8 |
| Cgy | 7 | Henry Mews | D | 20 | 6-0/190 | Michigan (NCAA) | 10 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 6 |
| Cgy | 8 | Ethan Wyttenbach | LW | 19 | 5-10/180 | Quinnipiac (NCAA) | 40 | 25 | 34 | 59 | 20 |
| Cgy | 9 | Brennan Othmann | LW | 23 | 6-0/190 | Hfd-Cgy (AHL) | 40 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 62 |
| Cgy | 9 | Brennan Othmann | LW | 23 | 6-0/190 | NYR-Cgy (NHL) | 19 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 11 |
| Cgy | 10 | Andrew Basha | LW | 20 | 5-11/185 | Medicine Hat (WHL) | 32 | 18 | 32 | 50 | 28 |
| Cgy | 10 | Andrew Basha | LW | 20 | 5-11/185 | Calgary (AHL) | 27 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 33 |
| Cgy | 11 | William Stromgren | LW | 22 | 6-3/175 | Calgary (AHL) | 66 | 11 | 36 | 47 | 52 |
| Cgy | 11 | William Stromgren | LW | 22 | 6-3/175 | Calgary (NHL) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cgy | 12 | Aydar Suniev | LW | 21 | 6-2/200 | Calgary (AHL) | 57 | 16 | 8 | 24 | 14 |
| Cgy | 12 | Aydar Suniev | LW | 21 | 6-2/200 | Calgary (NHL) | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Cgy | 13 | Kirill Zarubin | G | 20 | 6-4/180 | AKM Tula (MHL) | 48 | 26 | 13 | 2.17 | 0.930 |
| Cgy | 14 | Max Curran | C | 19 | 6-3/185 | Edmonton (WHL) | 31 | 14 | 27 | 41 | 23 |
| Cgy | 15 | Trevor Hoskin | RW | 22 | 6-1/175 | Merrimack (NCAA) | 34 | 13 | 22 | 35 | 14 |
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Zayne Parekh, D, Calgary Flames (NHL)
Parekh is someone whose development is currently being limited by the delays in the new CBA structure that will allow NHL teams to place a U19 CHL player in the AHL. Since that does not start until next season, the Flames have been tasked with a difficult decision this year regarding his development. He’s been in over his head at times in the NHL, but he’s clearly outgrown the OHL. However, Calgary has opted to keep him up, while sprinkling in an AHL conditioning stint. Parekh is a highly creative offensive defender who also thinks the game at a high level as an offensive player. For this reason, he projects as a topflight NHL powerplay quarterback and has the chance to develop into one of the NHL’s premier point producers from the back end. The key for Parekh continues to be the need to improve his effectiveness in the defensive end. His progress there over the next few years will dictate whether he becomes a top pairing defender, or more of an offensive specialist with sheltered responsibility.
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Cole Reschny, C, North Dakota (NCAA)
The 18th overall selection of the Flames in the 2025 NHL draft brings a highly evolved playmaking game, with power play specialist potential to their organization. Reschny didn’t disappoint in the stats department either, putting up 33 points in 32 games playing for the University of North Dakota in his first NCAA season. This was good enough for third on the team in scoring in his freshman year. What you get with Reschny is an elite playmaker with great vision and hockey IQ. He reads the ice so well and can find open passing lanes with precision and detail. The young UND forward also is responsible on the defensive side of the game and shows great support down low and has some hustle in his game. Although he stands at only 5-foot-11, which may be considered small for an NHL centre, he does not shy away from those hard areas of the ice, where physical threats surround him. The Flames should be ecstatic when Reschny finally makes the transition to the big club in the near future.
