This is probably the best that the entire Calgary Flames organization has looked in a long time. The Flames themselves are 7–2–3, the Heat haven’t lost at all since their opening night, and numerous prospects across the world are among the best in their respective leagues. It has been a long time since there has been so much enthusiasm on the ice in the Flames’ organization, where both the present and the future look so bright.
Let’s break down just how bright the future looks in this week’s prospect update.
Welcome to the TWC Calgary Flames prospect update. Each week, we’ll take a dive into how the Flames’ prospects have done in their respective leagues. We have defined a prospect as a skater who has played fewer than 65 NHL games, and is younger than 25 years of age. All data is from QuantHockey and EliteProspects. We also use an NHLe calculator built by Christian Roatis (@Croatis) which is used to estimate a player’s equivalent point total in the NHL based on how they are performing in their respective league. The calculator uses the difficulty of the given league combined with the ease at which a player puts up points to determine the NHLe.
Standout Performer
Arsenii Sergeev: Tri-City Storm (USHL)
| GP | GAA | SV% | SO | Record | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| This week | 2 | 0.5 | 9.83 | 1 | 2-0-0 |
| Season total | 7 | 1.14 | 0.954 | 2 | 6-1-0 |
When the Flames selected Arsenii Sergeev with their seventh round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, it flew almost completely under the radar. Coming out of the Shreveport Mudbugs of the NAHL, it appeared to be a complete flyer of a pick. Assistant GM Brad Pascall said at the time that they deferred to their scouting staff and goalie team to make this pick, and found Sergeev to have a strong foundation and good fundamentals despite being quite raw.
However, this season, he has taken the USHL by a storm (no pun intended). Playing in Tri-City, Sergeev has been the best goaltender in the league, posting a 0.954 save percentage through seven starts. He has only been in net for one loss, which came in the first game of the season. Since then he has been completely lights out, recording two shutouts and in the following six games.
This past weekend, he was absolutely on fire. The first game was a goaltending duel between him and Alexander Tracey of Sioux City. Neither team was able to score in regulation, but the Storm picked up an overtime win and Sergeev picked up the shutout.
The second game of the back-to-back with Sioux City, the Storm came alive, putting up four goals through the first two periods to give themselves a 4–0 lead. However, with just over five minutes left to play, the Musketeers ruined Sergeev’s bid at back-to-back shutouts by putting the puck past him and into the back of the net. However, it was the only goal that the Flames’ prospect allowed all weekend, which is no small matter. He made incredible saves like this one below, and was named the USHL Goaltender of the Week.
It’s probably a bit early to be penciling him moving up in the Flames’ depth chart right away. Sergeev is committed to play in the NCAA next season with the UConn Huskies (Go Ice Bus!), where Yan Kuznetsov played his college hockey, and will likely be there for at least a couple of seasons. It is anyone’s guess what happens next, but if he can succeed there and then make a statement in Stockton, the Flames may have found yet another star netminder in the seventh round.
This and that
USHL
- Sticking with the USHL, it was another big week for the Flames’ other Storm prospect. Ilya Nikolayev had two assists for the storm this weekend—one primary and one secondary. He has earned a promotion up to the second line, where he remains at centre.
NCAA
- Sticking stateside, it was just one assist for Matthew Coronato this week in their three games. They faced off against much tougher teams this weekend including Team Canada’s netminder Devon Levi and Northwestern on Monday evening. The Crimson lost their first game of the year in overtime to Northwestern despite not allowing a single shot against in the final 20 minutes.
- Should you be worried that Coronato only managed one assist? No of course not! He still is well over a point-per-game despite not playing on the team’s top power play unit. He is still very good.
- Over in the Big-10, Jake Boltmann had his first collegiate goal and added two assists this past weekend. He has been elevated to the Fighting Irish’s top pairing. He leads all defencemen in points on his team despite being a rookie. Let’s see if he can keep this up before we call him legit.
