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Continuing our series looking back on Calgary Flames draft classes, we’ve made our way to the 2019 draft. This year’s draft was a short one for the Flames, who had traded their second and sixth-round picks in previous trades. All said, they made five picks in the draft and their first selection didn’t come until 26th overall. Needless to say, the quantity of NHL assets coming from this class is slim.
26th overall – Jakob Pelletier
The Flames had to wait all the way until 26th to make their first selection, picking up Jakob Pelletier out of the QMJHL. Following his selection, Pelletier dominated the QMJHL over his D+1 and D+2 seasons, totaling 125 points in just 85 games.
By 2021–22, Pelletier was making his AHL debut as a 20-year-old rookie. His first year of pro hockey was a special one, posting 62 points in 66 games to finish second on the Heat in scoring and earning a spot on the AHL’s all-rookie team. By this time Pelletier was easily considered the organization’s top skater prospect.
The following season Pelletier once again dominated the AHL to the tune of 37 points in 35 games, and earned his first taste of NHL action. In 24 games with the Flames that year, Pelletier was a lone bright spot in an otherwise tough season for the organization. Big things were expected of Pelletier in 2023–24, but then disaster struck.
He’d suffer a serious shoulder injury in the preseason, keeping him out of action until February. When he returned, he never looked comfortable and was missing a lot of the energy that made him so effective in 2022–23.
This past season Pelletier’s struggles continued, failing to make the Flames out of camp and eventually clearing waivers. While he did earn a call-up to the Flames eventually, he managed just 24 games before being dealt to Philadelphia in the Frost/Farabee deal. It’s hard not to wonder how Pelletier’s trajectory in Calgary would’ve changed if he never suffered that serious injury in the 2023 preseason.
88th overall – Ilya Nikolaev
Things start to go downhill for this draft class immediately, as the organization’s third-round pick in Ilya Nikolaev really struggled to make an impact in the six years after being drafted. In his D+1 and D+2 seasons Nikolaev spent time in Russia in the MHL, and VHL. His numbers didn’t exactly jump off the page. He posted 50 points in 74 MHL games, an underwhelming result in a junior league. In 37 VHL games (Russia’s equivalent to the AHL) he registered 13 points.
In his D+3 season Nikolaev made the jump to North America in the USHL, a rarity for a 20-year-old drafted prospect. To his credit he played well, with 72 points in 58 games, although when you consider his age and the league he was in the numbers are the bare minimum expectation. For context, fellow Flame draft pick Matt Coronato had 85 points in 51 games in the USHL as an 18-year-old.
In 2022–23 Nikolaev finally made the jump to pro hockey, and over the next two seasons put up a modest six points in 34 AHL games and 41 points in 46 ECHL games. This past season Nikolaev once again split his time between the ECHL and AHL, before being waived by the Flames in November. He ended up heading back to Russia and is currently signed there for next season.
116th overall – Lucas Feuk
The Flames had to wait until 116th overall to make their third selection of the draft, picking up forward Lucas Feuk out of Sweden. It pretty much never clicked for Feuk after being selected. Following the pick, Feuk spent most of his time in the HockeyAllsvenskan (Sweden’s second tier) over the next three seasons. Across those three years he managed just five points in 53 games. In 2022–23, his D+4 season, he finally made the jump to North American and skated in 45 games in the ECHL, posting 12 points.
Following the 2022–23 season the Flames opted to let Feuk go unsigned and renounced his draft rights. He’s since returned to Sweden and currently plays in their third-tier league HockeyEttan.
150th overall – Josh Nodler
At 150th overall the Flames selected forward Josh Nodler out of the USHL. Much like the above two names, Nodler was never really considered a notable prospect with the team. Following the pick, Nodler made the move to the NCAA with Michigan State University where he’d go on to spend the next four seasons. Across those four years, he struggled to make an impact.
Nodler’s production just never really took off. In total he played 126 games at the college level but managed just 39 points. Following the 2022–23 season in which he posted five points in 27 games as a 21-year-old, the Flames renounced his rights. He most recently spent the 2024–25 season in the ECHL.
