The Calgary Flames tended to some roster transactions with the team returning back to the Saddledome with a couple of days off between games. With defenceman Dennis Gilbert nearing his return from injury where he took a bad fall as a result of a slew foot, the Flames have reassigned Yan Kuznetsov back to the AHL.
Kuznetsov’s first NHL experience
Kuznetsov was drafted by the Calgary Flames back in 2020 in the second round. Being touted as a defensive defenceman, he’s seen play across various leagues and finally got his first taste of NHL action this season.
His first NHL re-call came due to the aforementioned injury to Gilbert, where Kuznetsov was first up on an emergency loan on January 5. He was sent back down for a day on January 8 but was re-called again on January 9, where he made his NHL debut.
In his first-ever NHL game, Kuznetsov logged 11:58 with his primary partner being Nick DeSimone. While Kuznetsov didn’t score, he did post two shots. Unfortunately, he was involved in a scoring play that went against the Flames as a shot went off his knee and ricocheted into the Flames net.
Back to development
The Flames have been a lot more willing to call up young players. The re-call could have easily been for Ilya Solovyov who already had NHL time this year when he was called up earlier in the season. Instead, the Flames are making good on their promise to give the young players more rotations and help them all along with their development.
A lot of Calgary’s prospects still need time in the AHL to cook a little longer, and that’s the best place for them to be to get major minutes. However, making those NHL call-ups and allowing players to debut shows the team’s belief and commitment to their players.
Kuznetsov will go back to the Calgary Wranglers where he’ll play in bigger situations and log more minutes. All said, the call-up with a taste of NHL action and paycheque should be a good motivator for Kuznetsov to keep doing what he’s doing and progressing his game.
