Calgary Flames U25 rankings heading into the 2025-26 season

General Manager Craig Conroy has made it a goal since taking over to inject some youth into the Calgary Flames organization. To date, he’s done quite a good job at that. The Flames now possess one of the NHL’s very best prospect pools. With that said, there’s still plenty of room for improvement when we start including young NHL talent.

So who are the top U25 players in the organization heading into the 2025–26 season? Let’s take a look. In order to qualify, a player must not have turned 25 by the start of the 2025–26 season—October 7, 2025.

1. Dustin Wolf (G)

After a season in which he finished runner-up for the Calder Trophy and earned both Vezina and Hart Trophy votes, Dustin Wolf is the unquestioned top U25 player in the Flames organization. Already an upper-half start in the league at just 24, Wolf has the potential to be a top 10 or even top five starter in the NHL for a very long time.

No U25 player in the organization currently possesses the combination of overall potential and NHL results that Wolf does. The sky is the limit for the 2019 seventh-round pick, and the Flames’ future is very much placed on Wolf’s shoulders at the moment.

2. Zayne Parekh (D)

In terms of overall talent level and ceiling, Zayne Parekh is arguably ahead of even Wolf. He just doesn’t have the NHL results to back it up yet, which is why he comes in at number two here. With that said, with a strong rookie season in 2025–26 Parekh will no doubt be number one on this next year. His talent is undeniable, and there’s no doubt in my mind that Parekh will be a superstar defenceman for the Flames one day. You don’t match records set by Bobby Orr himself unless you’re the real deal.

There are still some question marks around his overall defensive game and size, but his offensive abilities are arguably the best in the world among current NHL prospects. The Flames are lucky to have a talent like Parekh in their system.

3. Matthew Coronato (RW)

After a tough rookie season in 2023–24 with only nine points, Matthew Coronato showed everyone this past season why the Flames took him 13th overall in 2021. The American winger burst onto the scene this past season as one of the Flames’ very best forwards at the age of 22. With 24 goals and 47 points, Coronato finished third on the Flames in both goals and points, despite starting the year with a demotion to the AHL.

The Flames signed Coronato to a long-term deal this summer, showing just how confident they are in his future. While he doesn’t have superstar potential like the first two names, Coronato has the makings of a 30-goal top-six winger for years to come.

4. Cole Reschny (C)

The Flames’ first selection in the 2025 draft, Cole Reschny, is already one of the most talented U25 players in the entire organization. After a superb 92-point season in the WHL as a 17-year-old, it’s not hard to see why. Reschny possesses real top-line upside down the middle of the ice and is by far the most exciting forward prospect the Flames have right now.

Much like Coronato, Reschny isn’t what I would call an elite talent, but he’s not that far off. His combination of skill and intelligence makes him an intriguing player to watch. If everything goes perfectly in his development, Reschny could be the Flames’ 1C of the future. More likely, though, is that he becomes a good second-line centre in the NHL.

5. Connor Zary (C/LW)

What exactly is Connor Zary? Is he a centre? A winger? Is he a top-of-the-lineup player, or is he a middle-of-the-lineup player? We still don’t know the answer to any of these questions. What we do know is that at his best, Zary is one of the Flames’ best young forwards. The problem is we just haven’t seen enough consistency from him yet.

This coming season will be a huge one to determine Zary’s future in the NHL. If he can stay healthy and take another step, he has the potential to be a 60-point top-six player. The potential is there; it’s now time to show it.

6. Cullen Potter (C/LW)

The Flames’ second first-round pick in 2025, Cullen Potter, is a divisive player. Some consider him a potential top-line talent, some project him as more of a middle-of-the-lineup player. I’m of the opinion that Potter falls more into the top-line bucket. He’s too skilled to write off. Arguably the best skater from the entire 2025 draft class, Potter possesses high-end puck skills as well and is dynamic with the puck.

There are some major question marks around his size and frame, and whether or not he can adapt to the NHL game. However, for now, Potter is undoubtedly one of the most talented U25 players in the organization, even if he is still a little bit raw.

7. Hunter Brzustewicz (D)

Lost behind the hype of Zayne Parekh, Hunter Brzustewicz quietly had a really strong first year of pro hockey in 2024–25. Despite some early struggles, Brzustewicz got better as the year went on and ended up finishing second on the Calgary Wranglers’ blue line in points as a rookie. While he doesn’t have the same flash that the above names do, Brzustewicz is arguably the most NHL-ready prospect in the Flames pool.

Still just 20 years old, Brzustewicz could challenge for an NHL job as soon as this coming season. If things continue to progress like they have for Brzustewicz, there’s very real second-pairing upside here.

8. Matvei Gridin (RW)

After making a last-minute switch from the NCAA to the QMJHL, Matvei Gridin lit up junior hockey. The 2023 first-round pick led his Shawinigan team in scoring, claiming QMJHL rookie of the year honours in the process.

Gridin is one of the more purely offensive players in the Flames system right now, carrying some impressive upside. While there’s a lot of work to be done in his game, there’s no denying his talent. I could see a future as an offensive middle-six winger one day.

9. Etienne Morin (D)

After a successful and impressive CHL career as one of the QMJHL’s top defencemen, Etienne Morin is ready to make the jump to pro hockey. He seems like the forgotten man at times in Calgary. With plenty of flashier defensive prospects in the system, people sometimes forget just how good Morin is.

While he doesn’t carry the same upside as someone like Parekh or Brzustewicz, Morin is a well-rounded defender and is quietly the best U25 LD in the Flames system.

10. Jacob Battaglia (LW)

I threw around a couple of potential names here, but in the end, I decided on Jacob Battaglia. The 2024 second-round pick came out of nowhere this past season with 90 points in the OHL in his D+1 season. It’s now up to Battaglia to prove that it wasn’t a fluke.

He carries a solid all-around toolkit as a winger, and with some more development, he has real NHL upside. It’s unlikely he becomes a top-six NHL player, but a future as a middle-six winger looks possible.

Honourable mentions: Aydar Suniev, Adam Klapka, William Stromgren, Sam Honzek

The above names didn’t crack my final top 10, but deserve shoutouts as well. Of the four, Suniev has the highest ceiling as a pure shooter with an NHL-level shot.

Honzek, meanwhile, needs to have a big season in the AHL this coming year, or he could find himself on the outside looking in sooner than later.

Klapka and Stromgren are both older players with lower upside, but I could see an NHL future as fourth liners for both. Klapka, in particular, has already shown some flashes at the NHL level.