In the weeks that followed the 2024 NHL Draft, folks that study drafting and prospects were really excited about the group of players that the Calgary Flames selected. In the months that have followed, those folks haven’t gotten any less enthusiastic about that cohort.

The Flames’ 2024 draft class is, at first blush, a really impressive group of young people. The cohort of players first eligible for the 2024 draft – born between Sept. 16, 2005 and Sept. 15, 2006 – are split between all three Canadian major junior leagues, and many of them found unique ways to adapt and impress over the past year.

It’s early days for this group, but there’s a lot to be optimistic about.

Let’s take a look at how they grew during their Draft+1 seasons.

G Kirill Zarubin

Zarubin is a netminder that was selected in the third round of the 2o24 NHL Draft. (It’s the earliest the Flames have taken any goaltender since Tyler Parsons was selected at 54th overall in 2016.)

• Draft (2023-24): .927 save percentage in 45 games (AKM Tula Junior/AKM Tula, MHL)
• Draft+2 (2024-25): .935 save perecntage in 21 games (AKM Tula, MHL)

Some context: Zarubin plays for the Mikhailov Academy in the Tula region in Russia. He split 2023-24 between the academy’s junior and senior teams. He spent this season playing entirely with their senior team, but he played less than he did last season because the academy was juggling several different goalies on that team. The Flames hold Zarubin’s rights indefinitely, so they’re likely taking a long-term view of his development.

D Henry Mews

A right shot blueliner, Mews was a third-round pick by the Flames in 2024.

• Draft (2023-24): 61 points in 65 games (Ottawa, OHL; 24.9 NHLe)
• Draft+1 (2024-25): 82 points in 68 games (Ottawa/Sudbury, OHL; 31.9 NHLe)

Mews is a 2006-born player, so he’s too young to play in the AHL. If you look at his OHL stats, your thought might be “Well, how can he keep being challenged so he can grow his game?” The answer seems to be going to college, as he’s headed to the University of Michigan next season. Michigan’s a good school in a strong conference, so it’ll be interesting to see how Mews adjusts to a completely different style of hockey and an entirely different hockey culture in the college system.

D Zayne Parekh

A right shot blueliner, Parekh was a first-round pick by the Flames in 2024.

• Draft (2023-24): 96 points in 66 games (Saginaw, OHL; 38.5 NHLe)
• Draft+1 (2024-25): 107 points in 61 games (Saginaw, OHL; 46.5 NHLe), 1 point in 1 game (Calgary, NHL; 82.0 NHLe)

We’ve written a lot about Parekh around here, and that’s because he keeps doing things worth writing about. He’s been a really productive offensive player in the OHL and very much earned his status as a top-10 NHL draft selection. He’s also worked really hard on his play away from the puck, and folks who watch a lot of him in the OHL say that he’s improved quite a bit.

He’s signed to an entry-level deal and his options for next season are NHL or OHL. We’d suggest that he’ll be given every opportunity to make his mark on the NHL roster.

F Andrew Basha

Basha is a left shot winger who was a second-round selection by the Flames in 2024

• Draft (2023-24): 85 points in 63 games (Medicine Hat, WHL; 33.4 NHLe)
• Draft+1 (2024-25): 29 points in 23 games (Medicine Hat, WHL; 31.2 NHLe)

Two related notes: Basha missed a bunch of time this season due to an injury and surgery to address a nagging injury. Consequently, we’re not sure if we’ve seen him at his full power yet, so the fact that he was so effective before his injury – and now he’ll be fully healthy – is an encouraging sign.

He has an ELC and is eligible, due to his 2005 birthday, to play in the NHL, AHL or WHL in 2025-26.

F Jacob Battaglia

A left shot winger, Battaglia was a second-round pick by the Flames in 2024.

• Draft (2023-24): 65 points in 67 games (Kingston, OHL; 25.7 NHLe)
• Draft+1 (2024-25): 90 points in 68 games (Kingston, OHL; 35.1 NHLe)

Battaglia had a brilliant Draft+1, scoring 40 goals and just generally being a force for Kingston this season. He signed his ELC with the Flames, so that likely means he’s headed back to junior for one more year before he’s eligible to go the AHL. Expectations will be high for him, so we’ll see if he can continue to elevate his game.

F Matvei Gridin

Gridin is a left shot winger (who usually plays on the right side) that was selected in the first round by the Flames in 2024.

• Draft (2023-24): 83 points in 60 games (Muskegon, USHL; 31.8 NHLe)
• Draft+1 (2024-25): 79 points in 56 games (Shawinigan, QMJHL; 32.9 NHLe)

If there’s one thing we can say about Gridin, it’s that he keeps finding ways to adapt and put up points wherever he plays. He was one of the most productive offensive players in the USHL during his draft year, and then he was one of the most productive offensive players in the QMJHL this past season.

Gridin has an ELC with the Flames and since he wasn’t drafted out of the CHL system, the Flames have some flexibility with where he plays next season. He’s eligible to play in the NHL, AHL or QMJHL in 2025-26.

F Hunter Laing

The son of former Flames farmhand Quintin Laing, the younger Laing is a right shot forward that plays centre and the wing. He was selected by the Flames in the sixth round in 2024.

• Draft (2023-24): 25 points in 66 games (Prince George, WHL; 9.4 NHLe)
• Draft+1 (2024-25): 48 points in 64 games (Prince George/Saskatoon, WHL; 24.3 NHLe)

Laing’s got size and smarts and a lot of potential, which is sort of why the Flames made him a late-round gamble. He’s progressed quite a bit offensively in his Draft+1 campaign, and we’ll see if he plateaus or keeps growing in 2025-26. It appears that he’ll be headed back to Saskatoon for his 19-year-old season.

F Luke Misa

The older brother of mega-prospect Michael Misa, Luke Misa is a left shot forward who plays centre and the wing. He was a fifth-round pick by the Flames in 2024.

• Draft (2023-24): 81 points in 66 games (Mississauga, OHL; 32.5 NHLe)
• Draft+1 (2024-25): 85 points in 67 games (Brampton, OHL; 33.6 NHLe)

Misa’s a small but effective centre, and his size makes some figure he’ll move to the wing at the pro level – typically, it’s tougher for smaller centres to be as effective as bigger ones. Regardless, Misa’s been a really consistent offensive producer in the OHL. He’s old enough to move onto the AHL next season as a 2005 birthday, but there’s persistent chatter than he (and perhaps also his brother) may explore collegiate options.

Regardless of Misa’s immediate next steps, he’s a really promising offensive player and if he can keep growing his game away from the puck, he could be a really exciting player in the Flames’ system.