The 2026 Winter Olympic Games are nearly over. After that, the NHL will be back in full force. The Calgary Flames still have some unfinished business, specifically on the trade front. One can assume that the Flames will make at least one more trade this year before the trade deadline. The NHL trade deadline takes place on March 6th at three pm EST. After this, the Flames may have some open roster spots. Let’s take a look at potential call-ups from the Calgary Wranglers.
Rory Kerins, Forward
One of the top players to get a call-up would be forward Rory Kerins. The Flames drafted Kerins in the 6th round of the 2020 NHL Draft. Since then, he has spent the majority of his time in the AHL. Kerins has always been a highly dangerous offensive player. He tore it up in the OHL and has continued to do so at the AHL level. Kerins made his NHL debut in January of 2025. Here, he posted his first NHL point on his first shift against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Kerins only played five games for the Flames that season. Fortunately, he made the most of it, posting four assists in just five games. For the remainder of that year, Kerins had a breakout AHL season, scoring 33 goals and 61 points in 63 games. To top it off, Kerins was named an AHL all-star and showed serious promise of having NHL potential. It is just unfortunate that he has not gotten a consistent chance.
Looking at this year, Kerins has only appeared in two games with the Flames. He has continued to score at an AHL level, with 39 points in 46 games. Kerins would be a fantastic replacement for someone like Blake Coleman. A third line option is exactly what Kerins provides the Flames with. Hopefully, it is only a matter of time until he gets that chance.
William Stromgren, Forward
Another forward who is a strong call-up option is William Stromgren. He is in the midst of his third full season as a Wrangler and was lucky enough to make his NHL debut this year. Stromgren appeared in three games for the Flames. Unfortunately, Ryan Huska barely let him play, which dampened the excitement of his call-up. Shortly after, Stromgren was sent back down to the Wranglers.
The Flames drafted Stromgren in the 2nd round of the 2021 NHL Draft. After finishing up his time in Sweden, Stromgren came over to Calgary as a member of the Wranglers. It took some time for him to adjust, but in the 2024–25 season, he broke out. Stromgren posted 49 points in 70 games, making himself a potential depth option for the Flames in the following year.
This year has been Stromgren’s best overall season. Through 43 games in the AHL, he has 31 points. Like Kerins, Stromgren would have a similar role with the Flames. He would make a solid third liner who can provide some secondary scoring in the lineup. Does Stromgren deserve another call-up after his limited chance earlier this year?
Sam Morton, Forward
Sam Morton had a long journey to make it to the NHL. He was an undrafted college forward who signed with the Flames as a free agent. He finished the 2023–24 season as a member of the Wranglers, where he posted seven points in 13 games. The following season, he settled in. Morton was a full-time member in the AHL and really began to find his game. Morton is a bit of a grinder who helps set the tone in each game. During the 2024–25 season, Morton posted 20 goals and 45 points in 70 games. At the end of the year, Morton was rewarded.
In the final game of the Flames’ regular season, Morton got the opportunity to make his NHL debut. The 25-year-old scored his first NHL goal in his first NHL game, helping the Flames get the win. This is likely the top moment of Morton’s career, as it came against a strong Los Angeles Kings team. This season, Morton has continued to play strongly at the AHL level. Could he be a potential call-up later on? He has only appeared in three games with the Flames this season.
Dryden Hunt, Forward
The last potential call-up is veteran forward Dryden Hunt. Like Morton, Hunt had to work his way into the NHL as an undrafted player (fun fact: Hunt actually helped set up Morton for his first NHL goal). He began his NHL career with the Florida Panthers and then bounced around between the Arizona Coyotes, New York Rangers, Colorado Avalanche, and Toronto Maple Leafs. In March of 2023, Hunt was traded to the Flames and has been a member of the organization ever since.
Hunt is often one of the first players to get called up to the Flames. He has always been a solid AHL player, where he is nearly a point per game player each season. This makes him stand out as a call-up, especially for depth scoring. In the 2023–24 season, Hunt appeared in 28 games with the Flames. Here, he posted three goals and eight points while getting limited ice time.
Over the past two seasons, Hunt has dominated the AHL. He was one of the top scorers for the Wranglers last year and currently leads the team in points. Does he wager a potential call-up as a depth forward? Although he is an older player, he can still play some bottom-six minutes.
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