Calgary Flames Call Up William Stromgren

Per the organization, the Calgary Flames have called up 22-year-old winger William Stromgren. With 29 points in 33 games, we can see that the Ornskoldsvik, Sweden product was approaching the perceived status of “ripe” that flirting with a point per game will earn.

Let’s look at some of the good and bad of this situation in a format we like to call Tap of the Stick, Whack of the Pads.

Tap of the Stick

Obviously, it’s great news for William that he gets his first call-up to the National Hockey League. The timing is also great on paper due to William being fairly productive in the last week.

Nine points in his last five games. 4g, 5a. Congrats, William! https://t.co/CHXirxTA1I
— TrevorNeufeld (@Trevor_Neufeld) January 5, 2026

Stromgren is certainly taking another step this season. If the six-foot-three Swede is only scratching the surface. We’re going to see a legitimate NHLer if William can start finding the slot more often.

For a team that is dying for speed, William Stromgren will be a breath of fresh air.

One combination I would like to see with William Stromgren called up:

Stromgren-anyone-Klapka

Morton found himself between the two in the AHL. That's an option. The two wingers caused major headaches together with their size and speed. Very hard to contain.#Flames
— TrevorNeufeld (@Trevor_Neufeld) January 5, 2026

The quandary of where he fits is a good one. John Beecher will surely be placed on IR, but he is a center. The Flames have had a clog of wingers for, well, multiple seasons.

With how Adam Klapka is playing, one of Connor Zary or Ryan Lomberg would have to sit for William to get into the lineup. The former doesn’t look to be playing at 100%, so Zary may be the odd man out.

At least, until Martin Pospisil or Sam Honzek return to proper health. The Calgary Flames simply have way too many wingers. Especially for a team in 30^th place.

Whack of the Pads

William Stromgren may have been called up and earning his first NHL pay cheque, but he’s not in the lineup just yet.

With the team heading out on a five-game road trip after tonight, it’s unclear whether the speedy winger will be joining them.

Then there is the issue of minutes. What are the odds that Stromgren plays more than 10:00 a night if he joins the Flames on this trip? Clearly a top-six player, it’s tough to envision head coach Ryan Huska carving out that role for William with so many veterans expecting solid deployment.

It doesn’t make a ton of sense. One final whack of the pads?

The timing isn’t as perfect as it could be. Yes, Stromgren has nine points in his last five games, but he also put up a goose egg in his most recent game. Zero shots, one assist, and a minus three in his last two games.

Time will tell, but congratulations to William for his call-up.