Practice Notes Sept 25, 2025 - Laing returned to junior

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I was watching him closely last night as well.

I was actually pretty optimistic about him when we acquired him - he has a lot of tools, and I thought he just needed to take the next step. But he just hasn't. And it's not that he's bad, he's just okay - and it's looking more and more like that 'just okay' is all we're going to get. And IMO, it isn't enough to justify the bad mistakes that he occasionally makes.

I think we have plenty of guys that are better, and that have more upside - there just isn't room for him anymore, and he is in the way.

Agree with this regarding Miromanov. I think we've seen his ceiling.

I generally think the same with Bean as well. Arguably his basement is a bit higher than Miro's, so I'd put him a step ahead if i had to rank them.

[Wastedyouth]

None of the guys we might lose on waivers are much more than bottom 6 forwards or bottom pairing Dmen.

The organization has those in spades. I wouldn't get too worried about it.

[FBI]

Mikkelson was sure complimenting Bean a lot in the stream but I wasn't seeing it. I was seeing clunky turnovers and slow decision making.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Even if Solovyov gets claimed what are we really worried about? His upside is a 6th/7th in the NHL. Not someone to lose sleep over.

I'm less worried about Solo. He has already passed through waivers once last year, so he is a lot less likely to get claimed.

I do think he'll go back to the KHL next year if he doesn't manage to crack an NHL lineup.

I just hope the 3rd pairing is a bit more mobile than Hanley - Pachal to start the year. At the same time both Bean and Miromanov haven't shown they can defend at the NHL level consistently, at least based on last year and training camp so far.

I'm with you on Kuznetsov and Kerins.

[Wastedyouth]

Hanley and Weegar were a top 5 possession Dman pairing last year for pairings that played more than half a season together.

Hanley isn't a problem. He's currently a solution. And one of the reasons the Flames even had a sniff at playoffs.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by NegativeSpace

Interesting. NHL squad and non-NHL squad?

3 guys have to go down if there are no injuries

My guess would be

Miromanov
Kerins
Cooley

[FanIn80]

I keep harping on this, but we need a guy who can win faceoffs loooong before we need to worry about who's on 3v3 for OT.

If he can win faceoffs then sign him and glue him to the lineup sheet. I don't even care if he's a C or a 4th string goalie. Win the draw and get back to the bench if you have to, but for the love of God I'm tired of just not expecting to have possession of the puck after every draw. I'm tired of watching it... imagine what it must be like to have to gameplan around knowing you're not going to win faceoffs.

Last year our OT game plan was:
1. Put our top offensive forwards and D out.
2. Fight for possession of the puck
3. Put our next best group out.
4. Continue fighting for the puck.
5. If still alive and have possession of the puck, put out 3rd best group.
6. Try to keep puck long enough to get 1st group out.
7. If we haven't lost, and if there's still time on the clock, try to win game.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

You spelt Bean wrong.

You spelt Poirier wrong

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by BigThief

We still haven't recovered from losing Cole Schwindt

Losing Cole Schwindt cost the Oilers Raphael Lavoie.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

the three veteran D who played yesterday were pretty bad.
Hanley didn't get the clear on the first goal
Bean made the turnover on the 2nd goal
Miro had a neutral zone turnover, but was bailed by Prosvetov

I expect at least two of these three, and maybe all 3 to make the team, but would not miss any of them if the Flames chose to go young

Don’t think there would be any drop off from Miromanov/Bean to Kuznetsov/Solovyov. Hanley is probably better than the log jam of young guys.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan, Ph.D.

Agree with this regarding Miromanov. I think we've seen his ceiling.

I generally think the same with Bean as well. Arguably his basement is a bit higher than Miro's, so I'd put him a step ahead if i had to rank them.

At least Bean makes plays. I can forgive some bad plays, if there are also some good plays. But Miromanov is just there. I keep wanting - and waiting - to see something to feel positive about, but in my biased opinion, there just isn't enough.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Even if Solovyov gets claimed what are we really worried about? His upside is a 6th/7th in the NHL. Not someone to lose sleep over.

Only part that would suck is not getting anything back for him. But we probably have too many prospects as it is with nowhere to put them

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Down to 29 forwards, 16 d-men, 6 goalies

https://twitter.com/user/status/1971244490703896803

If I had to guess, because of Parekh's situation of requiring a return to junior if he's cut instead of the AHL, I suspect they will have 8 d-men and 13 forwards to start the year.