214th overall – Dustin Wolf
Last but certainly not least, the Flames picked up a small goalie by the name of Dustin Wolf with their final pick of the draft. It’s early, but there’s already a case to be made that Wolf is one of the best draft picks in franchise history. From day one, it was quite clear Wolf was a steal in the seventh round. He’s simply dominated at every single level he’s played at since being drafted.
Here’s what Wolf has accomplished in the six years since being draft. First in junior he won the WHL goaltender of the year in back-to-back seasons in 2020 and 2021, as well as the CHL goaltender of the year in 2020. He also claimed the USA hockey junior goaltender of the year in 2020.
After making the jump to the AHL in 2022, he proceeded to win back-to-back AHL goaltender of the year awards in 2022 and 2023. He also claimed the AHL MVP award in 2023. In 2023–24 he made his NHL debut and in his rookie season this past year in 2024–25 he claimed a Calder Trophy nomination and single handedly carried the Flames all year.
Wolf has quite literally won or been nominated for a major goaltending or player award at every single level he’s played at since being drafted. It’s not really possible for a seventh-round pick to turn out better than Wolf has thus far.
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6 extended takeaways from Day 1 of Maple Leafs training camp
TORONTO — The on-ice component of training camp is underway as the Toronto Maple Leafs took the ice at the Ford Performance Centre on Thursday, with new line combinations taking shape. Matias Maccelli received the first look with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies during the Group 1 session, and he may be the favourite to start the year on this line. William Nylander and John Tavares were paired together in Group 2 alongside Bobby McMann, and it’s clear that Craig Berube will be experimenting throughout training camp, in a search for his optimal combinations. “I think more than anything, we want to have a good first day. It’s a tough day,” Berube said. “It’s a lot of battling. It’s intense. Players, they could go and make it as intense as they want, but I thought it was really intense, which is what we want.” Here’s what you need to know from the first day of Maple Leafs’ training camp: It’s too early to be worried about Auston Matthews Auston Matthews said he’s fully confident about his health during Wednesday’s media availability, and Thursday provided a first opportunity to get a look at how the Maple Leafs’ captain is feeling. Matthews submitted a mixed performance during Thursday’s practice, with the extremely obvious caveat that it’s the first day of practice, and it’s too early to be genuinely concerned. Matthews’ puck skills remain otherworldly and during a sequence early in practice, he dangled Noah Chadwick rather easily to get to the net. In another sequence, Matthews beat Philippe Myers to the puck in the corner and fished it out for Matthew Knies in front of the net. He used his frame throughout the session to shield off defenders, win back pucks and instruct his teammates on where he wanted them to go in the offensive zone. And again, with the caveat that it’s way too early to be concerned: Matthews didn’t have the usual velocity on his shot throughout the majority of the session and Morgan Rielly won the majority of 1-on-1 battles against him. Matthews skates and fought through contact with his usual force, but we’ll be keeping our eyes and ears out to see if he gains the same velocity he had during his 69-goal campaign in 2023-24. There’s also a clear example of Matthews ripping the puck with his usual force early in the session, so it may just be a matter of Toronto’s captain rounding into form during the preseason. Berube didn’t seem remotely concerned and raved about Matthews’ leadership after Group 1 finished their session. “I thought he grew quickly as a leader. You guys don’t see it, the in-game things, in the room where he’s commanding,” Berube said of Matthews. “He’s not the only guy. We have a lot of strong leaders who don’t have to wear an A or a C.” Matias Maccelli gets first look on Toronto’s first line, but this could change when Max Domi returns Matias Maccelli was eager to prove himself on Toronto’s first line throughout practice and for now he’s getting the first look, although this could change when Max Domi returns from a lower-body injury. “ Just doing my best with the puck, without the puck, working hard,” Maccelli said, about what he’s focusing on when playing with Knies and Matthews. “ With the puck, trying to make plays, trying to play the same way they do. As we get going with the games, they’ll tell me what they expect and what they want, and then I’ll do the same thing.” Berube addressed reporters and he admitted that he initially planned to place Domi on the first line with Knies and Matthews. “Max went down. He was obviously a guy that I was going to put there. But Max should be back pretty quick, and then we’ll go from there,” Berube said. “I mean, it’s one day. (Maccelli is) in the process of just kind of feeling things out. And you get thrown on the line with Matthews and Knies, I mean, it’s a big step. He’s a guy that can make plays, we know that. “So that’s going to be a big part of it all if he’s making the right plays and the right decisions with the puck. Is he getting Matthews the puck enough for some opportunities and things like that? And then it’s just about him playing 200 feet, too. That line’s going to play against good lines, so he needs to be solid defensively, too.” Maccelli said he’s equally comfortable playing on either wing, but it may be a work in progress. He seemed to be a half-step behind Knies and Matthews in rushes, and when Domi is healthy again, it appears that Berube wants to try this combination out for opening night against the Montreal