Despite offensive success in 2023-24, Rory Kerins still lacks a niche as a pro

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Professional hockey is not a particularly easy way to make a living, folks. Getting ice time can be extremely competitive, especially when you’re a stone’s throw away from the National Hockey League, and often the difference between the guys that make it and the guys that fall just shy of expectations is developing consistency and finding a role where you can excel.

In 2023-24, winger Rory Kerins showed flashes of offensive brilliance at times with the Calgary Wranglers. A clear niche eluded him, though, in part due to the numbers game.

The past

A product of the Ontario Hockey League, Kerins is a left shot forward – primarily a winger – listed at 5’10” and 174 pounds. He’s not the biggest guy in the world, but he’s not tiny either, and his style of game relies on mobility, puck movement and smarts in order to generate offence.

After two seasons in the OHL with the Soo Greyhounds, Kerins was a sixth-round pick by the Calgary Flames in 2020. He had doubled his previous season’s point output in his draft year, and at the very least his offensive upside made him worth a roll of the dice. Most of Kerins’ Draft+1 season was wiped out, as the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the OHL cancelling the 2020-21 campaign, but he erupted for 118 points in 2021-22 – only Dallas prospect Wyatt Johnston had more points that season.

Kerins went pro in 2022-23 after signing his entry-level deal with the Flames. He spent the majority of the season in the ECHL with the Rapid City Rush, as the Wranglers had a lot of forwards and there was likely some concern that he’d get lost in the shuffle. When he was healthy with the Rush he was quite good, putting up 37 points in 38 games. During a couple AHL call-ups to fill in for injuries, he had two points over six games.

The present

Kerins spent all of 2023-24 with the Wranglers. He played in 54 games, posting 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 points. 22 of his points were at even strength. And he actually led the Wranglers with five game-winning goals.

The challenge with Kerins is that he was sort of two different players during the season: “A-game Kerins” and “B-game Kerins.” When he was able to be used in offensive-oriented situations, he was really effective and displayed that “A-game.” He got into the lineup in early November after Connor Zary and Martin Pospisil were called up to the NHL, and he immediately rattled off a five game point streak (and he posted nine points in November). When Kerins was on, he was capable of getting points in bunches, and he was at times arguably their most dynamic offensive weapon.