Tyson Gross
Entering the 2025/26 season, not many people expected to see Tyson Gross in the Calgary Flames lineup, but after posting 41 points in 38 games for St. Cloud State, he became a highly sought after college free agent. The Calgary native was excited to sign with the Flames, and after joining the team, he found his way into 6 games late in the season.
His scoring was limited, as he had just one goal in that time, but in his role as the Flames 4C, he did his job well, shutting down opposing teams while being fantastic in the face off circle, becoming an impact player for the Flames down the lineup. That's set him up to potentially lock down the role full time in 2026/27, and while he may never be a big contributor, from what he showed, he could be a solid 4C moving forward.
Grade: B-
Justin Kirkland
Last season, Justin Kirkland became a cult hero in Calgary, mainly due to the penalty shot that won several games, but unfortunately, his campaign ended with a devastating knee injury. This year, the veteran got another shot early in the season on the fourth line, as he appeared in 20 games, but this time, things didn't quite work out.
With just 1 goal and 2 points in that time, the production simply wasn't there, and as a result, Kirkland's role was taken by younger players with big futures in Calgary. When sent down to the AHL, Kirkland was on fire, picking up 11 goals and 22 points for the Wranglers, but given his limited role, it was always going to be tough for him to stand out again.
Grade: D
Add us as a preferred source on Google