Canadiens. During camp, Maccelli will get a first look with Matthews and Knies, and it will be a combination that Berube will surely test out throughout camp, but the 24-year-old winger will need to earn his head coach’s trust before he’s affixed to Toronto’s top line. “It’s always weird to come to a new team when you don’t know anyone,” Maccelli said. “ I’ve only been in one spot and knew all the people there, so it’s different. But everybody’s been super welcoming and nice. So it’s been an easy adjustment.” Calle Jarnkrok stood out during Group 1 practice session, may be back to 2023-24 form Calle Jarnkrok was in excellent form during the first practice session and while we’re not pencilling him into the opening night lineup just yet, it’s an encouraging sign from the 34-year-old. Jarnkrok was paired alongside David Kampf and Michael Pezzetta and was the clear standout on the line, ripping his slot with the velocity we’re used to seeing. He roofed the puck past Dennis Hildeby twice off rush drills and wasn’t hesitant to win back pucks in battle drills. The veteran forward underwent groin and sports hernia surgery after suffering an injury during last year’s training camp and only returned to the lineup in March, where he registered a goal and seven points in 19 games, before adding one assist in 12 playoff games, primarily operating in a fourth-line role. Jarnkrok could very well be watching from the press box on opening night, but Thursday was a great start towards cementing his spot to begin the year. Anthony Stolarz wants to get deal done before the season Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz wants to be with the team for the foreseeable future and there’s a sense of urgency regarding his next contract. Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving hinted Wednesday that a new extension could be imminent, and Stolarz wants to get the deal done before the year begins. “Our ultimate goal is to win the Stanley Cup, so once the season starts, that’s all I want to focus on,” Stolarz said. “I’ll let my agent and Treliving talk that out and hopefully we can get something done here soon.” Stolarz recently appeared on Leafs Morning Take with Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill, where he outlined what he wants from his next contact, and how he’s fully recovered from a season-ending concussion. Easton Cowan improves throughout practice, builds partnership with Dakota Joshua, Nicolas Roy Easton Cowan will be afforded every chance to make the roster and he improved as Thursday’s afternoon practice session went on. Cowan was paired with Dakota Joshua in 2-on-2 drills, where Joshua emerged as one of the best players overall through both practices. During controlled 3-on-2 rushes, Cowan was on the right wing, Joshua was on the left wing, with Nicolas Roy playing through centre, and it was a compelling trio that won puck battles and communicated well. It’s the first day of camp and nothing is finalized, but Cowan could find himself with a real chance of unseating the incumbents with a stellar camp. During battle drills, Cowan worked relentlessly, especially during a session against former London Knights teammate Landon Sim. It will be curious to see where Cowan slots into the lineup, when Max Domi returns to the lineup, but he’s firmly in the mix for a top-nine role and like Joshua, was among the best players from the opening day of camp. This line may get some extended looks together during Sunday’s preseason opener against the Ottawa Senators, and all three players are eager to make a strong first impression. Chris Tanev was among the several Leafs who complimented Roy’s ‘extremely underrated’ game, as he moves very well for a player his size, getting to the high-danger areas with relative ease. Joshua was dominant against several younger camp invitees, using his speed, size and hockey intelligence to great effect throughout the day. We can’t wait to see this line in action. John Tavares and William Nylander were the best players Thursday, Bobby McMann joins the line John Tavares and William Nylander were the best overall players from Thursday’s practice sessions, with Chris Tanev and Morgan Rielly earning honourable mentions. These designations are built from what we observed in controlled drills, so it’s worth putting into perspective, but Tavares and Nylander were making high-end plays with ease, and Bobby McMann joined the group, with Berube watching closely. “I think Bobby can take another step in his game,” Berube said. “You know, doing some things a little bit differently. Especially playing with those two guys [Tavares and Nylander], getting those guys the puck more, getting to the net more. I like a big guy with those two guys, to forecheck, get in there and create loose pucks, help out JT in those situations. Willy’s gonna do his thing, we all know that. But Bobby, I feel, can take another step in his game.” McMann-Tavares-Nylander played 158:09 at 5-on-5 with a plus-six goal differential and a 60.4 percent share of the expected goals last season via Natural Stat Trick. There is some proof of concept that this line could work, but McMann simply cannot go 24 games without a goal like he did to conclude the 2024-25 season. “He was basically just saying we want a certain identity. We want to play hard. Don’t take any shifts off, don’t take any seconds off, pushing each other all the way through,” McMann said. “It started from the first drill. You’re chasing the guy down all the way through. You’re playing one-on-ones, two-on-twos. It’s just not giving up an inch.” McMann’s elite straight-line speed and ability to get to the high-danger areas certainly compliment Tavares and Nylander’s skill sets, but there will be some experimentation on the top line, and the challenge has been set for the 28-year-old with several players vying for a chance in the Maple Leafs’ reshuffled top-six.
