Which prospect graduated last year? This year? Next year?
Last year in Year d+4 Valimaki went from injured to 3rd pairing in the NHL. His ELC was burnt off.
This year the top prospect that graduated would be Vlader , who has exactly a value of a 3rd round pick.
The other top prospect that graduates is Mackay. The Flames feel he has graduated because he has signed a 2-year one way contract.
Other 2021-22 Calder hopes? Popisil?
Who does Bader (or any other expert) see as making a significant contribution to the Flames over the next couple of years?
Here is a list of what Scott Wheeler put up in the Athletic under
Ranking the top 20 Calder Trophy candidates for the 2021-22 NHL season
1. Cole Caufield, RW, 20 (Montreal Canadiens — 15th overall, 2019)
2. Trevor Zegras, C/W, 20 (Anaheim Ducks — 9th overall, 2019)
3. Moritz Seider, RHD, 20 (Detroit Red Wings — 6th overall, 2019)
4. Spencer Knight, G, 20 (Florida Panthers — 13th overall, 2019)
5. Jeremy Swayman, G, 22 (Boston Bruins — 111th overall, 2017)
6. Quinton Byfield, C, 19 (Los Angeles Kings — 2nd overall, 2020)
7. Shane Pinto, C, 20 (Ottawa Senators — 32nd overall, 2019)
8. Jamie Drysdale, RHD, 19 (Anaheim Ducks — 6th overall, 2020)
9. Anton Lundell, C, 19 (Florida Panthers — 12th overall, 2020)
10. Alex Newhook, C, 20 (Colorado Avalanche — 16th overall, 2019)
11. Matt Boldy, LW, 20 (Minnesota Wild — 12th overall, 2019)
12. Philip Tomasino, C/RW, 20 (Nashville Predators — 24th overall, 2019)
13. Nils Lundkvist, RHD, 21 (New York Rangers — 28th overall, 2018)
14. Bowen Byram, LHD, 20 (Colorado Avalanche — 4th overall, 2019)
15. Vladimir Tkachyov, LW/RW, 25 (Los Angeles Kings — undrafted)
16. Victor Soderstrom, RHD, 20 (Arizona Coyotes — 11th overall, 2019)
17. Vasili Podkolzin, RW, 20 (Vancouver Canucks — 10th overall, 2019)
18. Joe Veleno, C/LW, 21 (Detroit Red Wings — 30th overall, 2018)
19. Marco Rossi, C, 20 (Minnesota Wild — 9th overall, 2020)
20. Grigori Denisenko, LW/RW, 21 (Florida Panthers — 15th overall, 2018)
Twelve honorable mentions
Jonatan Berggren, LW, 21 (Detroit Red Wings — 33rd overall, 2018)
Thomas Harley, LHD, 20 (Dallas Stars — 18th overall, 2019)
Ville Heinola, LHD, 20 (Winnipeg Jets — 20th overall, 2019)
Zac Jones, LHD, 20 (New York Rangers — 68th overall, 2019)
Arthur Kaliyev, LW, 20 (Los Angeles Kings — 33rd overall, 2019)
Peyton Krebs, C/LW, 19 (Vegas Golden Knights — 17th overall, 2019)
Connor McMichael, C, 20 (Washington Capitals — 25th overall, 2019)
Cole Perfetti, C/LW, 19 (Winnipeg Jets — 10th overall, 2020)
Lucas Raymond, RW, 19 (Detroit Red Wings — 4th overall, 2020)
Lukas Reichel, LW, 19 (Chicago Blackhawks — 17th overall, 2020)
Nick Robertson, LW, 20 (Toronto Maple Leafs — 53rd overall, 2019)
Cole Sillinger, C, 18 (Columbus Blue Jackets — 12th overall, 2021)
Would you make a roboust argument that Vladr/Mackey/Popisil/Pelletier should be considered as a better Calder candidate than various players on this list?
PS Mackey looks to be the only roster possible Flame that does not need to clear waivers to be sent to the AHL