Welcome to the Jakob Pelletier Party! The 2019 first-round pick had a huge week for the Calgary Wranglers and was a big part of the team’s second win of the season. Cole Huckins in the QMJHL added three more points this week, and has started to cement a role for himself as a contributor on the ice. Lucas Ciona continues to fly for the Seattle Thunderbirds, and is among the top scorers in the league. He even signed an entry-level contract with Calgary this past weekend. There is so much to talk about this week—let’s dive right into it!
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
Jakob Pelletier – Calgary Wranglers
| Period | GP | G | A | P | PPG | PIMs | NHLe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season total | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0.66 | 2 | 26.6 |
Whether it was an illness, injury, or simply just a bad week, Jakob Pelletier did not have the training camp that many expected of him. He was simply a non-factor that week when the Flames were in the process of picking their team for this season, and unsurprisingly found his way to the Wranglers this season.
And even when he joined the team, his first few games saw him not hit the scoresheet at all in the first four games, despite playing on the top line with Matthew Phillips and Connor Zary. However, this week he absolutely exploded for four points in two games, including a two-goal, one-assist night that gave him first star honours in the match. Take a look at his first two goals of the season here.
It is going to take more than being a 0.66 point-per-game player to earn a look in Calgary, but he clearly has the skills to be an NHLer down the road. He will need to continue to perform this season if he wants to earn a call-up, but it’s only a matter of time before he earns a role. The Flames are lacking depth on the wing, and if Pelletier can start to show that he can be not only a scoring option but also an effective two-way player who can play the Sutter way, he may be able to show he deserves to be in the NHL.
Flames prospect happenings
AHL
- The Wranglers went 1–1–0 this week, winning one and losing one against the Coachella Valley Firebirds. They won a commanding game 6–4 in the first one, but dropped a 5–3 decision in California despite a late push.
- The top line of Zary, Pelletier, and Phillips have been the best line for the team. Phillips had a goal and two assists while Zary had one of each. The latter’s goal was particularly nice:
- A big week for Emilio Pettersen who found his way back onto the ice this week, adding two assists for the Wranglers. Cole Schwindt and Adam Klapka also had two assists this week.
- The problem for the Wranglers has been their defence and goaltending, which have both really struggled. They have allowed 26 goals against in six games this season, which is clearly a big yikes! This is going to be a big area of improvement for the team going forward.
BCHL
- Another goal this week for Cade Littler who is just under a point-per-game this season. It’s hard to really put much stock into his production this season, as the BCHL is not really a league on the same level as any of the others where the Flames’ prospects play. His NHLe reflects this. He is NCAA bound next season.
ECHL
- Another big week for Rory Kerins in Rapid City. He had a goal and an assist to stay above a point-per-game this season. He is working his way towards a call-up to the AHL, where he realistically probably be playing this season.
- No points again for Ilya Nikolayev, who is still looking for his first point this season.
- Daniil Chechelev’s numbers have been very meh this season, which makes it hard to justify a call-up to the AHL even though both of the Wranglers’ goalies have been sub 0.900 this season. He did however have this really great save this week.
OHL
- Another goal this week for Jack Beck this week, who is over a point-per-game still this season. Unfortunately he only appeared in one game, missing a game with a knock. Hopefully he’s back on the ice soon.
QMJHL
- Cole Huckins is settling in nicely with Sherbrooke in Quebec. He had two goals and an assist this week.
- After a very rough season last season, Huckins has been steady on the team’s second line and hovers just below a point-per-game this season.
- Just one assist for Cam Whynot for Halifax. He’s been playing heavy minutes for the Mooseheads, but he hasnt really been a gamebreaker for them so far this season.
WHL
- Huge congratulations to Lucas Ciona who signed an entry-level deal with the Flames this week. The 2021 sixth-round pick has been among the best point-producers in the entire WHL this season, and is lookin quite decent.
- The big question with Ciona is whether he can continue to produce like this at the next level. He gives off very strong Auston Carroll vibes as a big player in the WHL who put up a ton of points but simply could not bring it at the next level. However for now the numbers and production are great. Take a look at this goal he had this week:
- While Ciona has grabbed most of the headlines, Parker Bell has quietly been having an excellent start to the season. The winger has 12 points in ten games this season for the Tri-City Americans.
- Two more assists this week for defenceman Cole Jordan in Moose Jaw. He has gone from being the team’s sixth defenceman last season to being a staple on the top pair. His passing is the hallmark of his game, and it’s been on full display this season.
NCAA
- Matt Coronato’s sophomore season has started with a bang. Centring the Crimson’s top line, he had three goals in his first two games as the team knocked off Dartmouth. Here’s his first goal:
- No points this week for Jake Boltmann, but has been playing top-four minutes for Notre Dame this season.
