Calgary Flames’ Potential Picks: Building Depth at Center

   

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Depending on the success, the scouts know it as Christmas or D-Day. Everyone but the kitchen sink (I never understood that saying); I digress. As I mentioned, the Flames need a center. Dearen and I get to show how little we know about hockey.

I guess we like abuse. You can find him on Twitter @JASTA28.

Now for the picks:

I am honored to have been invited by Randy to share my perspective on the Calgary Flames’ potential selections in the upcoming NHL Draft, where the organization currently holds two first-round picks. It is widely acknowledged that the Flames face a significant organizational need at center—not only at the NHL level but throughout their developmental pipeline. Depending on how one views Connor Zary’s long-term role, the team lacks a true center prospect ready to eventually take over from Kadri or Backlund. As such, I anticipate that the Flames will target a center with their 18th overall selection. That said, picking at 18 often means reacting to how the board unfolds ahead of you while weighing positional needs against the best player available.

Although a selection at this stage of the draft may not produce an NHL-ready player within one or two seasons, it is essential for Calgary to begin addressing this void now. At 18th overall, I believe the Flames could turn to the Western Hockey League and select Cole Reschny. The Saskatchewan-born, left-handed center is a dynamic, versatile skater with strong offensive instincts and a highly productive season behind him. His creativity, pace, and competitive level make him an attractive option—one that Calgary may find too compelling to pass up. While some might view Reschny’s stature as a concern, in a center-deep draft, there’s a plausible scenario where he slides to 18th overall. Drawing comparisons to Berkly Catton, he may ultimately prove to be of tremendous value at that spot.

At 32nd overall—not 31st, thankfully—the Flames will likely turn to their internal list and select the top remaining name to close out the round. While some might expect Calgary to look locally and select Benjamin Kindel from the Calgary Hitmen—should he still be available—I lean in a different direction. I foresee them choosing between Milton Gastrin and Theo Stockselius. Gastrin offers a safer floor; he is noted for his NHL-ready shot and natural leadership traits that have already caught the attention of multiple clubs. However, I believe the Flames will opt for Stockselius.

18. Braeden Cootes, Centre

Braeden is a coach’s dream and a locker-room leader. He’s tenacious, smart, and efficient. He has a solid shot and is suited for either second- or third-line roles.

32. Milton Gastrin, Centre

Milton is reliable and positionally sound. He has good speed and a quick shot release; while he may not be flashy, he is still a solid second- or third-line center option.

Second Round

54. Charlie Trethewey, Defenseman

He is a big stay-at-home defenseman who plays with a chip on his shoulder. He doesn’t shy away from the physical play.

Has a good slap shot and will clear in front of the net for the goalies to see. Has some good character might be another Bell on our hands.

No write-ups on the rest of the picks—just their names.

Third Round

80. Viggo Nordlund, Left Wing

Fifth Round

144. Michael Svrcek, Centre

Sixth Round

176. Olivier Groulx, Left Wing

Seventh Round

208. Kaleb Hartmann, Left Wing

The Future Looks Bright: Matthew Coronato Commits to Calgary Flames

 

It is so nice to see players finally want to sign and stay. The Calgary Flames are working hard to keep our start. They are trying to keep a family unit. Today, they made a big move by extending their contract with their amazing forward, Matthew Coronato.

Cornato has probably the best shot on the roster. What makes him so dangerous is his quick release, and it is so accurate. He has this top-shelf cookie jar mentality. I could see Coronato being a 40-goal man for the Flames.

The contract is very much team-friendly, $6.5 million for 7 years. I thought for sure he would be around $8 million for 7  years.

Bidding Farewell But Looking Ahead

I just wanted to share my thoughts on the recent passing of Greg Mellon. His infectious laugh and great sense of humor will always stay with us. Greg was an amazing color commentator, and he will truly be missed.

Sending my heartfelt warmth, thoughts, and prayers to Greg’s family during this time.

The NHL has lost another legend this week with the passing of Ray Shero. Ray was truly one of the classiest individuals in hockey. He dedicated 13 seasons to the league, making his mark with three different organizations. He kicked off his career in Pittsburgh, where he helped bring home the Stanley Cup, and then moved on to New Jersey and later the Minnesota Wild. I always admired him during his time in Pitt—he had that warm smile that could brighten anyone’s day. Now, he’ll be reunited with his father, the legendary Flyers coach Fred Shero. My thoughts and prayers are with the Shero family during this difficult time.

