The Flames’ European prospects are impressing early in the season

Gang, it’s September, and five of the Calgary Flames’ prospects are already playing regular season games in scenic Europe.

Their two Russian goaltenders have played a little bit, and they’re rotating starts for their respective teams. But the three skaters – two Swedish and one Russian – are playing really prominent roles for their hockey clubs so far.

The Canadian Hockey League gets going this coming weekend – the Flames’ three CHL prospects likely miss opening weekend because they’ll be at Flames camp – but let’s check in with the five Europeans already active.

Jakob Leander – D, HV71, U20 Nationell

18; Calgary’s seventh round pick (208th overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 196 pounds; shoots right

Leander is playing on the right side of HV71’s first pairing, alongside Vashek Blanar, with Leander serving as an alternate captain this season. So far, so good. Leander isn’t an offensive-minded player necessarily, but it must feel good for him to be one-third of the way to last season’s points production so quickly.

Yan Matveiko – C, Krasnaya Armiya Moskva, MHL

19; Calgary’s seventh round pick (211th overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 150 pounds; shoots left

Through a quirk of the MHL schedule, Krasnaya Armiya has already played six games while others have played three or four times. He’s off to a really good start, with seven points through six games, including a two point effort on Tuesday.

He’s playing second line centre alongside Nazar Privalov and captain Danila Poroshkov, but actually leads the team in forward ice time because he’s first unit power play and first unit penalty kill. It’s early, but he’s won 50% of his face-offs.

Theo Stockselius – C, Djurgårdens IF, U20 Nationell

18; Calgary’s second round pick (54th overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft; 6’2″, 181 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 12th-ranked prospect 2025

Stockselius has a pair of two-assist games so far, which is great. But his club blew a 3-0 lead in their second game, eventually losing 7-3, which is less good. Stockselius is playing first line centre between wingers Arvid Drott and Marcus Nordmark and wears an A. He’s playing in every game situation, too.

Yegor Yegorov – G, MHK Spartak-MAX, MHL

20; Calgary’s sixth round pick (176th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 183 pounds

Yegorov has played twice for Spartak Moskva’s second junior team, MHK Spartak-MAX, and has a win and a loss.

He’s also dressed for one game as backup for Spartak’s VHL (minor pro) affiliate, Khimik Voskresensk, and was with the KHL team for a few days as their third goaltender.

Kirill Zarubin – G, AKM Tula, MHL

19; Calgary’s third round pick (84th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 178 pounds; FN’s 18th-ranked prospect 2025

Zarubin and AKM Tula’s other netminder, Victor Levchenko, are alternating starts. So far Zarubin has started twice and played a game in relief. He has two overtime losses as the starting netminder.