Flame for Thought
Fansided

5 Wranglers forwards who could enter Flames lineup this season

By Nathan Smith

EDMONTON, CANADA - OCTOBER 29: Matt Coronato #27 of the Calgary Flames skates with the puck against Brett Kulak #27 of the Edmonton Oilers during the first period of the 2023 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic at Commonwealth Stadium on October 29, 2023 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, CANADA - OCTOBER 29: Matt Coronato #27 of the Calgary Flames skates with the puck against Brett Kulak #27 of the Edmonton Oilers during the first period of the 2023 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic at Commonwealth Stadium on October 29, 2023 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images) /
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2. Rory Kerins

At 21 years of age and playing in the ECHL when the season began, absolutely no one had Rory Kerins on their radar a few months ago, but now, after producing four goals and 9 points through his first six games, he’s suddenly a hot topic in Calgary. At 5-foot-10, 175 pounds, Kerins isn’t the most physical player, but his skill and grit have made him into a rising star this season, and if it continues, he’s bound to be on the Flames radar, whether that be this season or next.

Kerins is another example of the Flames potentially finding a gem late in the draft, as he came to Calgary as a sixth-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, and after the Ontario native produced 118 points in his final season in the OHL in 2021-22, he’s proven that he can produce at a very high clip. With so much talent in the Wranglers lineup, it’s likely that Calgary may look to keep some of their prospects down there to continue allowing them to dominate and get used to the professional game, so there’s a chance we may not see Kerins this season, but if the Flames want to trust the youth movement, there’s no one better to throw into the fire this year.

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