2 Calgary Flames Prospects Who Could Get Called Up This Season

As the season gets underway, players will begin to suffer injuries as they sacrifice their bodies for the sake of their team, not to mention the ever-present concern of a positive Covid diagnosis. Eventually, there will be players who will need to miss games, and others will need to be called in to replace them in the lineup. Here are two such prospects who could see some playing time on the Calgary Flames this season.

Adam Ruzicka

Flames' fans are currently enamored with the play of Andrew Mangiapane, a 6th-round selection who has blossomed into a top-end goal scorer in the NHL. What's wild is that they have another late-round prospect, currently playing on the AHL's Stockton Heat, who could do the same. His name is Adam Ruzicka, and he is currently the Heat's top scorer and 6th overall in AHL scoring. In 11 games, he's got 9 goals and 15 points. That some pretty good production for a 4th-round pick from 2017. The big Slovakian is your prototypical power forward: fast, strong, with a good stick in front of the net and a heavy presence in his own end. He had 21 points in 28 games last season following his first look in the NHL, and he's following that up by making himself a lock for a call-up down the road. Ruzicka is scoring at a remarkable pace while playing a style of game that fits in very well with what has given the Flames success so far this season. He's the type of player coach Darryl Suter loves to employ. There's really no reason for Ruzicka to stay out of the NHL for long, he has all the tools and is showing he's put them together with excellent results.

Dustin Wolf

This kid is something else. Dustin Wolf was named WHL goalie of the year for the second straight season last year, putting up astounding numbers (1.80GAA, .940sv%, 4 shutouts) with the Everett Silvertips, and in 22 games last year he only lost 3 of them. Naturally, the Flames were smitten by the former 2019 7th-round pick's play. He made his pro debut with the Heat shortly afterward, getting 3 starts and winning two of them, but looking very much like a rookie in his first AHL games. That said, it didn't take him long to raise his game to another level. This season he's started 7 games and has lost none in regulation, going 5-0-2 to start the year with a 2.25GAA and a .930sv%. Those numbers are getting eerily close to what he was able to accomplish in the WHL, and he's gotten there in his first 10 games of pro hockey. There is little doubt that Wolf is a future NHLer, and given that current Flames' starter Jacob Markstrom has a history of missing time due to injury, it's not a stretch to assume that Wolf will be starting his first NHL game at some point this season.