Steelers Have Troubling Trend Surrounding Nick Herbig
The Pittsburgh Steelers' primary goal for their Week 3 contest against the New England Patriots is simple: slow down the opposing team's rush offense. The failures in that regard have been the storyline ever since they gave up 105 rushing yards on 13 carries to Kenneth Walker III of the Seattle Seahawks in the prior game. Every single stat that comes out is more troubling than the last, and the noise just keeps getting louder and louder. The only way to shut everyone up is to fix it once and for all. It's easier said than done, especially with linebacker Alex Highsmith being out with a high-ankle sprain. That means third-year edge rusher Nick Herbig will get the start, like he did quite a few times during the 2024 season. He has made all kinds of noise as a pass rusher, but these recent games have raised concerns about his ability to stop the run. In a recent article on X, insider Mark Kaboly brought up the stats of the Steelers whenever Herbig has to play more than half the time. "[Nick] Herbig has proven to make big plays at big moments, but him being undersized hasn’t helped the Steelers stop opponents from running the ball when he’s started," Kaboly explained. "Herbig has played more than 50% of the snaps seven times in his 31 career games. In those games, the Steelers are 2-5 and are giving up 106 yards per game on a 4.2 yards per carry clip." If the Steelers do give up 106 yards on the ground in Week 3, that would be seen as somewhat of an improvement on their atrocious performance so far, but the point still stands. Herbig is an absolute beast when attacking the quarterback, but his signature move does not do well in terms of getting in the backfield to hit the running back. He has a lot to work in that regard. One thing the world has noticed is that teams have thrived against the Steelers when they run away from TJ Watt. With Highsmith out, that means that Herbig's side of the line will be attacked time and time again. Moving Watt around the defense and running some stunts seems like a logical idea, but Pittsburgh has absolutely refused to let that happen. There are other options to help as well. The most obvious one is to bench Herbig in obvious run-down situations. The players behind him on the depth chart, Jack Sawyer and DeMarvin Leal, have the ideal body type that the Steelers are looking for in those situations. Leal was seen as a defensive lineman / outside linebacker hybrid, so he especially fits this mold. He was even told that his job will be to stop the ground game. Meanwhile, Sawyer offers more ability in the pass rush than Leal, so he can check in for situations where passing the ball is possible, but not insanely likely. He did have his first career sack in Week 2 to go along with an overall solid game. He is earning the ability to see more snaps on defense, and Herbig's size disadvantage will allow him to be on the field even more. Steelers Have Another Stat Pointing In The Right Direction Kaboly also mentions that the Steelers have never given up three straight 100-yard rushing games in the regular season in Mike Tomlin's career. The saying usually goes "third time is the charm," and Pittsburgh has to do everything they can to make sure that is the case again. The Patriots have a great chorus of running backs, along with a quarterback that can take off if needed. Keeping that trend will be a big challenge.
