What are the Flames getting in Tyson Gross?

Gross, a right-handed centre, currently sits in the top 20 in the scoring in the nation. During his 2025-26 season with St. Cloud State, Gross secured 41 points.

Scouting reports

A few individuals in the public realm have published scouting reports recently on Gross’ game.

Jason Bukala, Sportsnet:

Gross is a big body, right-shot centre who is proficient in the faceoff circle. He won nearly 60 per cent of his draws at St. Cloud this season. Gross consistently averaged over 20 minutes of ice time while being deployed in all situations.

He leans shooter more than natural distributor and uses his size as an advantage when he stations himself around his opponent’s crease, especially on the power play when setting screens. I’m comfortable with his skating on straight lines, but Gross will be challenged to continue improving his small-area agility and edge work at the pro level.

Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff:

Gross is considered by many to be the top free agent on the board this year. He had 45 points in his first two college campaigns combined and nearly matched that this season alone. He’s an excellent skater who consistently creates plays at a high pace. Gross generates high-quality chances often and spends a lot of time around the net looking to bag home some rebounds. Gross is physical, smart and always involved, with and without the puck. Many teams have been linked to Gross, but many expect the Calgary Flames, who brought Gross to development camp in the past, to be the frontrunner for the 6-foot-3 forward.

Final thoughts

We’re looking forward to seeing the mental edge that Gross can bring to the team. A powerful player who also plays an intelligent game could be incredibly valuable for such a young roster. His impressive height alone will make him hard to miss, especially when paired with his strong skating and stickhandling abilities. A right-handed centre like Gross would be a tremendous asset, and I’m excited to see how his unique combination of skill and hockey IQ fits with the current lineup, as well as with the rookies the Flames are expected to add in the upcoming draft.