Top prospects for Calgary Flames

NHL.com is providing in-depth prospect analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 1-Sept. 1. Today, the top five prospects for the Calgary Flames, according to NHL.com.

1. Dustin Wolf, G

How acquired: Selected with No. 214 pick in 2019 NHL Draft

2022-23 season: Calgary (NHL): 1 GP, 1-0-0, 1.00 GAA, .958 save percentage; Calgary (AHL): 55 GP, 42-10-2, 2.09 GAA, .932 save percentage, three shutouts

It appears to be only a matter of time before Wolf (6-foot, 166 pounds) becomes the Flames' No. 1. The 22-year-old, who was voted the AHL's most valuable player last season and was named goaltender of the year for the second season in a row, is expected to challenge Dan Vladar for the backup role behind Jacob Markstrom this season.

"I think when you're talking about Dustin, his professionalism, his athleticism, his commitment to work, his commitment to understanding the game and his ability to track pucks and focus, he's elite in a lot of those areas," Flames director of player development Ray Edwards said. "So, when you watch him play live you see a lot of those little things up close, and it brings home to a lot of people how elite he is in those areas."

Projected NHL arrival: This season

2. Jakob Pelletier, F

How acquired: Selected with No. 26 pick in 2019 NHL Draft

2022-23 season: Calgary (NHL): 24 GP, 3-4-7; Calgary (AHL): 35 GP, 16-21-37

The Flames have been patiently developing Pelletier (5-9, 170), and although the 22-year-old is talented offensively, he needs to continue to develop in the defensive zone in order to earn a full-time spot in the NHL.

"Initially, he's going to have to prove that he can check and can play without the puck and not be a liability without the puck and be able to play against top players," Edwards said. "I don't think there is any question that we project him to be a top-nine forward that hopefully can produce for us. Whether he plays on the power play, that will be up to him, but he definitely has the offensive instincts and offensive ability to put up numbers for us."

Projected NHL arrival: This season

3. Matt Coronato, F

How acquired: Selected with No. 13 pick in 2021 NHL Draft

2022-23 season: Calgary (NHL): 1 GP, 0-0-0; Harvard (NCAA): 34 GP, 20-16-36

Coronato made his NHL debut for the Flames in their regular-season finale against the San Jose Sharks on April 12. The 20-year-old finished the game with four shots, one hit and a plus-1 rating in 14:38 of ice time in the 3-1 win.

Coronato (5-10, 183), who signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Flames on March 26 following his sophomore season at Harvard, is expected to start this season with the Calgary Wranglers of the AHL.

"I think you saw in the one game he played, he had five or six scoring chances in that one game," Edwards said. "He really has a nose for the net, he has a nose to get open and has a nose to find those soft areas to make himself available to get the puck. He's also shown in the past an innate ability to finish, and he can finish in different ways."

Projected NHL arrival: Next season

4. Connor Zary, F

How acquired: Selected with No. 24 pick in 2020 NHL Draft

2022-23 season:Calgary (AHL): 72 GP, 21-37-58

Zary (6-foot, 178) finished second in scoring with the Wranglers last season, more than doubling his production from his first professional season in 2021-22, when he had 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists) in 53 games for Stockton of the AHL. The 21-year-old will likely get a long look at training camp and should make his NHL debut at some point this season.

"I think we all know that he's offensively gifted and has the sense and skill," Edwards said. "Now it's about being harder on the puck and finding ways to get to the inside at even strength and 5-on-5 especially, to be able to produce in those situations."

Projected NHL arrival: Next season

5. Jeremie Poirier, D

How acquired: Selected with No. 72 pick in 2020 NHL Draft

2022-23 season: Calgary (AHL): 69 GP, 9-32-41

Poirier (6-1, 196) made a seamless transition from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League to the AHL last season, finishing sixth on the Wranglers, and second among defensemen, in scoring. The 21-year-old is an offensive defenseman who could run the power play for Calgary down the road.

"I think this season was a really nice surprise for us," Edwards said. "I think going into the year, we knew there was some work that he would have to do in terms of his body and just becoming a harder, stronger player. But he understands the work that has to go in, not only to the training, but the preparation before practice and after practice and the steady work you have to do. What we saw this year is that he took a big step, and it was probably a bigger step than we initially thought he might make."

Projected NHL arrival: Next season