Five Under-The-Radar Flames Prospects to Watch this Weekend

Everybody knows about the big name prospects, guys like Juuso Valimaki, Dillon Dube, Spencer Foo, Andrew Mangiapane, Glenn Gawdin, Matthew Phillips, etc. However there are a few other prospects that are flying under the radar and that should be interesting to watch in the upcoming Flames-Oilers prospect games.

1. Oliver Kylington

I use the term under-the-radar lightly with Kylington because he has been a pretty notable prospect for the organization for a few years now. However he has been somewhat overshadowed by Rasmus Andersson, Juuso Valimaki, and Adam Fox prior to his trade in terms of headline-grabbing.

In his third pro season with Stockton last year, Kylington set career highs with 7 goals and 28 assists in 62 games for the Heat. He could contend for the #6 spot in training camp as he tries to push Brett Kulak out.

2. Yasin Ehliz

I use the term “prospect” lightly with Ehliz. At 25 years old, he’s going to feel ancient compared to all the kids he’s playing with on the prospect team. Ehliz was signed by the Flames early in the offseason after completing his year with Nuermberg of the DEL. Ehliz most notably was part of Germany’s silver medal winning squad at last year’s Olympics.

He hasn’t played hockey in North America before, so it’ll definitely be a learning experience for him. While he’s definitely going to be on the Heat this season, I’m still very intrigued to see how he does, as unheralded European signings always interest me.

3. D’Artagnan Joly

D’Artagnan Joly is a very interesting prospect for the Flames organization. And not just because I like his name. Joly put up 23 goals and 45 assists this year for 68 points in 55 games with Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the QMJHL, a team that was mediocre at best.

Joly looks to be another 6th round steal by the Flames as they’ve really hit home runs in recent years in that round. Joly’s 1.24 points per game was good for 14th in the QMJHL. As one of the few right handed RW prospects in the Flames organization, he’ll have a good shot to make an impression and maybe contend for a spot in Calgary a few years down the line.

4. Brett Pollock

Brett Pollock has been an afterthought of most Flames fans since the day he was included in the Kris Russell trade. He struggled to even stay in the lineup with the Stockton Heat early last year. However, he started to put things together at around the halfway point of the season and became an important piece for the Heat late in the year.

He put up 19 points in the final 31 games of the season. While it may still be awhile before he has a shot with the Flames, that kind of confidence should really get Pollock ready to prove himself this season, and Sunday will be his first shot at doing so.

5. Dmitry Zavgorodny

Maybe, it’s just me but I’m really intrigued by Zavgorodny heading into the 2018-19 season. During his first year in North America, he had 26 goals and 21 assists in 62 games for the Rimouski Oceanic. He had the fourth highest goal total among QMJHL rookies in 2017-18.

Heading into the 2018 Draft, Zavgorodny was ranked #69 by Central Scouting, #86 by Future Considerations, and #90 by ISS Hockey, so the Flames may have gotten a steal by nabbing him with their 7th round pick.

by Michael MacGillivray