At the beginning of the season we did a prospect ranking, it's now a quarter of the way through the season and there's some movement within the system. With players such as Sam Honzek (before suffering yet another season ending injury) and Yan Kuznetsov finding places at the National Hockey League level. For this list it will be the same criteria as before, 23 years old or younger, and cannot have played more than 41 games in the NHL.
10. Henry Mews (8)
A season ending injury is devastating, especially when it seemed to be the perfect setup for Henry Mews of the Michigan Wolverines. Playing in just 10 games before suffering aforementioned injury, managed to put up nine points. I would expect Mews to return to Michigan to get the true experience next season before any potential Flames signing.
9. Hunter Laing (NR)
The WHL is one of the toughest leagues in major junior hockey, and Hunter Laing has just said so what. With 26 points so far in the 'dub including 13 goals, Laing is in position to also be on the Canadian World Junior roster, along with a number of other Flames propects on this list.
8. William Stromgren (7)
The expectation that Stromgren would become more comfortable in his third season in North America is proving to be true, putting up 15 points in 18 games with the Wranglers so far this season. However his goal scoring is off to a slow start. With just two goals so far, we'll have to see how he does during the rest of the season.
7. Samuel Honzek (2)
It's something you can't control, but this is becoming a worrying trait that once again Samuel Honzek's season came to an end due to injury. Right when he was carving out a niche to play the season in the NHL. It's the second major injury of his young career after sustaining one in the WHL a couple of seasons ago.
6. Ethan Wyttenbach (NR)
The 2025 fifth round pick at 144 overall is lighting it up in the NCAA with the Quinnipiac Bobcats, leading the team as a true freshman with 22 points in 16 games. Seriously impressive stuff from the 18-year-old. Still ineligible to sign a contract due to NCAA rules until after the college season ends. Could be the steal of the draft if he continues this development trend.
5. Cole Reschny (5)
At the University of North Dakota, Reschny has had a terrific start as a true freshman, and could very well be in consideration to be a part of the Canadian World Junior team later this month. With 15 points in 14 games, he's among the leaders on the UND team that expects to be in the Frozen Four this season.
4. Hunter Bruzteswicz (9)
Hunter Bruzteswicz is arguably going to be the next defensive call up for the Flames barring unforeseen circumstances. So far this season with the Wranglers has 11 points in 21 games and a plus-2, largely against the better opponents in the AHL on a top four pairing.
3. Matvei Gridin (4)
Matvei Gridin has a wicked shot, that was on display with the Flames. The issue was he looked out of place in the NHL which led to his assignment to the AHL's Wranglers. Since then, Gridin has been on a tear with 21 points in 19 games, and is likely to be the first call up when it becomes necessary.
2. Yan Kuznetsov (6)
Yan Kuznetsov has been called up and has not looked out of place at all next to MacKenzie Weegar in the top four. In 14 games together the pairing have looked impressive, with Weegar looking more like his usual self in this nightmare of a season. Kuznetsov could find himself off this list as a prospect by the end of the year.
1. Zayne Parekh (1)
Unsurprisingly, Zayne Parekh remains the Flames top prospect. As expected the defensive downside of the young star was noticeable, however there were signs of significant improvement over his time on the third pairing before suffering an upper body injury. He is confirmed to be on the Canadian World Junior team.
Unfortunately, that means a number of players have fallen off the list in this edition, including Aydar Suniev (3), and Jacob Battaglia (10). Suniev has proven that the AHL is a challenge, with just 5 points in 21 games in his first professional season.