Flames trim training camp roster: trio of try-outs returned to junior

Following practice on Saturday afternoon, the Calgary Flames made their first roster moves of 2025’s training camp. Per an announcement from the club, forwards Nathan Brisson, Kadon McCann and Mael Lavigne have been released from their camp try-outs.

All three players were part of Team Black, the third skating group, and actually were skating together as a trio at Saturday’s practice.

Brisson, who turns 19 on Monday, went through the 2025 NHL Draft unselected after posting 24 goals and 72 points with the QMJHL’s Val-d’Or Foreurs, where he served as captain. He played in both rookie games against Edmonton and posted two goals and two assists during that pair of games – not bad for someone that was used in the bottom six. He’s headed back to Val-d’Or.

Lavigne, 20, went through the 2025 NHL Draft unselected in his third year of eligibility after splitting the 2024-25 season between the QMJHL’s Victoriaville Tigres and Rimouski Oceanic, posting 17 goals and 49 points. He served as captain in Victoriaville before the trade. He subbed in for Andrew Basha in the second rookie game against Edmonton and scored a goal. He’s headed to Blainville-Boisbriand this season.

McCann, 18, is a Cochrane product who went through the 2025 NHL Draft unselected. He posted 11 goals and 18 points last season with the Medicine Hat Tigers. He played in both rookie camp games and registered an assist. He’s headed back to Medicine Hat to start his junior season.

Brisson was probably the most impressive of the trio in rookie camp, but the Flames have oodles of prospects in camp and these three gentlemen are unfortunately the victims of the numbers game as the team tries to juggle everybody in camp.

After these roster cuts, the Flames’ camp roster is down to 55 players: six goaltenders, 18 defencemen and 31 forwards. The Flames will see 40 of those 55 players dress for a pair of split squad games on Sunday, as they’ll face the Edmonton Oilers in simultaneous games taking place at 6 p.m. MT in both Calgary and Edmonton to start their exhibition schedule.