Did rookie defenceman Jonathan Aspirot play for the Calgary Flames? Technically, yes. Two preseason games in 2023.
Should he have played a little more?
Let’s just say that hindsight is 20/20.
After two journeyman-esque seasons with the Calgary Wranglers, Aspirot departed the Flames organization as a UFA on July 1, 2025. The smooth-skating Mascouche, Quebec product had been identified as an asset by Boston Bruins rookie head coach Marco Sturm during his three years running an AHL bench with the Ontario Reign from 2022 to 2025. The six-foot, 212-pound blueliner and Bruins general manager Don Sweeney made it official on the same day, agreeing to a one-year, two-way deal with a league minimum $775,000 NHL salary and a $225,000 AHL salary.
The results?
-First pairing NHL defenceman alongside Olympian gold medal winner Charlie McAvoy.
-A +30 even strength goal differential over 61 games. A 65.06% goals-for share, outscoring the opposition 54-29 at 5v5.
-Only 29 goals against over 935:24 of even strength play. The majority of it against the NHL’s best.
The Rise of Jonathan Aspirot
Success didn’t come immediately. Starting the season around #9 on the Bruins blue line depth chart, Aspirot needed a the stars to align to get his shot. The first two were injuries to Hampus Lindholm (hamstring) in game two of the season and Jordan Harris (broken ankle) six games later.
The other star to align was for fellow AHL defenceman Michael Callahan to not blow the doors down. After all, Aspirot was Boston’s second choice when needing a right-side call-up.
Following three unspectacular games, Callahan’s early-season try-out concluded in a 7-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Oct. 27. Aspirot got the tap to play his first NHL game the following night against the New York Islanders. A 5-2 win where Aspirot logged a peaceful 14:41 of ice time.
Five consecutive wins later, Aspirot had made a case to stick around. His goal differential was a steady +1 over 90:40 of ice time. He had only been on the ice for two goals against. His mobility and gap control were proving to be above average.
“He’s a guy who’s better without the puck,” Sturm told Fluto Shinzawa of the Athletic in January. “Because he closes, he can skate and he keeps things simple. Blocks a lot of shots. He does all those things we were looking for. He’s quick enough and strong enough. That, you can’t teach.”
For a time, it looked like Aspirot had landed a solid 4-6 role. He sat when Lindholm and McAvoy were both healthy enough to play, and slotted in otherwise. Playing the safe defender in contrast to his most common defence partner, fellow former Calgary Flame Nikita Zadorov.
On Dec. 11, Aspirot was thrown a curveball in the form of an upper body injury that took him out of the rotation for three weeks, or seven games. His luck returned when he was ready to play again.
Sturm started putting Aspirot on the ice with his now-regular defence partner, Charlie McAvoy. The two have made up Boston’s first pairing for the second half of the 2025-26 season. Together, they finished the year in second-place for ice time among Bruins defence pairings at 493:24 over 45 games. The pairing of Nikita Zadorov and Andrew Peeke played only 7:30 more.
“He’s been awesome,” McAvoy told Shinzawa. “He’s been such a story. Just a great guy. I’ve been enjoying playing with him. Before I got to play with him, I enjoyed watching him come in. He was really starting to take strides when I was out. I’m just so proud of him.”
For the Calgary Flames, it’s a story of successful development; even if Aspirot is plying his trade with a new team. Given that Jonathan plays the right side where Zayne Parekh, Hunter Brzustewicz and Zach Whitecloud occupy, it’s not a franchise-shattering loss.
In other words, don’t lament. Cheer on Jonathan as his Bruins take on the Buffalo Sabres in round one of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
“That’s a guy who just showed up and continued to get better.” Pined McAvoy. “I don’t think there’s any doubt with anybody that’s watched him the appreciation we have for him in here. He’s an NHL hockey player.”
Statistics courtesy of Cap Wages, Natural Stat Trick, Money Puck and the National Hockey League.
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