- Former fourth-round pick Mitchell Mattson had a goal and an assist this past week for Michigan State. After being scratched for the first few games, he has finally found his touch, and put some points on the board for the Spartans. He still is on the bottom line and likely is hitting the end of the road here.
- His teammate Josh Nodler continues to be quietly very good. Another assist this week to put him just under a point-per-game.
AHL
- Down in sunny Stockton, things could not be going better. The Heat have won seven straight, and have only lost once in their first game of the season in overtime. Not bad for a team that struggled mightily last year.
- To make matters even better, Connor Zary is expected to return this week to game action. He was one of the Heat’s best skaters last season in his short stint in Stockton, and having him back will only make the team stronger.
- With Zary back in the lineup, someone will need to draw out of the lineup. That will likely be Dmitri Zavgorodniy, who has not made much of a mark so far this season.
- The team’s top line just keep rolling. Jakob Pelletier sits third among U21 scoring in the league. Adam Ruzicka is second in the entire league in goals scored and tenth in points. Matthew Phillips has been quietly the key distributor on the line, sitting just below a point-per-game pace.
- This week, Ruzicka had three goals and an assist, Pelletier had two assists and Phillips had a goal and an assist.
- Glenn Gawdin is back in Stockton again, and sits at a point-per-game so far this season.
- Walker Duehr has been called up to Calgary, but has yet to feature in a game. He has quietly been an excellent signing by the Flames.
- However, the big superstar in Stockton continues to be Dustin Wolf, who continues to be one of the best in the league. While it has only been a handful of games, he is the best netminder in the league among those who have played at least three games.
- Finally, Martin Pospisil put up a goal and an assist and Eetu Tuulola had the same.
Swedish hockey
- Emil Heineman put up a goal and two assists in the SHL this week. Not bad bad for a prospect expected to be in his last year in Europe prior to jumping over to North America.
- Just one assist for William Stromgren in the Swedish J-20.
OHL
- This side of the border, the Flames have two prospects absolutely torching the OHL. Rory Kerins in Soo sits second in the entire league in points with 23. This week he had a massive week, with two goals and five assists. The Flames found him in the sixth round of the draft in 2020.
- In Ottawa, Jack Beck continues to put goals in the net. He put up two more goals and two more assists, and sits third in the OHL in goals scored.
- It probably isn’t much to worry about at this point but Beck sat out last night’s tilt against the Kingston Frontenacs in what is being described as him being “banged up” after a tough weekend. He is expected back soon.
WHL
- Less to talk about in the WHL this week as Cole Jordan remains on the sidelines.
- Lucas Ciona put up a goal this week for Seattle this week.
QMJHL
- Finally on the east coast, the Flames’ prospects continue to shine. Jeremie Poirier put up a goal and two assists to put himself back over the point-per-game. He has taken on a more defensive role for the Sea Dogs, and his play has improved substantially on the defensive end.
- Ryan Francis has been incredible since coming back to the East Coast. He put up a goal and an assist this week, and remains above a point-per-game pace.
- Cameron Whynot had two more assists for Halifax this week. He is the top defenceman on his team, and sits fifth in points on the Mooseheads.
