Flames Top 25 Under 25: #22- Hunter Shinkaruk

#22: Hunter Shinkaruk

Position: Centre/Wing

Age: 23

Team: Stockton Heat (AHL)

Drafted in 2013, 1st Round, Pick 24 (Vancouver Canucks)

Last Year Ranking: #22

Voting Points: 441

Oh Hunter Shinkaruk. Who are you really? Well for one, he’s unsigned. The 23 year old is a RFA so the Flames hold all the cards here, but what are they holding. See, that’s 2 questions right off the bat and that’s the problem with Shinkaruk: he’s done little to get you excited. Last season the Flames had injuries and they called up ANYONE, yet Shinkaruk never got the call. He spent the entire season in Stockton, playing in 63 games and collecting 32 points (17G 15A).

Shinakruk came to the Flames with much fanfare due to the fact that he’s a local Calgary kid and Vancouver gave up on him. Well, maybe the Canucks were right. He’s played in 15 career NHL games between both teams and collected a mere 4 points. Not getting any NHL time last season isn’t necessarily damning, but it’s not a good sign.

The Flames will most likely sign him and keep him around on the cheap, but you have to think this is it for Shinkaruk if he doesn’t make a name for himself in training camp. The Flames have players on their roster set in their positions and their off season moves won’t exactly help Shinkaruk. It’s up to him, but will this be the last time we see him in the Flames Top 25 Under 25?

(Stats provided by Elite Prospects)

Is #22 a good landing spot for Hunter Shinkaruk? Vote in our poll below!

by Mark Parkinson