Now, on to the Flames blog. I had to address my love to two hockey legends who will be sadly missed. 

The Calgary Flames have shown massive interest in University Forward Carter King lately. I did not know much about the Calgary native, so I did some digging and asked about this young prospect.

Carter is a high-energy forward who won’t back down from anyone. He goes all out in the corners for the puck and doesn’t shy away from a challenge. While he might not rack up a ton of points, his leadership and tenacity make him a valuable asset to any team. Furthermore, he attended the Calgary Flames development camp and showed great potential. 

One of my absolute favorite people to follow is Steven Ellis—he’s a true expert on hockey prospects. If you want the inside scoop on up-and-coming talent, he’s the best in the game! I often turn to his insights as part of my research for my mock blogs. Steven is the Associate Director at Daily Faceoff, which you can check out at https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/. I just learned that he also covers Leafs content for Leafs Nation, which is pretty awesome! If you’re looking for reliable info on prospects, follow him on Twitter @SEllisHockey. You won’t be disappointed!

I asked Steven for his thoughts about Calgary native Carter King. Here is what he had to say:

“King has received much attention from NHL scouts the past few years due to his work ethic. He plays on both special teams while doing an especially good job as a penalty killer. King is a decent enough skater that can throw some solid hits for a 5-foot-10 forward. I can see him being a third or fourth-liner in the NHL who can feed off energy.”

I really hope the Flames can get Carter to sign on the dotted line!

Randy

The Road Ahead: What Changes Are Coming For The Flames?

I know some folks might not like what I'm about to say, but hear me out. The Flames are three points out of the playoffs, and I know the natural instinct is to go all-in for that final push. But honestly, I believe that if they play their game right, the Canucks will get the final spot. 

That being said, if the Flames remain in a close battle for the playoffs, I am not so  Naive enough to think the Flames won't get after a dman and a center. I have already been informed they will. I would prefer the Flame do a little house cleaning and set up nicely into the next season. 

So, the next step would be who to build this team around. It goes without saying that the young guns—Zarry, Frost, and Farabee—are staying put; they're the core of our future. They are the foundation for this team's future. Flames had three objectives that I know of: add one more vet dman, sign Ramus Andersson, and, of course, the addition of a young centre. One down, two to go. Flames' GM Craig Conroy has said he's all in on extending Rasmus Andersson during the offseason. 

As for that center spot, we snagged Morgan Frost from the Flyers—that's a solid addition. My source says the Flames are going after a big-name, number-one centre. I hope we see that happen before the start of next season. The Flames also acquired Farabee to boost the offense and make them more competitive.

So, that being said, how can the Flames trim the deadwood? The Flames have seven defencemen who are actually of NHL quality, and three are part of the future—Weeger, Andersson, and Dahl. That leaves us with four others: Brayden Pachal, Daniil Miromanov, Joel Hanley, and Jake Bean. They could definitely look to trade a couple of those guys and bring in some prospects to mix things up.

As for the forwards, a few names come to mind. Mikael Backlund, Blake Coleman, and, of course, Nazem Kadri are the vets to watch. All three could be big assets for teams chasing the Cup.

The last move they could achieve is in the net. Dan Vladar is a UFA and could be a valuable asset. He'd be a solid option for any team looking for a backup goalie. 

This is all probably moot; as of this moment, the Flames are not in any rush to make a deal.

Will Calgary Keep Their Star Defenseman?

The Calgary Flames have a significant decision coming up in the next few weeks. When it comes to signing Andersson, it just boils down to how much cash they’re willing to offer. That’s what my sources are saying, at least.

Rasmus is the most gifted d-man on our team. He has a sneaky slapshot from the blue line during power plays that can catch everyone off guard. He has excellent vision and is always aware of where his teammates are. I’ve heard that teams need to recognize and build around their core players, which is why it is so vital that they lock him down for as long as they can. 

Rasmus plays with his heart on his sleeve and really cares about winning or losing. He’s got a chip on his shoulder, just like the rest of the team. He’s all about getting that win, and you can definitely see it in his game. His accurate passes often get him out of danger in their zone. A great skater who does not shy away from the physical game. He may not be the greatest at one skill, but he is good at all the skills, making him a terrific all-around defenceman.