Overall regular season totals for all Flames prospects
Forwards
| Player | Position | GP | G | A | P | P/GP | PIM | NHLe | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Beck | LW/RW | 12 | 11 | 6 | 17 | 1.42 | 6 | 37.6 | Ottawa 67’s | OHL |
| Lucas Ciona | LW | 10 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0.6 | 26 | 14.9 | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL |
| Matthew Coronato | RW | 5 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 1.4 | 0 | 32.1 | Harvard Crimsons | NCAA |
| Walker Duehr | RW | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0.6 | 0 | 23.9 | Stockton Heat | AHL |
| Mathias Emilio Pettersen | C/LW | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.3 | 2 | 10.0 | Stockton Heat | AHL |
| Lucas Feuk | C/W | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.3 | 0 | N/A | Vasterviks IK | HockeyAllsvenskan |
| C/W | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.4 | 14 | N/A | Nybro IF | HockeyEttan | |
| Ryan Francis | RW/C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Stockton Heat | AHL |
| RW/C | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1.3 | 4 | 29.1 | St John Sea Dogs | QMJHL | |
| Glenn Gawdin | C/RW | 6 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 1.3 | 12 | 53.0 | Stockton Heat | AHL |
| Emil Heineman | LW/RW | 18 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 0.3 | 10 | 16.1 | Leksands IF | SHL |
| Cole Huckins | C | 13 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 0.8 | 33 | 17.9 | Acadie Bathurst Titans | QMJHL |
| Rory Kerins | C/LW | 14 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 1.64 | 2 | 43.4 | Soo Greyhounds | OHL |
| Justin Kirkland | C/W | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0.5 | 12 | 19.9 | Stockton Heat | AHL |
| Demetrios Koumontzis | LW | 10 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0.3 | 4 | N/A | Arizona State Sun Devils | NCAA |
| Mitchell Mattson | C | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.3 | 2 | 9.1 | Michigan State Spartans | NCAA |
| Ilya Nikolayev | C | 9 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0.8 | 6 | 17.3 | Tri-City Storm | USHL |
| Josh Nodler | C/RW | 10 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 0.8 | 0 | 21.8 | Michigan State Spartans | NCAA |
| Jakob Pelletier | C/LW | 8 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 1.1 | 0 | 45.0 | Stockton Heat | AHL |
| Matthew Phillips | C/RW | 8 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 0.9 | 4 | 35.1 | Stockton Heat | AHL |
| Luke Philp | C/RW | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0.5 | 0 | 19.9 | Stockton Heat | AHL |
| Martin Pospisil | C/W | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0.6 | 12 | 22.7 | Stockton Heat | AHL |
| Adam Ruzicka | C | 8 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 1.4 | 2 | 55.0 | Stockton Heat | AHL |
| William Stromgren | LW | 20 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 0.9 | 4 | N/A | Rogle BK J20 | J20 Nationell |
| Tuulola, Eetu | RW | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.7 | 4 | 26.7 | Stockton Heat | AHL |
| Connor Zary | C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Stockton Heat | AHL |
| Dmitri Zavgorodny | W/C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Stockton Heat | AHL |
Defensemen
| Player | Position | GP | G | A | P | P/GP | PIM | NHLe | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jake Boltmann | RHD | 9 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0.4 | 8 | 11.7 | Notre Dame | NCAA |
| Cole Jordan | LHD | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL |
| Johannes Kinnvall | RHD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Stockton Heat | AHL |
| Yan Kuznetsov | LHD | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Stockton Heat | AHL |
| Connor Mackey | LHD | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.3 | 13 | 10.0 | Stockton Heat | AHL |
| Jeremie Poirier | LHD | 15 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 1.1 | 8 | 24.9 | St. John Sea Dogs | QMJHL |
| Colton Poolman | LHD | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Stockton Heat | AHL |
| Ilya Solovyov | LHD | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Stockton Heat | AHL |
| Cameron Whynot | LHD | 13 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0.5 | 18 | 12.6 | Halifax Mooseheads | QMJHL |
Goalies
| Player | Position | GP | GAA | SV% | Record | Shutouts | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chechelev, Daniil | G | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | Stockton Heat | AHL |
| Tyler Parsons | G | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | Stockton Heat | AHL |
| Arsenii Sergeyev | G | 7 | 1.14 | 0.954 | 6-1-0 | 2 | Tri-City Storm | AHL |
| Dustin Wolf | G | 5 | 1.59 | 0.949 | 4-0-1 | 0 | Stockton Heat | AHL |
Want to know more?
Still want to know more about the Flames prospects? Check out our interviews with a number of prospects down below:
Which prospects are you most excited about? Let us know below in the comments or on social media.
