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Calgary Flames prospect update: G Tyler Parsons

By Ramina Shlah

LONDON, ON - FEBRUARY 3: Tyler Parsons #1 of the London Knights gets set to face a shot against the Owen Sound Attack during an OHL game at Budweiser Gardens on February 3, 2017 in London, Ontario, Canada. The Knights defeated the Attack 4-0. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
LONDON, ON - FEBRUARY 3: Tyler Parsons #1 of the London Knights gets set to face a shot against the Owen Sound Attack during an OHL game at Budweiser Gardens on February 3, 2017 in London, Ontario, Canada. The Knights defeated the Attack 4-0. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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It’s time for another Calgary Flames prospect update! This time will feature our first goaltender with G Tyler Parsons.

Wow, finally a goalie. This is the first goaltender of our Calgary Flames prospect update series this off-season. Today, we’ll look at G Tyler Parsons.

After spending three seasons with the London Knights of the OHL and putting up remarkable numbers, especially in his final year, he went pro this past season. Starting off with the Kansas City Mavericks of the ECHL, he struggled a bit to start off. It seems like the transition from juniors to the minors wasn’t as smooth as everyone anticipated, given that he was one of the best goaltending prospects, arguably in the entire NHL.

Per Darren Haynes, in his first seven games, he went 2-4-0 (was relieved), had a 4.69 GAA, and 0.870 sv%. In his next 12 games, he went 7-4-0, had a 2.22 GAA, and posted a 0.929 sv%. Now, I’m not a fan of using GAA in goaltending stats, but we can see the improvement. Parsons was also battling through some injuries this year which could have also had a factor.

In January, he was called up to the Stockton Heat, where he, again, struggled. He finished his AHL stint going 1-3-0, had to be relieved three times, and had a 0.856 sv% – the worst on the team. Given that it took him a couple weeks to transition in the ECHL, we could assume that he would have improved if he got in more games in the AHL and had the ability to stay with them longer, but that wasn’t the case here.

Parsons finished his first ECHL season going 12-12-2 with an sv% of 0.902. Which isn’t all that bad, given how his season started. It’s hard to know what the Flames goaltending situation will be next season and whether David Rittich will remain as Mike Smith‘s backup or where Jon Gillies will end up. If Rittich remains up with the team and Gillies remains as Stockton’s primary, they’ll need to decide between Parsons and Mason McDonald. Right now, I’d go with Gillies.

McDonald has had more ECHL years and posted worse numbers than Parsons did this season, even with Parsons slow start. Up in the AHL, while he had more wins (3-1-0), his starts didn’t highlight that, and he was basically on par with Parsons. It’ll be a battle between the two if the Flames go with Rittich as a backup.

Next: 2004 Cup run - Where are they now?

Right now, it’s hard to know where Parsons will be. But the Calgary Flames seem keen on him and, I’m sure, want him in the AHL to develop more just as much as he wants to be there.

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