Flames place Justin Kirkland on waivers

A native of Winnipeg, Kirkland played junior hockey with the Western Hockey League’s Kelowna Rockets. In the 2014 NHL draft, he was selected in the third round by the Nashville Predators. He made his professional debut in the 2016-17 season with the team’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals. After three seasons in Milwaukee, he was first signed by the Flames to a one-year deal and assigned to the Stockton Heat, Calgary’s AHL affiliate at the time, where he spent three more seasons in the minor leagues.

In 2022, Kirkland signed a one-year deal with the Anaheim Ducks, and after beginning the season in the AHL once again, he made his NHL debut with the Ducks for a seven-game stint midseason. He did not register a point, averaging just over seven minutes a night. The following year he signed a one-year deal with the Arizona Coyotes, and spent most of the season in the AHL once again. He played two games for the Coyotes, failing to get on the scoresheet. Finally last season, he joined forces with the Flames once again, registering his first NHL points before his year was cut short. It was the first season since his professional debut that he didn’t appear in the AHL.

After a disappointing start to the year, Kirkland now appears to be headed back to the minor leagues, unless he is claimed in the next 24 hours by a team willing to give him NHL ice time once again. Given the limited sample size of his NHL action, it seems unlikely. If he clears, he’ll get an opportunity with the Calgary Wranglers to play more minutes nightly, as he fights to find his way back to the highest level once again.