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Matvei Gridin, RW, Calgary Wranglers (AHL) (Currently with Calgary Flames, NHL)
Gridin’s rookie pro season has gone swimmingly so far. He has been one of the Calgary Wranglers’ top players when in the AHL and hasn’t looked out of place with the main club, even scoring his first few NHL goals. This is all extremely encouraging because there was some concern over how well his game would translate to the pro level given his inconsistency away from the puck and lack of physicality. There’s no doubting Gridin’s skill and creativity. He’s a high-octane player who possesses elite offensive upside. However, it has been apparent that he has worked to improve the finer details of his game, and he’s been able to handle the physical rigors of pro hockey thus far. With an even greater focus on playing through the inside and further improvement in the consistency of his overall engagement level, Gridin projects to be a long-time fixture in Calgary’s top six and on the team’s top powerplay unit. One of the fastest rising prospects in the NHL this year.
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Cullen Potter, C, Arizona State University (NCAA)
The Arizona State University sophomore joined the NCAA last season in his draft year and seemed to adjust rather quickly owing to his elite skating and high level of compete. He finished the season with 22 points in 35 games, ensuring him a first round selection by the Calgary Flames at 32nd overall. This season was cut short by an injury, at a time when Potter was really coming into his own, having put up 26 points in 24 games up until that point. Good enough for third on the team in scoring. Potter is a dynamic skater and has true separation speed, making him a real threat on the rush. Add a high level of compete and there’s reason to believe his game should translate well at the NHL level. There will need to be some time to develop and round out his game before making the professional jump, but because of his high-end skating and decent scoring abilities, there’s a good chance that Potter will eventually land himself an NHL spot in the near future. Potter could be a pleasantly surprising steal of a top six or middle six forward for the Flames.
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Samuel Honzek, LW, Calgary Flames (NHL)
After a very disappointing first pro season in the AHL last year, it was encouraging to see Honzek crack the Flames roster out of training camp this year; it was obvious that he put in the work this offseason to get better. However, after only 18 games, a collision with teammate Mikael Backlund ended his season as he needed surgery to repair an upper body injury. A dominant straight-line attacker thanks to his size and speed, Honzek has been working to add other layers to his game to improve his offensive ceiling as an NHL player. He has good vision for a bigger forward and as his frame fills out, he should be able to have a profound impact in the cycle game at the NHL level. One of the keys for Honzek remains the need to improve his physical impact away from the puck, especially given his projection as a complementary middle six piece. He should recover from his injury in time for next year’s training camp, where he’ll look to regain his spot in Calgary’s lineup.
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Hunter Brzustewicz, D, Calgary Wranglers (AHL) (Currently with Calgary Flames, NHL)
Acquired from Vancouver in the Elias Lindholm trade, Brzustewicz has ascended through the team’s prospect ranks fairly quickly, even earning considerable NHL time this year. Brzustewicz, a former Kitchener Ranger and OHL standout, is a smooth skating defender who can have a real positive impact on the game offensively. He’s great at holding the offensive blueline and kickstarting the breakout, and he shows promise as a potential powerplay quarterback thanks to his vision and ability to escape pressure. Entering the pro ranks, there was some concern over his ability to defend at higher levels, but he’s been more than adequate in his own end, even despite not being an overly physical player. His defensive positioning is excellent, and his mobility gives him an advantage as a transitional defender. Moving forward, it’s all about Brzustewicz gaining confidence in his offensive abilities at the NHL level, where his offensive impact has been limited thus far. He has second pairing upside and could be a full time NHL player as early as next year.
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Henry Mews, D, University of Michigan (NCAA)
Mews is another player that was selected by the Calgary Flames back in 2024 in the third round, 74th overall. He is an intriguing defensive prospect, who is an excellent skater with decent size, listed at 6-foot-1 and 183 pounds and is right-handed, which is highly sought after by NHL teams. Mews also sustained a season ending injury this year, at a time when he was transitioning well into the collegiate game, posting nine points in 10 games. The Canadian prospect came over from the OHL, where he put up some great numbers last season with 82 points in 68 games, ranking him third in the league among all blue liners. The smooth skating defenceman possesses some very intriguing tools and could potentially be a future offensive threat owing to his high-end puck skills and great mobility on the ice. Mews has consistently demonstrated his scoring process each of the past seasons and before getting injured this year, he was among the top defenceman in scoring in the NCAA. If he continues to develop on this trajectory path, there’s no reason to believe that he can become a dependent middle pairing-D with some potential offensive upside.
