With the trade deadline for the 2023–24 season three weeks away, the Calgary Flames are five points outside of the playoffs, and a retooling era has dawned. With the trade of Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks now in the rearview mirror, only three of the most prominent trade chips in the NHL—Jacob Markstrom, Chris Tanev, and Noah Hanifin—remain on the Flames’ roster.
That means one thing: the trades are not yet done. With Flames General Manager Craig Conroy looking to make the team competitive for the future, trading players strictly for picks is one strategy he could employ, but acquiring prospects is another. We aren’t talking top round picks who everyone and their dog knows has potential, but some of the lesser known, later round guys the Flames could scoop up.
Identified below are some sleeper prospects the Flames could wrestle from the reserve lists of Eastern Conference contenders.
Niko Huuhtanen (2003), Tampa Bay Lighting
- Drafted: 2021, 7th Round, 224th Overall
- Pos: RW
- Height: 6’02” / Weight: 209 lbs
- Born: Helsinki, FIN
- Current Team: Mikkelin Jukurit (Liiga)
- AVG TOI: Top 6 Forward 16:04
| 2023–24 stats | GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mikkelin Jukurit (Liiga) | 47 | 17 | 26 | 43 |
If there is one sleeper player that could make a real NHL impact next season, it’s Niko Huuhtanen. There is a lot to like about this young Finn, as he plays a complete game all around. Immediately noticeable about Huuhtanen’s game is his high-end compete level, emphasized by his excellent physicality, board play, and second efforts. He is a quality net front presence as his grit allows him to get rebounds and redirect shots.
In general, he is able to just battle and take up space in high danger positions making him a threat every time he is on the ice. Huuhtanen possesses quality puck skills that make him efficient on the rush and in-zone. His puck protection especially comes in handy when mixed with his good on-ice vision that allows him to further support plays and generate more chances than others.
The Helsinki product has a clean stride with decent edges, and an above average skating posture. Clearly, his past two seasons in the Finnish Liiga have served him well, as his acceleration—something that held him back slightly during his time with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips—is less noticeable, which bodes well for his NHL chances.
The silver lining here is that the NHL club with his rights, the Tampa Bay Lightning, might be willing to move a player like Huuhtanen for an NHL-ready piece right now. Tanev could be a good fit for the Lightning, and maybe Huuhtanen is part of a package coming back.
NHL ETA: 1-2 years.
Kasper Puutio (2002), Florida Panthers
- Drafted: 2020, 5th Round, 153rd Overall
- Pos: RD
- Height: 5’11” / Weight: 181 lbs
- Born: Vaasa, FIN
- Current Team: Lahti Pelicans (Liiga)
- AVG TOI: Top 6 Defenceman 17:56
| 2023–24 stats | GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lahti Pelicans (Liiga) | 43 | 5 | 8 | 13 |
Kasper Puutio has the opportunity to carve out a role for himself in professional hockey as a reliable shutdown defender. He plays a very conservative style of hockey.
Despite the defender’s smaller stature at 5’11”, he excels in transitional play and limiting chances off the rush through body positioning, defensive leverage (getting inside or outside of a player), and decent risk management. The Finnish defenceman really shines in terms of transitional defensive positioning through limiting chance creation upon zone entries, often pushing players to the boards which stifles offensive risks before they even start. Other noteworthy aspects of his game include his above average puck skills, passing, and puck protection. His backwards skating is clean and crisp too, demonstrating good crossovers and an unproblematic glide. There are plenty of elements to like with the young Pelicans defenceman.
There are also elements that do raise concern, mainly revolving around the offensive zone. First and foremost, Puutio is limited in terms of offensive creativity and shooting. This makes him a lesser threat to the opposing team. This limitation makes plays a lot easier for opposing goalies when they check up. There are also moments in his game where the Vaasa-born defender has slight issues around decision-making and offensive instincts, which can unintentionally kill plays.
All in all, he fits the same mould as that of a Chris Tanev—a puck-moving stay-at-home defensive-minded defender that uses the body and smart positioning to positively impact the game.
