FN’s mid-season Flames prospect updates: Cullen Potter

The Calgary Flames had two first round pick in the 2025 draft.

In the summer of 2022, the Flames sent Matthew Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers for MacKenzie Weegar, Jonathan Huberdeau, Cole Schwindt, and a first round pick that turned out to be the 32nd overall pick in last year’s draft. With that pick, the Flames selected Minneapolis native Cullen Potter.

Spending his 2024-25 season with the Arizona State Sun Devils, Potter scored 13 goals and 22 points in 35 games, leading to the Flames selecting the speedy centre. Potter was primed for a strong sophomore season heading into 2025-26, and he scored 12 goals and 26 points in 24 games.

Unfortunately, Potter’s 2025-26 season was cut short due to a dirty hit on Jan. 10 against Miami (Ohio). He underwent season-ending shoulder surgery the following day and has an expected recovery time of 3-4 months. That means he’ll miss the end-of-season tournament, as well as the national tournament if the Sun Devils are able to reach it.

It damps what was otherwise a very strong sophomore season for the 19-year-old. He was really starting to get going, as he had 11 goals and 21 points in his previous 14 games heading into that Jan. 10 game.

Like Ethan Wyttenbach and all other college players, there are three pathways Potter can take. He can turn professional by signing his entry-level contract, essentially guaranteeing him a spot with the American Hockey League’s Calgary Wranglers in 2026-27, he could transfer to a bigger school, or he can return to Arizona State for his junior year. According to an article written by Cooper Krigbaum for Cronkite News, it seems like the latter option is the most likely pathway.

You have to imagine that if Potter returns to college for a junior year, it’d be his last before going professional.  Potter is one of the Flames’ top prospects and arguably a top 50 prospect in hockey, but he’ll need to have a dominant junior year at college to maintain his prospect shine. Barring injury, Potter will more than likely play for Team USA at the 2027 World Juniors, so that’ll be a big tournament for the 19-year-old.