As the Calgary Flames continue their retool, they have developed a pretty strong prospect pool. This collection of prospects is headlined by names such as Zayne Parekh, Matvei Gridin, and Cole Reschny. The Flames have done a good job the past few years snagging quality prospects outside of the first round. One prospect drafted inside the fifth round that has received tons of attention this season is Ethan Wyttenbach.
Wyttenbach’s journey to becoming a Flames draft pick
Wyttenbach spent his youth developing across the Long Island Gulls AAA system. In 2024–25, Wyttenbach joined the Sioux Falls Stampede inside the USHL. He would produce 24 goals and 51 points in 44 games. That level of production allowed him to lead his team in points per game and be second in points. He was inside the top 10 for points per game league-wide as well.
Wyttenbach would claim the honour of being named to the second all-rookie team. He would also be named one of the first two winners of the Gaudreau Award, an award dedicated to honour the legacy of the Gaudreau brothers. This great rookie season in the USHL saw Wyttenbach drafted by the Flames in the fifth round with the 144th pick.
A phenomenal freshman year
After a solid draft season, Wyttenbach would leave the USHL and committ to Quinnipac University. Most of the time, freshmen players don’t tend to turn heads, especially those that were drafted in the fifth round. However, Wyttenbach has defied those odds and has put up a campaign that has many ready to call him a steal just after one season.
Wyttenbach immediately became a star for Quinnipac University. Across 25 games so far this season, he has produced 14 goals, 21 assists for 35 points. The impressive totals give Wyttenbach the feat of leading his team in points by 10. Continuing off of that, Wyttenbach is second in NCAA scoring, behind only 19-year-old Max Plante. This also makes him the top producing freshman, ahead of the likes of Porter Martone and Gavin McKenna.
Wyttenbach has always possessed a strong offensive skillset. His main traits are his goal scorer’s shot, great speed, overall deep sense for the game, and a dedicated work-ethic. The only knock that could be had is his size at 5’11”, 185lbs. However, considering that he was 5’9” and around 175–180lbs at the draft, Wyttenbach has already grown a few inches and put on 5 to 10lbs.
This electric campaign from Wyttenbach has seen him rise to become not only one of the best rookies in the NCAA, but one of the best players in the NCAA. Just a few days ago, Wyttenbach was announced as a nominee for the Hobey Baker Award. The list of nominees is 86 players long which will cut down to 10 finalists through fan voting and other methods. The case for Wyttenbach to win the Hobey Baker is very strong, let alone make the final 10.
A prospect on the rise
The Calgary Flames continue to build a deep prospect pool for their future and it helps especially when a fifth round pick becomes a star in the NCAA. With the production and skill, Ethan Wyttenbach has become a prospect to watch in just his D+1 year.
Wyttenbach has gone from a fifth round pick out of the USHL with intriguing production to a prospect challenging for the Hobey Baker in his freshmen season. The Flames have drafted incredibly well since the management turnover in 2023, and Wyttenbach is another gem to add to the list.