NHL ETA: 3 Years
Jack Devine (2003), Florida Panthers
- Drafted: 2022, 7th Round, 221st Overall
- Pos: RW
- Height: 5’11” / Weight: 181 lbs
- Born: Glencoe, IL
- Current Team: University of Denver (NCAA)
- AVG TOI: Top 6 Forward 17:10
| 2023–24 stats | GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Denver (NCAA) | 28 | 21 | 21 | 42 |
The opinion on Jack Devine is varied, depending on who you ask, but the consensus remains that the American is a diamond in the rough. Now in his third season with the University of Denver, Devine has shown considerable growth every season, so one can only hope that this continues.
The high motor of the forward makes him instantly recognizable on any NCAA rink, as he is relentless on the forecheck, in transition, and in the zone. There is certainly no lack of hustle in his game, and his defensive efforts might just be some of the best in college right now. On the breakout and in the offensive zone, it is obvious that Devine plans his moves in advance, demonstrating good vision, risk assessment, play anticipation, and shot/passing lane creation. His offensive instincts, dekes, and puck skills are top notch, and he is a chance-generator with and without the puck, making both him and his entire team better for it.
The few elements of his game that will hold him back are less then stellar skating mechanics that generate limited power and acceleration. The impact this might have on his pro-level game—considering his hockey IQ and positioning is already quite strong—remains to be seen. These deficiencies could be improved with an NHL-level power skating coach and increased muscle mass as the player gets older. The secondary element that poses some issues is his puck protection, as he can be vulnerable to turnovers. This can be re-examined next year, as Devine likely has at least one season of NCAA hockey left to play after the 2023–24 season. It would be hard to imagine Devine doesn’t get at least bottom 6 minutes somewhere for his hustle and motor alone.
NHL ETA: 2 Years
Oskar Jellvik (2003), Boston Bruins
- Drafted: 2021, 5th Round, 149th Overall
- Pos: LW/C
- Height: 5’11” / Weight: 181 lbs
- Born: Taby, Sweden
- Current Team: Boston College (NCAA)
- AVG TOI: Top 6 Forward 17:50
| 2023–24 stats | GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston College (NCAA) | 28 | 12 | 18 | 30 |
On a team with fourteen NHL draft picks—most notably Will Smith, Ryan Leonard, and Cutter Gauthier—one wouldn’t expect to talk about a fifth-rounder. That is exactly what happened with Oskar Jellvik.
Jellvik has a large toolkit as a forward. He is a speedy winger whose mechanically sound skating, edgework, and acceleration allows him to be wherever he needs to be in a moment’s notice on the ice. This skating foundation also furthers his positioning, play deception, and offensive creativity. The Swede’s offensive instincts mesh well with his quality puck skills, allowing him to dance circles around opposing defenders. Mix all of these in with great play support and play reading and you have a player that might be in the NHL atmosphere sooner than later. Jellvik has the complete package.
The main issue that Jellvik might encounter is with opposing shut down and checking lines at the next level. As a powerhouse team like Boston College has so many threats that most other teams within his league can’t keep up, Jellvik gets to be the beneficiary of lower quality matchups. It will be interesting to see how he can adapt to the professional hockey level. Additionally, the Boston College forward still tends to force some plays, raising concerns about positioning and hockey IQ, but nothing major.
The Boston College player could be one of the supplemental costs for a deep Boston Bruins playoff run, and the Flames would be smart to take advantage of this. Jellvik continues to make strides forward, and the only thing that remains to be seen is how he adapts once he makes the jump up to professional hockey.
NHL ETA: 2 Years
Honorable Mention:
Noah Laba, 2022 4th Round, 111th Overall, New York Rangers
| 2023–24 stats | GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado College (NCAA) | 26 | 15 | 10 | 25 |
The Flames have plenty of options to target
Be it the grit of Huuhtanen, defensive aptitude of Puutio, the motor of Devine, or the soft skill of Jellvik, the Calgary Flames have plenty of sleeper prospects they could target for a retool. There are plenty of trade chips within the organization for it, and in the arms race that is the Eastern Conference, contending teams don’t mind either. In Conroy Calgary trusts.
Which sleeper prospects would you want to see the Calgary Flames go after?
Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire
