FN’s 2026 Flames summer prospect rankings – #11: Andrew Basha

After this string of points, his next assists were few and far between. Basha’s frustration with himself was starting to show at practice and his confidence was tanking with every passing game. After 27 games with the Wranglers, he was at one goal and four assists. A much lower point total than what he is used to. 

It was decided in early 2026 that the best move for Basha was to assign him back to junior while he was still eligible and work on his confidence. This instantly brought back the old Basha, with a goal in his first game back and eight points in his first four games. He was only left off the scoresheet five times in his 32 games with the Tigers and ended up putting up 50 points in that stretch. 

Basha also went on an impressive playoff run where he led the team in post-season production. He had 21 points in 15 playoff games, consisting of three goals and 18 assists. Unfortunately, Medicine Hat’s season came to a close on May 5 against the Prince Albert Raiders in a 7-6 final and a game Basha had four assists in.

McKeen’s Hockey‘s Derek Neumeier provided his two cents on what he saw out of Basha last season in the WHL:

This surely wasn’t the season that the Flames hoped Basha would have, spinning his wheels a bit in the AHL before going back to the WHL as an overager, but it shouldn’t hinder his long-term development very much. His play upon returning to Medicine Hat was noticeably better than it was the prior year, so his game is still growing. I’ve never been fully sold on Basha having Top 6 upside, but I do think that he’ll carve out a valuable NHL role eventually, even if it’s just as a guy who brings pace and tenacity.

Expectations for the 2026-27 season 

Basha is no longer eligible to play in the WHL and will join the Calgary Wranglers this fall. He has the advantage of getting his feet wet in the league last season and will have a better understanding of the expectations and pace at that level. The standards for him are still high but not to the point where we expect to see Peak WHL Basha right off the bat (although it would be very nice). If he is even a third of the player he is in the WHL with the Wranglers this season, he’ll be trending in the right direction.

Basha was a good cultural fit with the Wranglers group last season and while most of them have moved on, some of the core of Rory Kerins, William Stromgren, Dryden Hunt, and Sam Morton will still be familiar faces for him. Basha also seems to elevate his game with the players he is on a line with and with how much talent and depth the Wranglers will have this season, he’s going to be playing with guys that make him better instead of dragging him down. It should be an exciting full pro year for Basha and it makes it that much better that a hometown kid can be a part of the last season in the Saddledome in the Flames’ affiliation system.