We are still fresh into the 2024 offseason but the major events in the draft and free agency have passed. Each year we poll the Win Column team and make a consolidated ranking of the top 10 prospects in the Calgary Flames system. This year we decided to take it up a notch and do top 15. The players who are the Flames’ top five prospects were a consensus but everything else saw some variety from the team.
Before we get into the top 15, we would like to highlight two prospects who received votes and just missed the top 15 as honourable mentions.
Ilya Solovyov
Last year, Ilya Solovyov also saw himself as one of our honourable mentions but at 12th and not 16th. Solovyov was drafted as a double over-ager in 2020 in the seventh round. With all that considered, not much was thought of the pick when it was made. His numbers with the Saginaw Spirit in his draft year were strong but he was also 20 playing against teenagers.
The following year saw him go to the KHL and play with Minsk Dynamo to develop his game. He then came back to North America and has spent the majority of the last seasons in the AHL for the Flames’ affiliate.
It was the 2022–23 season that caused many to start paying attention to Solovyov. At 22 years old with the Calgary Wranglers, Solovyov put up 18 points in 68 games along with a +18. But what truly made him receive attention was the fact he became one of, if not the most trusted defenceman on the Wranglers. There were points where he was put out over Jeremie Poirier and Yan Kuznetsov.
That season saw his play at both ends of the ice strongly develop. Heading into 2023–24 season, there were questions if Solovyov could make the opening night roster. He did not but was among the last cuts. Solovyov’s play continued to be strong with the Wranglers and early into the season on October 26, he made his NHL debut. He received a few stints throughout the year, improving each time. In total, he played 10 games and picked up three points.
There was and still is some concern that Solovyov will be nothing more than a high-end AHLer who fills in for a handful of NHL games per season. This year we saw some promise with his showings in the NHL. At best, Solovyov will be a sixth or seventh defenceman but to get that with a seventh-round pick is great value.
Artem Grushnikov
A new prospect to the Flames system, Artem Grushnikov is our other honourable mention. Grushnikov was acquired by the Flames when they traded Chris Tanev to the Dallas Stars. He was drafted in the second round by the Stars in 2021 after missing his entire draft year due to the global pandemic. Grushnikov would go on to spend the next two years with the Hamilton Bulldogs. His point totals weren’t any special with 12 in 56 games and 17 in 65 games. That said, he doesn’t shine with offence but rather with his shutdown game.
This past year we saw Grushnikov debut in the AHL with the Texas Stars. He played in a limited role but his defence definitely looked strong. His offence wasn’t much to write home about with five points in 44 games. Then he was traded and joined the Wranglers. With the Wranglers he also had a limited role for his 20 games. He looked steady and once again, his best moments came through his shutdown ability. A highlight for Grushnikov was his standout at development camp just recently.
Grushnikov is an interesting prospect. Not many in Calgary know much about him due to his small amount of time here so far. He’s not going to be the guy you keep your eye on due to his very stay-at-home game. His lack of offensive skill definitely limits his ceiling at the NHL level. But his defensive game makes him projectable for sure. Turning 22 near the end of next season, you hope to see some development from Grushnikov. He’s got potential to be a complementary shutdown defenceman in the NHL but it feels safer to see him as a depth defenceman.
What’s next for these prospects?
The duo of prospects I covered both have the need to show the hockey world more. Solovyov is going to push for an opening night roster spot but if he doesn’t get one, it will be a little concerning. Grushnikov is coming off of his rookie AHL year so some development into a higher role would be ideal. Like I mentioned many times before, he was very steady on the defensive side of things, but that did come with not a whole lot of playing time.
Grushnikov definitely has more runway but if he is 22 and isn’t nearing the NHL, there is plenty to be concerned with. Solovyov is nearing “he is what he is” status and needs to land that spot on the Flames roster.