In conclusion, I will close with a quote from one of my sources on Andersson staying with the Flames.

“Rasmus Anderson does everything. He plays offense, he plays defense, and he can be physical when called upon. Andersson’s most significant asset, which surprises many people, is a physical game. Every team in the league needs physical defencemen who do what it takes to win.”

I never considered Andersson’s physical game his best asset. But people in the game think it is a huge asset. 

Another source tells me: When this team is expected to be good in three years, they will trade for a defenseman like Rasmus Andersson. So, I understand the argument that you should trade Rasmus to gain assets to make this team good in three years, but mark my words that in three years, we will be talking about the Flames needing to trade for a defenseman like Andersson if they decide to move instead of extend him.

Andersson is the glue that holds this team together. Losing him on the back end would be a huge blow. Sure, we could land a big return for him, but as the source mentioned, finding a replacement would take us three years.

And, of course, Andersson himself declared that he is a Flame. He bleeds Flames, which means he hates the Oilers and Canucks. :)

Randy

Time to Turn Up the Heat!

Don’t get me wrong—I love that the Flames are a playoff team right now. But I’ve got to say, the way they’re winning games isn’t exactly reassuring. Not to be a Debbie Downer, but we must find a way to get some offense into this team. Honestly, if it weren’t for Dustin Wolf’s incredible play, the Calgary Flames would be in significant trouble. I would go so far as to say you can also add Darth Vladar to the statement. 

The fact that the Calgary Flames are on a four-game winning streak is pretty terrific. Even better, they’re sitting pretty as the second-best team in the division, just one point behind the Golden Knights. That doesn’t change the fact that they still must improve their game, especially on the defensive end.

Offensively, we must improve. The goalies can’t carry the team all season long. We must adjust. We have to get more offensive in our game. Our top guns need to start putting more points on the board!

The Flames have some good news: Zarry keeps improving with each game. Andersson and Weeger are at the top of their game. Huberdeau and Sharongovich are improving, and Kadri is Kadri. Our veterans still have a ways to go, though.

The third line seems to be the best line on the team at the time. Backlund Coleman and Coronado are in sync and seem to be on the same wavelength. They’ve got each other’s backs and know exactly where to be on the ice. If they keep up this pace, they can be the story of the team this season. They are working like a well-oiled machine. Plus, Coronado might have the best shot on the team, and he’s starting to unleash it more often!

Goaltender Dustin Wolf deserves a nod for the Calder. He’s been absolutely crushing it in the net, making some incredible saves and winning games left and right. I genuinely think this could turn into a race for the Calder. The last time the Calgary’s won a Calder was Sergei Makarov. It has been a while.

What went down in Ottawa? Basically, we spent the entire game in the penalty box, and that’s just not going to cut it. The Flames can’t succeed without putting in the effort—it’s that simple. Racking up nine minor penalties isn’t working hard; it’s taking the easy way out.

Randy 

Gritty Veterans, Fiery Rookies

When you think of the Calgary Flames, what comes to your mind? I know what folks outside of Calgary are saying—most people view us as a rebuilding team that’s just trying to tank. And honestly, when you look at it on paper, that’s pretty much what it seems like.

What do I see? Yes, we are a rebuilding franchise and not expecting too much for this season. I admit that I will not see the Stanley Cup in the near future. There’s something kind of refreshing about this situation for the Flames that we haven’t seen in years.

I have not heard any complaints about being in the dressing room. These young kids are buying what Mr. Huska is selling. What makes the system work is that the vets are his top salesmen. Guys like Huberdeau, Coleman, Weegar, Kadri, and Backlund, to name a few, believe in this team. I will take this further: Huberdeau is playing his best season with the Calgary Flames. 

Johnathon Huberdeau is teaming up with Mantha, and I’ve got to say, have they found a center in Martin Pospisil? Martin has been very impressive this season; he is using his physical play to his advantage and showing off more offensive skills than I expected.

Finally, how about Mr. Andersson? Rasmus is showing us that he belongs with the big boys. Seeing him perform like this is impressive, especially with all the trade rumors swirling around. I love how he plays—his puck-carrying skills are top-notch, and his passing is seriously underrated. He’s got great vision on the powerplay!

I am not naive enough to think the Flames are Stanley Cup contenders, but I can see that a happy locker room goes a long way to improving the team.

Randy