EP Rinkside 2021-22 Prospect Pool Rankings: No. 18-ranked Calgary Flames

Of all 32 prospect pools in the NHL, it’s tough to think of one with a stronger identity than the No. 18-ranked Calgary Flames. 

They aren’t afraid of taking mediocre skaters. In fact, their prospect pool is filled with them. If they can’t get a hard-nosed shooter, they target flashy puckhandling skills. And there’s no fear of taking short or slight players, even if physicality is one of the organization’s clearest identifiers. 

As a result, the Flames have a solid one-two punch of Connor Zary and Matt Coronato. Their goaltending scouting is a strength, headlined by a pair of top-15 prospects at their position, according to Catherine Silverman. 

The consequences of that mentality are a prospect pool that has a major lack of upside. Most of their prospects are bottom-of-the-lineup types, some of which, to be fair, are highly likely to carve out NHL careers. Most of their upside swings likely fall into the moderate-reward, high-risk group, save Jérémie Poirier.  

Still, the organization isn’t short on depth. Their list of players just outside their top-15 is as good as any team just outside the top-15-ranked organizations.