FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: Under-25 power rankings at right wing
There has, in recent years, been a shortage of right-shot regulars among the Calgary Flames' forward cast.
That started to change this season, with Matt Coronato emerging as one of the go-to guys and Adam Klapka showing that he's also ready for a full-time role.
The best part is that those two are both in their early 20s, fitting the age range that the Flames have targeted to build a future contender.
Who could eventually join them on right wing? Examining the organizational depth chart, here is how we rank the under-25 options on that side of the sheet.
Age: 22
How acquired: Selected in first round, No. 13 overall, of 2021 NHL Draft
Working in his favour: He's a sharpshooter, plain and simple.
Still working on it: There are no glaring weaknesses but, as Coronato continues to gain experience, he should be even more reliable in his own zone and even more effective on the power play. As Calgary's best righty faceoff option, he's also determined to boost his success rate in the circle.
Big-league potential: Blake Coleman has predicted that Coronato will be one of those guys who snipes 30 goals a season and we're not about to disagree.
Coronato recently signed a seven-year contract extension, formalizing what was already clear: He's a huge part of the long-range plan at the Saddledome/Scotia Place. Because he finished third on the team charts with 24 goals and because he was so often trusted to play the final moments of close games, it's easy to forget that he was the youngest regular on the roster this season. He'll only get better.
Age: 24
How acquired: Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022
Working in his favour: At 6-foot-8 and 235 pounds, he is among the biggest dudes in the NHL. What makes him such a unique package is that he's also a slick skater and has soft mitts.
Still working on it: The two keys for Klapka are being consistent with his hard-to-play-against identity and being careful not to cough up the puck.
Big-league potential: Although many thought he'd top out as a depth piece, he finished this season on the first line.
This skyscraper-on-skates made a major impact during the Flames' wild-card chase, scoring several clutch goals over the final month of the campaign. In doing so, he should have cemented his spot as a full-time NHLer. While he has been on a bit of a yo-yo over the past couple of campaigns, Klapka now requires waivers to be reassigned to the Wranglers. If the Flames tried to sneak him through, they'd lose him.
Age: 19
How acquired: Selected in first round, No. 28 overall, of 2024 NHL Draft
Working in his favour: He has oodles of offensive skill and could be the fastest skater in the Flames' pipeline. Sounds like a heck of a combo, doesn't it?
Still working on it: Gridin has a familiar checklist for a high-scoring prospect, including an emphasis on his away-from-the-puck details and defensive-zone duties.
Big-league potential: This could be a future first-liner.
This Russian has a lefty curve on his stick, but he has been working the right wing as a junior and it's hard to argue with the results. On the heels of his USHL scoring crown, Gridin racked up 36 goals and 43 assists in 56 appearances this season with the Shawinigan Cataractes, ranking fifth in the QMJHL with an average of 1.41 points per game. He's now poised to turn pro and plans to put on a show come fall. As he told Postmedia: 'Sam Honzek is a great example for me — what he did last year at the main camp. What's the problem for me to do the same thing?'
Age: 21
How acquired: Selected in fourth round, No. 106 overall, of 2024 NHL Draft
Working in his favour: When Hoskin has the puck on his stick, good things tend to happen. He has a deadly release.
Still working on it: As he continues his climb, the challenge is to prove that the offence will translate.
Big-league potential: With a late bloomer like Hoskin, a guy who twice passed through the NHL Draft, it feels like it's too soon to even try to predict.
While the stats are mighty encouraging, there is some mystery surrounding this rising righty because he has primarily played at lower levels. Hoskin was named MVP of the Canadian Junior Hockey League in 2023-24 and then was saluted this season as the top freshman in what is typically considered the weakest conference in the NCAA's Division 1 ranks. This speedster just transferred to Merrimack, where it will be illuminating to see how he stacks up against some of the powerhouse programs in Hockey East.
FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: Emergence of two right-handers provides hope on wing
FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: Matvei Gridin has highlight-reel potential on right wing
Age: 20
How acquired: Selected in seventh round, No. 219 overall, of 2022 NHL Draft
Working in his favour: At 6-foot-3 and 216 pounds, Littler is already built like a big-leaguer. Puck protection is a strength.
Still working on it: Flames skating coach Danielle Fujita is hoping to add Littler to her list of success stories and he already has made improvements to his footwork.
Big-league potential: For a seventh-round long-shot, any NHL appearances count as a win.
We considered putting Hunter Laing in this spot — he made a compelling case with 25 goals in the WHL this winter — but Littler caught our attention with his late-season surge at the University of North Dakota. Although he scored only seven times as a freshman with the Fighting Hawks, he tallied three of those in a hat-trick of playoff appearances. Could that be a hint that he's primed for a breakthrough as a sophomore? He's also a trusted penalty-killer at North Dakota, where they pump out future pros.
wgilbertson@postmedia.com
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