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Calgary Flames first-rounder Matvei Gridin’s home team for the 2024-25 season has yet to be cemented

Originally posted on Flamesnation | By Ryan Pike | Last updated Aug 2, 2024 10:59 AM ET

Since the Canadian Hockey League’s import draft in early July, we’ve seen several import draft selections cement deals with the clubs that have selected them. This past week, the Calgary Hitmen locked up Czech import pick Robin Scanvara for the upcoming season.

But one name conspicuous by his absence from a CHL signing announcement, so far, has been Calgary Flames first-round pick Matvei Gridin. While we know where Gridin won’t be playing in 2024-25, his home team for the upcoming season isn’t yet set in stone.

So here’s the deal: Gridin played the last two seasons with the United States Hockey League’s Muskegon Lumberjacks, and had committed to play college hockey at the University of Michigan. However, the Wolverines hadn’t yet announced Gridin as part of its incoming freshman class prior to the 2024 NHL Draft, when the Flames selected Gridin at 28th overall.

The week after the NHL Draft, the Val-d’Or Foreurs of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League selected Gridin at first overall in the CHL’s import draft. Considering that teams don’t often select Europeans in the import draft if they don’t suspect they’ll be available – there’s a running joke in junior hockey circles that it’s not really a “draft” – Gridin’s selection led to some furrowed brows around the hockey world, which remained furrowed amidst media reports that Gridin wouldn’t be attending Michigan after all.

Can confirm that #Flames 1st rounder Matvei Gridin is not coming to Michigan. The decision was made a month ago based on academic reasons. So, expect him to sign with Val-d'Or.

— Connor Earegood (@ConnorEaregood) July 3, 2024

A couple days after the import draft, Gridin’s academic standing became a moot point, as he signed his entry-level deal with the Flames – which made him ineligible to play in the NCAA regardless of what his high school report card looked like. (For what it’s worth, Gridin pushed back on the “academic reasons” part of the reporting when speaking to the media after signing with the Flames, instead citing the heavier schedule in junior hockey compared to college.)

Speaking to Wes Gilbertson (of Postmedia and Sportsnet 960 The Fan’s Flames Talk) after his signing, Gridin was pretty clear on his plans for the coming season: “I go to CHL for sure. I know same as you guys, I’ve just been taken first overall and after that my agent works.”

But as of yet, Gridin hasn’t signed with Val-d’Or.

Hearing that Val-d’Or may trade Gridin’s (CGY) rights to Rimouski, who also took Basile Sansonnens (VAN) with their own pick. Would be the Memorial Cup host’s way of potentially getting two of the top imports. Also a more compelling case to sway Gridin.

— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) July 3, 2024

As of right now, here’s the gist of Gridin’s situation:

He can’t play in the NCAA, since he signed a pro contract.
Since he hasn’t yet signed in the CHL, he’s not subject to their transfer agreement with the NHL, and therefore is technically still eligible to play in the American Hockey League in 2024-25.
Once he does sign with a CHL team, he would be subject to their transfer agreement and would no longer be eligible to play in the AHL, and so his playing options for 2024-25 would become the NHL or QMJHL.

Based on the reporting that’s out there and Gridin’s own statements, we would suspect that he will end up playing in the QMJHL in 2024-25. Thinking out loud, considering that we’re a month out from the import draft and he has yet to sign with Val-d’Or makes us suspect that he might be moved to another team, and the fall-back option of being able to play in the AHL could be be used as leverage in any negotiations for a potential QMJHL trade of Gridin’s junior rights.

Long story short: Gridin’s home for the 2024-25 campaign has yet to be locked in, but we suspect it will be reasonably soon. He’s a highly-touted, high-end player, and he’ll be a big addition to whatever team lands him. The team will probably be in the QMJHL. Aside from that, we’ll see what happens between now and the start of the season.

This article first appeared on Flamesnation and was syndicated with permission.

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