Hockey playoffs are just right around the corner, and while the Calgary Flames seem to be on the outside looking in, most of their North American prospects are about to kick off their postseason journeys.
Lots of Calgary’s prospects already graduated this season. Connor Zary established himself as an NHLer before getting hurt, Dustin Wolf and Matt Coronato are both up with the Flames, and Jacob Pelletier was set for the NHL had it not been for his shoulder injury that set him back.
The younger prospects have mostly had impressive seasons, but can really make statements with solid postseason runs. So let’s take a look at how their years have gone to this point and what the playoffs might have in store for them.
A pair of Vancouver Giants
Teammates on the Vancouver Giants in the WHL, Samuel Honzek and Jaden Lipinski were taken in the first and third rounds of last year’s NHL draft, respectively.
Honzek was made the captain of the Giants this year but missed the first 25 games with an injury. Since coming back, he’s scored 10 goals and 30 points in 31 games, down from 56 points in 43 games last year. He’s had a tough season for a first-round pick, but a good playoff run could change that.
Lipinski, on the other hand, has had a great year. He is sitting at exactly a point per game, with 23 goals and 42 assists. He was also named an alternate captain to join Honzek in the leadership group.
The Giants are 32–30–4 on the season—good for the fifth seed in the Western Conference. The standings are tight, though, and they could move up to fourth or drop all the way to seventh depending on the final two games of the year.
Vancouver would play the Wenatchee Wild in the first round if the season ended today. The teams split the season series two wins a piece, the home team winning every game. So locking up the fourth seed would be huge.
They could also play the Everett Silvertips, Portland Winterhawks, or Prince George Cougars if they drop in the standings. They lost the season series to all three.
More top prospects in the CHL
Two other top prospects, Hunter Brzustewicz and Etienne Morin, are playing in the OHL and QMJHL, respectively.
Part of the Elias Lindholm trade, Brzustewicz instantly became one of the Flames’ top prospects. Taken in the third round in 2023 by the Vancouver Canucks, the offensive defenceman’s production has exploded this year, scoring 13 goals to go along with a league-leading 77 assists in 65 games.
His Kitchener Rangers sit at 41–23–2, locked into the fourth seed of the OHL’s Western Conference. They could end up playing any of the Guelph Storm, Erie Otters, Owen Sound Attack, or Flint Firebirds. They won all four season series against their possible matchups.
In the QMJHL, Etienne Morin is with the Moncton Wildcats. Morin was taken in the second round of last year’s draft, 48th overall. He had an outstanding draft year, scoring over a point per game with 21 goals as a defenceman for Moncton. His production has slowed down this year, but his focus has been on his play in his own zone.
The Wildcats are likely to finish third in the Q, and will face one of the Cape Breton Eagles, Rimouski Oceanic, or Chicoutimi Saugeens in the first round. Moncton lost the season series 5–4 after winning the first two matchups, but Morin only played in six of these games, notching one goal and two assists.
Home ice is still up for grabs, but if they get one win in their three remaining games, the Wildcats would clinch the higher seed and home ice advantage.
A prospect south of the border
The Flames picked winger Aydar Suniev in the third round of last year’s NHL draft out of the BCHL. This year, Suniev moved to the NCAA playing at the University of Massachusetts and has put up 12 goals and 13 assists in 34 games.
UMass is 20–12–3 on the season and is currently playing in the Hockey East Championship. Whoever wins the tournament gets an automatic spot in the NCAA tournament.
After beating Providence in the quarterfinals, Suniev and the Minutemen are set to take on Boston College for a spot in the finals Friday. BC is 28–5–1 on the season, the best team in the country. It’ll be a tough road for UMass.
There’s a lot to look forward to
A good playoff run can do wonders for a prospect’s confidence and development. Especially for someone like Honzek, who’s had a rough, injury-riddled year, production and wins in the postseason can get him back on track.
For Lipinski, Brzustewicz, Morin and Suniev, keeping their regular season momentum will be crucial. Keeping their numbers up while continuing to play winning hockey could lead them to deep playoff runs.
The CHL playoffs will kick off in less than two weeks, and the NCAA is in the early stages of their postseason. Calgary fans should have plenty to watch while the Flames struggle their way to the finish line.