- No games this week for Arseni Sergeev at UConn. The team has four goalies so this isn’t much of a surprise.
- No points for either Josh Nodler or Demetrios Koumontzis. A tale of two older centres, with the former playing top line on a very good UMass team and the latter playing bottom line on a good ASU side.
- The USCHO rankings put UMass at fifth in the country, UConn at eighth, Notre Dame at 12th, and Harvard at 15th.
Europe
- Topi Ronni is back on the ice after an injury and had three points in his one game in the U20 SM-sarjaa. He looks to be far too good for this league, and should probably earn a promotion to the Liiga team.
- William Stromgren has scored his first SHL goal for Brynas this week. He’s been mostly a bottom line guy for the team, and has not gotten many minutes this season.
- On the one hand, you understand that this is his D+2 season and he’s playing in the SHL, but on the other hand, it’s hard not to expect more from the Flames’ second round pick.
NHLe Leaderboard
NHLe is a metric used to estimate a player’s offensive output at the NHL level from their point totals in their respective league. Here are the Flames’ current top 5 (bracketed numbers denote movement from the previous week)
- Matthew Phillips: 53.1 (+1)
- Lucas Ciona: 46.8 (-1)
- Jack Beck: 34.4 (same)
- Matthew Coronato 34.4 (New)
- Connor Zary: 33.2 (-1)
Overall regular season totals for Flames prospects
Forwards
| Player | Position | GP | G | A | P | P/GP | PIM | NHLe | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Beck | LW/RW | 10 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 1.30 | 4 | 34.4 | Ottawa 67’s | OHL |
| Parker Bell | LW | 10 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 1.20 | 16 | 29.6 | Tri-City Americans | WHL |
| Lucas Ciona | LW | 9 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 1.89 | 4 | 46.8 | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL |
| Matthew Coronato | RW | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1.50 | 0 | 34.4 | Harvard Crimsons | NCAA |
| Walker Duehr | RW | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0.50 | 2 | 19.9 | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Mathias Emilio Pettersen | C/LW | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.67 | 2 | 26.6 | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Lucas Feuk | C/W | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.33 | 2 | N/A | Rapid City Rush | ECHL |
| Cole Huckins | C | 12 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 0.75 | 14 | 17.5 | Sherbrooke Phoenix | QMJHL |
| Ben Jones | C | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0.67 | 2 | 26.6 | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Rory Kerins | C/LW | 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1.25 | 0 | N/A | Rapid City Rush | ECHL |
| Adam Klapka | RW | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0.60 | 6 | 23.9 | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Demetrios Koumontzis | LW | 9 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0.44 | 6 | 14.3 | Arizona State Sun Devils | NCAA |
| Cade Littler | C | 12 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 0.92 | 2 | 9.8 | Wenatchee Wild | BCHL |
| Ilya Nikolayev | C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | N/A | Rapid City Rush | ECHL |
| Josh Nodler | C/RW | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0.4 | 4 | 13.8 | UMass | NCAA |
| Jakob Pelletier | C/LW | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0.67 | 2 | 26.6 | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Matthew Phillips | C/RW | 6 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 1.33 | 2 | 53.1 | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Martin Pospisil | C/W | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.33 | 7 | 13.3 | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Topi Ronni | C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Tappara | Liiga |
| 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2.50 | 2 | N/A | Tappara U20 | U20 SM-sarja | ||
| Cole Schwindt | C/RW | 6 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0.66 | 2 | 26.6 | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| William Stromgren | LW | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3.00 | 0 | N/A | Rogle BK J20/Brynas IF J20 | J20 Nationell |
| LW | 15 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0.3 | 11 | 9.8 | Brynas IF | SHL | |
| Connor Zary | C | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0.83 | 0 | 33.2 | Stockton Heat | AHL |
Defencemen
| Player | Position | GP | G | A | P | P/GP | PIM | NHLe | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jake Boltmann | RHD | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.13 | 6 | 3.4 | Notre Dame | NCAA |
| Cole Jordan | LHD | 11 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0.55 | 6 | 13.5 | Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL |
| Yan Kuznetsov | LHD | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Jeremie Poirier | LHD | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0.5 | 0 | 19.9 | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Ilya Solovyov | LHD | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Cameron Whynot | LHD | 11 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0.55 | 8 | 12.7 | Halifax Mooseheads | QMJHL |
Goalies
| Player | Position | GP | GAA | SV% | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniil Chechelev | G | 3 | 3.36 | 0.905 | Kansas City Mavericks | ECHL |
| Arseni Sergeev | G | 4 | 2.24 | 0.929 | University of Connecticut | NCAA |
| Dustin Wolf | G | 4 | 4.56 | 0.890 | Calgary Wranglers | 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.
Photo by Marissa Baecker via NHL.com
