The Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers kick off a two-game Battle of Alberta rookie series tonight in what will be a compelling showdown of prospect pipelines. The puck drops for game one on Friday at 7:00 P.M. MST and game two will commence at 4:00 P.M. MST.
Courtesy of Jordan Bay at Flames Communications.
While the Flames are bringing an array of drafted prospects, the Oilers are a little top-heavy. Headlining their roster is Isaac Howard, a former 31st overall pick acquired from the Lightning this offseason and the most recent recipient of the Hobey Baker Award. Former ninth overall selection Matthew Savoie will be in attendance. Beau Akey will serve on their blue line and projects as a NHL blueliner. There you go, that’s your Oilers preview.
Alright, one more notable is Dru Krebs. An Okotoks product and brother of Peyton, who endeared himself in front of his hometown last season.
Let’s get to a few of the more compelling storylines among the Flames prospects attending this year’s rookie camp.
1.) Mace’o Phillips – LD
While drafting skill has been the top priority during the Conroy Era, the six-foot-six, 230-pound Mace’o Phillips will be an interesting one to watch. It’s one thing to have size; using it is a whole other ball game. Phillips had a reputation in the NTDP as a punishing presence both in the corners and defending the rush.
Selected 80th overall last June, the hulking blue liner may need five or six years to work his way into the NHL picture, but this first look will be compelling.
The Question: One of the youngest players at camp, how will Mace’o Phillips’ aggressive brand of hockey translate against stronger, faster competition?
2.) Etienne Morin – LD
While he isn’t known for it in Calgary just yet, Etienne Morin is another defenceman who likes to throw his weight around. While he doesn’t bulldoze like Phillips, Morin plays an intense game and can back it up with creative puck play and above average skating.
The 20-year-old blue liner is almost guaranteed to play the entire season with the Wranglers, but there is NHL talent and puck IQ there just waiting for the tools to develop.
The Question: A jack-of-all-trades defender in the QMJHL, what areas will Etienne Morin need to compromise in to keep up with older pros?
3.) Jacob Battaglia – LW/RW
Battaglia might be the Calgary Flames most underrated offensive prospect. His trajectory has been rock solid over the past three seasons.
Courtesy of Elite Prospects.
The one-ice equivalent of a stealth bomber, the six-foot-one winger surprises plays with high skill sequences. He frequently changes speeds to disrupt gaps, he has top-six level hands and might be the best Flames prospect at tipping pucks.
The 62nd overall pick in 2024 is bound for a victory lap in the OHL, but he has everything you need to make the NHL in terms of talent and IQ.
The Question: Can Battaglia outshine the guys going pro this season in the offensive zone?
4.) Sam Honzek – LW/C
If the Vegas oddsmakers have a favorite for a Flames rookie to crack the roster this season, it’s surely Sam Honzek, who made the team out of camp last season before getting injured. The Slovakian was subsequently sent down after flickering upon his return.
The 20-year-old returned to North America with an additional 15 pounds and claims that he hasn’t lost any speed.
Some of us were on this months ago, but now that the mainstream guys are catching up, expectations for the 16th overall pick in 2023 are sky high.
The Question: Sam Honzek tied Matthew Coronato last season for most points in the preseason—can he do it again?
Bonus Question: Where does Honzek fit into the lineup if he does make the big team?
5.) Hunter Brzustewicz – RD
It may not be said out loud, but there may be no person waiting more anxiously for an Rasmus Andersson trade than Hunter Brzustewicz.
The two both play the right side. Brzustewicz, acquired in the Elias Lindholm deal, has a season of AHL duty under his belt and looked fantastic when he dressed for game 82 against the LA Kings last season. His skating is where it needs to be, he looked composed with the puck, if he were older, there is no way he passes through waivers.
It’s debatable whether Craig Conroy is willing to back up his assertion that jobs are available if younger players out-compete veterans, but the 20 year old is undoubtedly ready to press the subject.
Add to the mix that the ultra-hyped Zayne Parekh is taking a bit of time to sort out a lower body injury and we have a compelling story to watch with Brzustewicz.
The Question: Is this the preseason Hunter Brzustewicz forces the organization’s hand?