Kyle Shanahan has surprising Brock Purdy update — 49ers are confident in QB situation regardless
NFL Legend Terry Bradshaw Shares Big Personal News
There is no doubt about Terry Bradshaw being one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. The fact that he led the Pittsburgh Steelers to no less than four Super Bowl wins in the span of six years during the 1970s is an undeniable testament to this fact. Since his retirement in 1983, Bradshaw has been able to establish himself as a top NFL broadcaster. He’s been a staple for “Fox NFL Sunday,” providing his unique brand of commentary since 1994. Bradshaw has not limited himself to sportscasting in his post-NFL career. He’s starred in his own reality show, “The Bradshaw Bunch,” has gotten into horse racing and even has his own small-batch whisky brand, Bradshaw Bourbon. On Wednesday, the 77-year-old shared some big personal news. This comes in the form of his new cookbook, “The Bradshaw Family Cookbook,” which was released on Tuesday. Bradshaw announced it in collaboration with the official Instagram page of his reality show. “From our kitchen to yours The Bradshaw Family Cookbook is here, y’all! “Our new cookbook is packed with recipes full of heart, flavor, and a little Bradshaw fun. What are you most excited to try?” the post read. According to the publisher’s website, the cookbook aims to “celebrate the great American tradition of food, family, and football.” It is authored by Bradshaw himself, along with his wife, Tammy Bradshaw, their daughters, Lacey and Rachel Bradshaw, as well as his son-in-law, chef Noah Hester. The book contains nearly 100 recipes, which range from game-day classics to Southern-style dishes. This includes Terry “Bradshaw Beans,” spicy pork canoes with cilantro sour cream and buttermilk pecan pie, to name a few. As it turns out, Bradshaw is not only a legend on the field and a revered sportscaster. He’s also a whiz in the kitchen, and he’s now sharing his personal recipes with the rest of the world.
Fantasy football Week 3: Five players who could flop
Fantasy football is just as much about predicting the flops as it is about nailing the strong starts. There are a few land mines we want to avoid in NFL Week 3, so let's break them down. Indianapolis Colts QB Daniel Jones vs. Tennessee Titans PPR projection: 14.7 Jones has quickly leveled up from the waiver wire to starting lineups after 29.5 and 22.8 points in his first two games with the Colts, but he might disappoint his new owners in Week 3. The Titans have an underrated defense that held Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix to 6.8 points and Detriot Lions signal-caller Matthew Stafford to 17.3 points. Jones' fantasy value is inflated due to three short rushing touchdowns in two weeks, but he'll likely come back down to earth in his first road start of the year. Carolina Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard vs. Atlanta Falcons PPR projection: 14.7 Hubbard has scored 17.9 and 18.7 PPR points in his first two games of the season, but those totals are a bit misleading. The Panthers running back is averaging just 3.6 yards per carry, but he's bailed out fantasy owners with a pair of receiving touchdowns. Carolina now has two starting offensive linemen on injured reserve, so it's hard to imagine Hubbard having success on the ground against Atlanta's strong defensive line. Los Angeles Rams RB Kyren Williams vs. Philadelphia Eagles PPR projection: 15.5 This is a lofty projection for Williams, who scored just 13.9 and 10.0 points in the first two weeks. Rams head coach Sean McVay recently said he wants the backfield to be a 70/30 split between Williams and Blake Corum. That's exactly what we saw last week against the Titans, and Corum even stole some goal-line carries and a touchdown. In two games against the Eagles last season, Williams scored only 13.2 and 11.5 points. Pittsburgh Steelers WR DK Metcalf vs. New England Patriots PPR projection: 14.5 Cornerback Christian Gonzalez is finally back at practice for the Patriots after suffering a hamstring injury in the offseason. That's bad news for Metcalf, who's already struggling to create separation and has just 23.3 PPR points through two weeks. The Seahawks wide receiver won't sniff this projection unless he scores a touchdown. Cleveland Browns TE David Njoku vs. Green Bay Packers PPR projection: 9.4 Njoku hasn't been as involved in Cleveland's offense as fantasy owners hoped. The veteran tight end has seen only 11 targets and 14.7 fantasy points through two weeks. The Browns are running a ton of two-tight-end sets with Njoku and Harold Fannin Jr., and QB Joe Flacco is spreading the ball around too much for one player to thrive. Njoku might be better on the bench against an elite Packers defense.
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