FN’s 2025 Flames summer prospect rankings – #16: William Strömgren

Despite taking a step forward with the Calgary Wranglers last season, 22-year-old William Strömgren drops eight spots in our rankings from eighth in 2024 to 16th this year.

Strömgren’s slide on this list has less to do with his play and more to do with the recent influx of quality prospects into Calgary’s pipeline. Not to mention breakout seasons from guys like Adam Klapka, Rory Kerins and Aydar Suniev, who were either previously below him or unranked in last year’s edition.

After being doubted early on in his tenure as a Flames’ prospect, Strömgren has gotten his development back on the rails and will be vying to take the next step with the big club as soon as next season.

William Strömgren

Left wing, shoots left
Born June 7, 2003 (Age 22) in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden
6’3″, 193 pounds
Drafted in the second round (45th overall) by Calgary in the 2021 NHL Draft

Strömgren utilizes a unique combination of skill, size and speed to create and finish scoring opportunities. He has wheels for his large frame, and also stickhandles remarkably better than most players of his stature.

The Örnsköldsvik, Sweden native has had a fairly ideal development path since his selection, aside from some struggles in the Swedish ranks in the years following the draft.

Before being drafted, Strömgren accrued 25 points in 24 total games over two seasons in Sweden’s top junior league, as well as nine points in 27 games in HockeyAllsvenskan, a notch below the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).

Post draft, the 45th overall selection returned to Sweden’s junior ranks and posted 36 points in 44 games. He also logged six pointless games in the SHL that season (2021-22).

In 2022-23, he got a better look in Sweden’s top league, playing in 45 SHL contests and recording eight points.

By 2023-24, Strömgren had graduated to being an AHL regular, but struggled to begin his rookie season with just four points in his first 28 games with the Wranglers. After taking some time to adjust, the big man got over the hump, recording 27 points in his final 46 games, including playoffs.

Last season, the Swedish winger had a strong, albeit streaky, sophomore campaign with the Calgary Wranglers, where he posted 14 goals and 35 assists for 49 points in 70 games, including some highlight reel plays.

It took a while for Strömgren to emerge as a second-round calibre prospect, but the recent return on investment at the AHL level has been great. It’s now clear to see what he provides as a big and skilled winger, with the stats to back it up.

FlamesNation’s Paige Stewart had this to say on Strömgren’s play of late:

“William Strömgren emerged at the end of his rookie season as a top liner and a highly impactful player. Unfortunately, last season, the consistency of that didn’t carry over. He’s shown he can be dangerous under pressure and has slick hands that won the Wranglers some games in overtime and shootouts last season. He feels close to putting it all together, and if he can prove that, I could see him playing in a handful of NHL games next season.”

Expectations for 2025-26

If he can polish his game and become a tad more consistent at the AHL level, there’s no reason why Strömgren shouldn’t get a similar look to what Rory Kerins got in the NHL last season.

However, that’s easier said than done, and the Flames have a history of being hesitant to promote young players.

Considering the lack of spots available on the big-league roster plus the surplus of competition for those spots, it wouldn’t come as a total surprise if he remained with the Wranglers for the entirety of next season.

In terms of production, you’d hope to see Strömgren make the jump to around a point per game in the AHL as a now 22-year-old who’s gotten better and better as he’s garnered more experience in North America.

15 of the 32 players selected in the second round of the 2021 Draft have already made their NHL debuts, with nine of them having played 45+ games. The clock is certainly ticking for Strömgren, who’s set to become an RFA in 2026, to become a contributor with the Flames.