The Calgary Flames have announced the second round of cuts to their training camp roster. After making eight cuts a couple days back, the Flames have cut a further two players, sending them back to their respective junior hockey teams.
Assignments and cuts
- Forward Matvei Gridin has been sent to the Shawinigan Cataraques of the QMJHL.
- Andrew Basha has been sent back to the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL.
Basha was excellent for the Flames at the Penticton Young Stars Classic, putting on a show with his speed and hands throughout the tournament. However, it is not a surprise to see him heading back to junior for his 19-year-old season. He’s going to be on one of the best teams in junior hockey this year and should be vying for a spot in the Memorial Cup. Basha was our sixth-ranked prospect in the 2024 Win Column Prospect Rankings.
It’s a bit surprising that the Flames sent Gridin down the Q this early on. As a European selected in the CHL Import Draft, the Flames had the opportunity to try him out in the AHL this season and see what they had in him. After a great start to camp and a great showing in Penticton, there were talks of him staying in the AHL this season.
Going to the Q, Gridin will have an opportunity to really impress in Shawinigan. The team has no other prospects, and given its reputation as a scorers league, the Russian-bord forward should be able to light up the league like so many NHL stars have done over the years.
While he has already been traded once this year, moving from Val d’Or to Shawinigan, there is a chance he is traded to a contender at some point this year. Rimouski is hosting the Memorial Cup this season, and they could make a play for him. As well, the Flames have Etienne Morin on a very strong Moncton Wildcats side that could use the scoring touch that Gridin brings. Perhaps he ends up there.
Gridin was the eighth-ranked prospect in the 2024 Win Column Prospect Ranking.
In either case, expect both Gridin and Basha to have massive years this year, assuming they stay healthy.
Players remaining in camp
After this wave of cuts, Following these moves, the Flames’ camp roster is down to 54 players: six goaltenders, 17 defencemen, and 31 forwards.
Goaltenders
- Devin Cooley
- Dan Vladar
- Dustin Wolf
- Walterri Ignatjew
- Connor Murphy
- Matt Radomsky
Defencemen
- Rasmus Andersson
- Jonathan Aspirot
- Kevin Bahl
- Jake Bean
- Tyson Barrie
- Hunter Brzustewicz
- Artem Grushnikov
- Joel Hanley
- Joni Jurmo
- Yan Kuznetsov
- Daniil Miromanov
- Brayden Pachal
- Zayne Parekh
- Jeremie Poirier
- Ilya Solovyov
- Jarred Tinordi
- MacKenzie Weegar
Forwards
- Mikael Backlund
- Parker Bell
- Clark Bishop
- Lucas Ciona
- Blake Coleman
- Matt Coronato
- Walker Duehr
- Alex Gallant
- Sam Honzek
- Jonathan Huberdeau
- Dryden Hunt
- Samuel Honzek
- Trevor Janicke
- Rory Kerins
- Nazem Kadri
- Adam Klapka
- Andrei Kuzmenko
- Jaden Lipinski
- Ilya Nikolayev
- David Silye
- Martin Frk
- Jakob Pelletier
- Justin Kirkland
- Ryan Lomberg
- Anthony Mantha
- Sam Morton
- Martin Pospisil
- Kevin Rooney
- William Stromgren
- Cole Schwindt
- Yegor Sharangovich
- Connor Zary
