The Flames have turned a corner and going in a younger direction since the internal hiring of general manager Craig Conroy. Recently the moves he has made and the draft picks he's selected have many fans and media pleased with the direction of the team in the future.
The Flames do appear to have some diamonds in the rough so to speak and I'm looking to shed some light on the next wave of the future of the Calgary Flames.
Zayne Parekh
Zayne Parekh is as expected, it's his first season in the NHL and young defencemen in the league generally take some time to get used to the pace of the game and the defensive reads in zone. He's being protected for sure, with just 1.5 percent defensive zone starts according to moneypuck.com. Offensively it will come with time and experience, patience is needed for a prospect of this nature and skill.
Matvei Gridin
Matvei Gridin forced Conroy's hand by having an excellent preseason and has so far been on the top line along side Nazim Kadri and Matt Coronato. Gridin is the surprise prospect of the season so far for the Flames playing in the first four of the five games the Flames have played so far and has a goal to his name in that time. He's also seventh among Flames forwards with a 24 percent share of available ice time.
Jaden Lipinski
Jaden Lipinski was fourth round pick of the Flames in 2023 and so far in a couple of games with the University of Maine has put up 2 goals and 4 points. He's a 6'3 right handed centre, which happens to be exactly what the Flames need. It'll be interesting to see how the 20 year old does in the NCAA but so far of to a stellar start.
Yan Matveiko
In 14 games in the MHL, Matveiko has 8 goals and 14 points. He was the Flames very last pick in the 2025 NHL draft at 211 overall. It remains to be seen if he would even be willing to play in North America.
Jacob Battaglia
Battaglia is on pace right now in the Ontario Hockey League for 88 points as the captain of the Kingston Frontenacs, two points shy of the 90 he put up last season. Likely to be in contention of joining the Canadian under 20 team for the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championship.
Theo Stockselius
Recently had his WHL rights traded to the Calgary Hitmen, owned by the Calgary Flames ownership group. The option for the 18 year old to join the Hitmen next season and for the Flames to control his development has to be tempting. So far in Sweden in their under 20 league he has 1 goal and 9 points in 8 games with Djurgårdens IF U20 as an alternate captain, and 2 games with their pro club. He is likely to be named to Sweden's U20 team for the upcoming World Juniors.
These are just a few of the stand outs in the Flames prospect pool, and I will be keeping an eye on all the Flames prospects throughout the season with a top ten ranking coming out closer to the Christmas break.