6.) Aydar Suniev – LW/RW
Another 20 year old looking to make the team out of camp, there is a lot to like about Suniev’s game.
The six-foot-two, 210-pound power forward who looked like one of the faster skaters on the Flames in game 82, but there may be some time needed in the AHL to get his arms around the faster pace of play at the pro level after posting 20 goals and 18 assists for 38 points in 35 NCAA games with Denver last season.
That’s where things get interesting. Suniev has his eyes on playing a full NHL season.
“I think the expectation for me is not to play just one or two games,” the 2023 third round pick reflected earlier this week. “but make the team and play the whole year.”
The Question: How was Suniev’s offseason? Will we see him hit a tipping point in camp where he’s outplaying veterans?
7.) Andrew Basha – LW/RW
Flames fans are still trying to get a read on the dynamic Andrew Basha. Last season, a lower body injury held him to only 32 appearances if you add up regular season, playoffs and the Memorial Cup.
Despite the injury, Basha put up 35 points. The Calgarian Glen Lake product claims his injury is behind him—if that’s the case, we may find out that the Flames drafted a much better player than we’ve seen so far.
The Question: What will an injury-free Andrew Basha look like?
8.) Matvei Gridin – RW
There is a strong case to be made that Matvei Gridin is Calgary’s most talented forward prospect.
Cullen Potter, Cole Reschny, Sam Honzek; Gridin can skate, shoot, and read plays as well or better than the rest of them.
“I almost envision him as a guy that’s going to go away, and he’s going to dominate in the [QMJHL],” said Flames head coach Ryan Huska last preseason. “He’s going to come back next year and be in a position to make our team. You have a sense about him. He’s got the ability to play the game.”
Former scout Grant Sonier once outlined a brain teaser about player evaluations to author Gare Joyce while he was writing Future Greats and Heartbreaks. You have three categories: talent, hockey sense, and character. You also have six poker chips to distribute into the three categories.
A fun way for scouts to further discuss and describe players. Gare asked Grant how he would attribute the fourth overall selection in 1994, Edmonton Oilers pick, Jason Bonsignore.
“Six on talent, none for hockey sense, none for character.”
A funny anecdote, and we’re not comparing Gridin to Bonsignore, who played only 79 NHL games over four seasons. Gridin, who has high-end talent, fell to 28th for a reason. Rumors persist in the Hockeysphere that it may be due to attitude issues.
On the other hand, anyone who has been involved in organized hockey knows that the Hockeysphere is an amalgamous ball of toxicity and gossip perpetuated by pushy parents and sunk cost fallacy. We’re going to learn who each of these young men are day by day over the next decade. There is no need to let various Junior hockey sewing circles define a person who is still growing into who they will eventually become.
The Question: Where do Matvei Gridin’s chips fall?
KEEP READING:
Neufeld: 7 Bold Predictions Heading into the New Season
9 Reasons the Calgary Flames Struggled Last Season
Remarkable Turnaround: How the Flames PK went from 30th to 1st
Five Former Flames Head Coaches: Where are they now?
Projecting Calgary Flames Forward Lines: Has Craig Conroy Dug Himself a Hole?
Stats via Puckpedia, Elite Prospects, and the National Hockey League.
Follow on ????: @Trevor_Neufeld
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I never watched the stream but the media in Calgary this week certainly is pumping Honzek, Gridin, Brzustewicz and og course Parekh.
That Honzek has now put in the work 2 summers in a row bodes well for him in my opinion.
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/sports/nhl/five-calgary-flames-hopefuls-who-impressed-in-nextgen-victory-over-edmonton-oilers/ar-AA1MsIZC?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=68c58968bf174bcc88f50a2339a1b088&ei=19
Thanks Trevor. By all accounts Gridin had an awesome game, I know it was only 1 game but it looks like he’s come prepared. Phillips had fans wanting more, 3-4 years and we may finally have a replacement for Reggie.
So I did attend game 2 in C town and the Flames prospects skill level was far superior to the Oilers despite the close score.
Suniev and Gridin were the 2 best players on the ice hands down with Honzek and King not far behind.
Howard was invisible for the oil IMO.
Hey Trevor, glad to have found where you’re writing all things Flames again. Always a good read!
What do we all think of the Backlund extension?