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Ethan Wyttenbach, LW, Quinnipiac University (NCAA)
The top scoring player in the NCAA this season with 57 points in 37 games, Wyttenbach has transitioned perfectly into collegiate hockey. The offensive upside was definitely there when the Flames drafted him 144th overall in the 2025 NHL draft, where he had amassed 51 points in 44 games last year playing for the Sioux Falls Stampede in the USHL. Wyttenbach should be one of the favourites for consideration of the Hobey Baker Award, for top collegiate hockey player in the nation. The freshman brings a highly skilled and evolved game to Quinnipiac and has great vision and hockey IQ. He is also responsible in all three zones and has some surprising defensive details that can at times be overlooked. Wyttenbach's surge in points this year may have been unsuspected, however, the offensive details in his game were there the entire time, it just seemed to transpire now. The Flames may have landed themselves a scoring gem with this fifth-round pick.
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Brennan Othmann, LW, Calgary Wranglers (AHL)
A first-round pick in 2021, the clock is ticking mighty fast on the now 23-year-old Othmann, who has seen his offense dry up a good bit this season. Seen as a constant threat to score in the minors in recent years, the belief that Othmann was already too good for the AHL last season hasn’t quite materialized into a regular NHL job this year, much less in an offensive role, while his AHL production pales in comparison to the past two seasons. And thus, the Rangers opted to move on from Othmann, sending him to Calgary in a recent move at the deadline. In Calgary Othmann will have the opportunity to prove that he can be a top nine contributor, using his aggressive physical play and goal scoring ability to carve out a full time NHL role. The rebuilding Flames will give him a good run to close out the year, and his NHL future may just depend on how he performs, as he is a pending RFA at season’s end.
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Andrew Basha, LW, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
Basha started the year in the AHL with the Calgary Wranglers but struggled to find consistent playing time causing his production and impact to be extremely limited. As such, the Flames opted to return Basha to the WHL for his overage season. Basha has posted some very good offensive numbers since returning to the WHL. He plays the game with pace and a dynamic element that allows him to at times look like a level above the majority of players in the WHL. He has a willingness to engage in battles that make him very effective on the forecheck and allow him to remain very effective if the offence isn’t there. His offence doesn’t project to be elite at the next level, but with his pace and tenacity, he could end up being a very effective third line forward who can chip-in with offence as well. Expect Basha to play a very important role for the Tigers during the playoffs as they will try to repeat as WHL champions, then he’ll return to the AHL next season and try to apply what he learned at the start of this year, to be more productive.
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William Stromgren, LW, Calgary Wranglers (AHL)
The big winger recently got a taste of NHL action after another decent AHL season. The frame and skating combination has always been alluring, but Stromgren will need to prove that he can make plays with the puck at the NHL level.
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Aydar Suniev, LW, Calgary Wranglers (AHL)
Suniev was a breakout star with UMass last year, leading to the Flames signing him going into this year. However, consistency and pace have been a bit of an issue in the AHL. The skill and finishing ability are standout traits.
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Kirill Zarubin, G, AKM Tula Region (MHL)
Zarubin continues to play well at the MHL level and needs to be challenged at higher levels. When he finally breaks into the VHL or KHL, the Flames will have a better idea of his upside.
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Max Curran, C, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
In his third season in North America, Max Curran continues to be an effective producer at the WHL level. Curran’s calling card has always been his playmaking, he’s a smart distributor that regularly finds seams in the offensive zone and connects passes with a high success rate. At 6-foot-3, his size makes him an appealing option down the middle of an NHL lineup.
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Trevor Hoskin, RW, Merrimack College (NCAA)
A breakout star with Niagara University last year, Hoskin transferred to Merrimack this year, where he continues to produce offensively. Hoskin is best described as a jack of all trades type. At 6-foot-3, his size makes him an appealing option down the middle of an NHL lineup.