The Calgary Flames recently called up Rory Kerins from the AHL, and he’s already made a great first impression. With two points in his NHL debut in a 5-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks, his play has already been something to admire.
Before Kerins, Jakob Pelletier was called up earlier on during the season and his strong play has likely secured a roster spot for himself. Assuming the Flames sell more players or have more injuries that occur, who could be the next players from the Wranglers that get a call-up to the big show? I think three players could be strong candidates for the rest of the season.
Devin Cooley, goaltender
The Flames signed Devin Cooley to a two-year deal in July, and he’s been dominating for the Wranglers between the pipes. The 27-year-old boasts a 17-7 record with a 0.933 save percentage and 2.10 goals against average.
Cooley’s contract converts to a one-way deal next season, and it makes sense that he gets some NHL games during the next few months so the team can see where he’s at. There’s also uncertainty on whether the Flames are going to bring back Dan Vladar next season, and Cooley’s play has shown fans that he’s likely capable of being a servable backup behind Dustin Wolf.
The Flames wouldn’t include the one-way portion in his contract if they didn’t intend to give him an NHL chance. While he signed to be the organization’s third goaltender, he likely gets action with the team sooner rather than later, as he serves as the likely replacement for Vladar.
William Stromgren, forward
William Stromgren has emerged as a potential candidate to get NHL games ever since his hot stretch during the second half of last season. The 21-year-old second-round pick only finished with seven goals and 27 points in his first full AHL season, but his production this season has improved.
He already has 25 points in 35 games, and is on pace for double the amount of points he finished with last season. While he isn’t the flashiest player, he has underrated skill when it comes to shooting and puck handing. He also has great size being 6’3, and we all know the Flames love their big players.
The Flames’ fourth line has struggled in many departments this season and may benefit from more youth in the lineup. Stromgren could very well be an option for a call-up if he heats up offensively over these next few months, or if an injury occurs to a winger.
Ilya Solovyov, defenceman
An intriguing defenceman who is a bit on the older side, but Ilya Solovyov already got to see some NHL action last season. The 24-year-old seventh-round pick played in 10 games with the Flames, notching three assists and averaging an ice time of about 16 minutes per game.
With the Wranglers this season, Solovyov has played quite well. His 17 points in 32 games already beat his point total of 15 from last season, so he’s been more active regarding the offensive side of the game. The Flames likely give him another shot as a bottom-pair option and if the blueline experiences more injuries, Solovyov is probably getting the call-up due to already having some NHL games under his belt. He looked solid with the team last season and has the potential to be a 6th- 7th defenceman if the team wants to get a bit younger defensively.
Honourable mentions
While these players seem like the next few who could receive call-ups, a couple more players also come to mind.
Adam Klapka, Sam Morton, Martin Frk, Dryden Hunt and Clark Bishop could all be options to shake up the Flames’ fourth line. On the defensive end, there’s also Yan Kuznetsov and Jarred Tinordi.
Expect the Flames to be more patient with younger players like Sam Honzek and Hunter Brzustewicz. Rushing young players into NHL action does them no good, and you want them to build confidence before attempting to become a regular in the big leagues.
