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Rory Kerins put himself on NHL map in breakout season with the Wranglers

Originally posted on Flamesnation | By Paige Siewert | Last updated Jul 14, 2025 10:00 AM ET

Rory Kerins’ story in the 2024-25 season is one of the most compelling and impressive underdog stories the Flames organization saw all season. His name was not really on anyone’s mind going into the year and while he was taking a roster spot in the AHL, no one could predict he would do what he did. Kerins took advantage of his development path from OHL to ECHL to AHL and added a stop in the NHL in 2025.

Rory Kerins was a sixth round selection by the Calgary Flames back in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He was selected 174th overall coming from the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL. His professional debut was back in the 2020-21 season with the Stockton Heat where he got a four game look at the AHL. His best season with the Greyhounds was in his last junior season in 2021-22 where he put up an astounding 118 points (43G, 75A) in 67 games.

From there, he joined the Wranglers for six games in the 2022-23 season but spent most of that year with the ECHL’s Rapid City Rush. That season, he had 37 points in 38 games, consisting of 17 goals and 20 assists for the Rush. In the following season, he stuck with the Wranglers but didn’t play in every game due to lineup decisions. He played 54 games and picked up 16 goals and 16 assists.

2024-25 expectations

Kerins’ expectations for the season weren’t super high. He had established that he was no longer an ECHL player going into the 2024-25 season. The goal was to keep a spot at the AHL level and work on improving his game wherever possible, especially on the speed side of things. Kerins showed in 2023-24 that he had a shot he could use, so the goal was to put him in better opportunities to help the team in 2024-25.

2024-25 results

Rory Kerins’ emergence last season was unprecedented. Previously an overlooked prospect, he turned into one of the team’s best and it was impossible to ignore his progress. His off-season improvement was noticed right from the get-go and this gave him early chances on the top lines for the Wranglers. Factors like Cole Schwindt getting claimed off waivers gave Kerins a chance at centre between Jakob Pelletier and Dryden Hunt to start the year. This line exploded, and while the Wranglers fell in their season opener, this line helped lead them to a nine game winning streak in the month of October.

The first goal of the Wranglers season belongs to Rory Kerins. Hunter Brzusetwicz also picked up his first professional point on this play. pic.twitter.com/sQheOG1lT1

— Paige Siewert (@thathockeygirly) October 12, 2024

Kerins’ contributions were impossible to miss. He nearly doubled his production last season, averaging almost a point per game in the AHL with 61 points in 63 games, consisting of 33 goals and 28 assists. He also managed to keep this level of production up in the NHL with four points in five games played with the Flames.

When Kerins reflected on playing in the NHL during his Wranglers exit meetings he said:

“Yeah, it was the coolest moment of my life, for sure. I think I was thinking about yesterday, like, I never really thought about it until, like, really really thought about it. I was like, wow, I played in the NHL this year. That’s pretty cool. So, yeah, that was awesome.”

His progress was noticed league wide as he was recognized as one of the team’s AHL All-Stars in February alongside goaltender Devin Cooley and interim head coach Brett Sutter.

Rory Kerins' shot attempt on the breakaway relay at the AHL All-Star Classic skills competition pic.twitter.com/tUW5ClY04a

— Paige Siewert (@thathockeygirly) February 3, 2025

Calgary did qualify for post-season play, but playoffs were cut short for the Wranglers and only lasted two games. Kerins had a goal in the first match-up with five seconds left in regulation that helped lead the team to a triple overtime against the Coachella Valley Firebirds. Unfortunately, the game didn’t end up going their way despite the impressive comeback.

CLUTCH goal by Rory Kerins. Goal number three for Calgary in the third to tie this up before the end of regulation. pic.twitter.com/iTXdOG98E9

— Paige Siewert (@thathockeygirly) April 23, 2025

Rory Kerins attributed maturity to some of the strides he found in his game saying:

“I think I just got more mature with my body and and I’ve always been kind of a late bloomer, so just continuing to put that work, you know, every day and the games were very marginal this year in the sense that I feel like I got a lot better with doing the same amount of work.”

Next season’s expectations

Rory Kerins is now a known name in the fanbase and he can continue to be that clutch player at the AHL level and pepper in more opportunities at the NHL level. He’s got competition for an NHL job right out of camp, but he has established himself to be on a short list for call-ups when the situation arises. I could see this year being his transition year, where his AHL games become fewer and he puts many more minutes in at the NHL towards the back half of the season.

Kerins surprised himself even last season saying he really didn’t have a specific reason for the improvement in his game. He said: