Flames don’t shoot young players to hurt reconstruction – Hockey writer – Calgary Flames
Calgary’s Flames have greatly reduced their roster as they prepare for the 2025-26 season. For the Flames, their regular season will be played on Oct. 8 on the road tilt against provincial rival Edmonton Oilers. Although the game is still a few days away, the flames lineup is almost determined as they only have one player to cut.
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The flames currently have 14 forwards, eight defenders and two goalkeepers. Most teams around the NHL chose to play with 14 forwards and 7 defensemen, although it is worth noting that the Flames were elected as 13 forwards and 8 defenders to start the 2024-25 campaign.
Flame cuts down some powerful young talent
These flames seem to choose to compare themselves to older veterans again, rather than younger talent, which many fans have complained about for years. This is no different from this year as they have re-signed some very good young players to the American Hockey League (AHL).
One such player is Sam Honzek, who knocked the roster out of training camp a season ago but played in only five NHL games. That said, it was a cut and didn’t fill the fan base with a lot (if any) feathers, as it was generally believed that the 20-year-old would need more time in the AHL before becoming the regular season. However, other layoffs do not have the same view.
Some of the more frustrating cuts recently caused by the flames include a pair of defensemen from Yan Kuznetsov and Ilya Solovyov, both of whom require exemptions. Flames chose to try to redistribute two young blueline agents to support players like Jake Bean and Daniil Miromanov. Although Kuznetsov was exempted, Solovyov was not snapped up by the Colorado Avalanche.
Another act of burping eyebrows was when the flames declared Rory Kerins was placed on the immunity. The 23-year-old had a strong start before he struggled a bit late in the pre-season. That said, he scored 4 assists in just five games in the Flames last season, while scoring 33 goals and 61 points on 33 teams in 63 games with the Calgary Wranglers.
Although Kerins is unclaimed on the exempted wire, many people think it is an unnecessary risk. What he showed last season, and what he has been a player, has improved the Flames ranking since the 2020 draft, and many think he deserves his first real NHL look. Instead, the Flames elected to go with some of the older veterans in the lineup, such as Justin Kirkland and Ryan Lomberg.
Making players like Kirkland’s decision to Kaylin is a source of frustration for many. Kirkland, now 29, has recorded only 30 NHL games, is a marginal NHLE at best and is unlikely to improve his game further at his age. This is the exact opposite of Kerins, who still have great potential and seem to benefit the most from being the regular season in his career NHL.
The flame failed to submit in one way or another
When Craig Conroy took over as general manager of the Flame, it felt as if the organization was moving towards reconstruction, and many thought it was the right step. Although they are able to increase prospects due to some good drafting, they tend to commit to older players to become a highly competitive group.
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The better plan they move forward is to commit to young players more regularly. There may be more losses in the short term, although this is not a bad thing. Doing so will allow these young players to get the right representation while also allowing the flame to be placed better in place to help them transform into a competitor’s goal.
