Calgary Flames trim training camp roster by 11

Flames headed to the Wranglers

The Flames have assigned seven players directly to the Calgary Wranglers. Those players are Hunter Brzustewicz, Nick Cicek, Artem Grushnikov, William Stromgren, Sam Honzek, Aydar Suniev, and Owen Say.

No big surprises here. None of the above names were ever considered locks to make the team, with most needing extraordinary camps to earn a spot in the NHL to start the season. Hunter Brzustewicz probably had the best shot coming into camp, but he didn’t make the impact needed to force his way onto a crowded Flames blueline.

One minor surprise is how early Sam Honzek is heading down. After making the NHL roster straight out of camp last year, the 2023 first-rounder had a rather disappointing preseason this time around and never looked in contention for an NHL job. Passed over by 2024 first-rounder Matvei Gridin on the depth chart, Honzek will look to get back on track in the AHL in a hugely important season.

Flames placed on waivers

On top of the above seven players sent to the AHL, an additional four names were placed on waivers with the intention of assigning them to the AHL as well. Those players are Clark Bishop, Dryden Hunt, Yan Kuznetsov, and Sam Morton.

It’d be quite the surprise to see any of the above four players claimed on waivers, and all four should easily make their way to the Wranglers tomorrow afternoon. Yan Kuznetsov was fighting for one of the final spots on the blueline, but it appears he’s been beaten out by Ilya Solovyov for now.

Training camp now down to 27 players

The roster now sits at 27 players left in camp, with three goalies, nine defencemen, and 15 forwards still around. We’re now in the final stretch, with opening night just over a week away. The team will need to trim an additional four players by next week in advance of opening night on October 7.

It appears as though the final battles in camp have come down to Matvei Gridin, Justin Kirkland, and Rory Kerins at forward, and Solovyov, Daniil Miromanov, Brayden Pachal, and Jake Bean on defence.