That means 2 forwards cut and one goalie cut.

I'm guessing Kirkland and Honzek cut, Kerins makes the team out of camp (which doesn't mean a whole lot as things change so much throughout the year).

I would also guess Say is cut since he's fresh out of college, and Cooley has a few years of pro experience, so he gets first crack at the backup job, but if he falters, I think both Say and Prosvetov are more than capable at being a backup.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by HighLifeMan

I would really like Kuznetsov to get a legitimate look.

Not only did we invest decent draft capital into him, but he has shown a steady progression every season to date with him being our most reliable defender with the Wranglers last season. I am not sure how much more a guy with his skillset can show in the AHL.

Bean and Miro have proven time and time again to be nothing more than depth pieces that quite frankly can't even defend reliably at an NHL level.

I went to the youngstars tourney 2 tears ago and I thought Kuznetsov was the best player on the Flames team

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Right now I would keep 8 D: Rasmus, Bahl, Pachal, Weegar, Hanley, Parekh, Bean, Kuz.

That means Miro, Soloyov and Poirier get waived.

I agree that Kuznetsov looks NHL ready. He's not very dynamic, but he's very, very solid.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

If I had to guess, because of Parekh's situation of requiring a return to junior if he's cut instead of the AHL, I suspect they will have 8 d-men and 13 forwards to start the year.

That means 2 forwards cut and one goalie cut.

I'm guessing Kirkland and Honzek cut, Kerins makes the team out of camp (which doesn't mean a whole lot as things change so much throughout the year).

I would also guess Say is cut since he's fresh out of college, and Cooley has a few years of pro experience, so he gets first crack at the backup job, but if he falters, I think both Say and Prosvetov are more than capable at being a backup.

I agree with you except for Prosvetsov and Cooley. I think Prosvetsov has won that spot.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Goriders

I agree with you except for Prosvetsov and Cooley. I think Prosvetsov has won that spot.

Until they put him on the main group...I dunno.

It's clear who is in line to make the team and who isn't right now based on those groupings. There's no gray area there where you would see veterans mixed into the B group.

[really?]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

None of the guys we might lose on waivers are much more than bottom 6 forwards or bottom pairing Dmen.

The organization has those in spades. I wouldn't get too worried about it.

You’re probably correct, but Kuznetsov and Kerins have a chance to be something more. In respect to the other players the consideration is limited to what they might add to this season. In respect to K and K I would imagine the team has to consider the potential value of the player now as well as a couple of years from now. Clearly this year is of paramount concern right now, but Conroy has shown that he is cognizant of the future with every decision he is involved with, so all things being equal I imagine these players start the season in Calgary.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by HighLifeMan

I would really like Kuznetsov to get a legitimate look.

Not only did we invest decent draft capital into him, but he has shown a steady progression every season to date with him being our most reliable defender with the Wranglers last season. I am not sure how much more a guy with his skillset can show in the AHL.

Bean and Miro have proven time and time again to be nothing more than depth pieces that quite frankly can't even defend reliably at an NHL level.

That's where I'm at too.

I think Kuznetsov is the number one guy to protect and not gamble.

Greater value than Morton or Kerins.

[shutout]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...025-preseason/

Pronman with two Flames that could be waiver targets.

Jérémie Poirier, LHD, Calgary Flames
Poirier has been a highly productive AHL defenseman and is coming off a 42-point season. He has the mobility and skill of an NHL player. His defensive play has always been a significant issue, and that’s continued to be the case. Still, we could see him claimed if a team is craving a power-play quarterback type just to see how it would go in the NHL, as he’s yet to play a game in the league.

Rory Kerins, C, Calgary Flames
Kerins, a sixth-round pick from 2020, exploded for 33 goals and 61 points in 63 games as a 22-year-old in the AHL last season. He has a long track record of impressive production, dating back to his junior days when he piled up 118 points in 67 games during his draft-plus-two season in the OHL. Kerins even chipped in with four points in five NHL games during a midseason recall in January. He’s followed it up with an impressive, productive start to this preseason, but there’s no guarantee it’ll land him a roster spot, because the Flames are crowded with depth forwards and his undersized 5-foot-11 frame may not be ideal for a bottom-of-the-lineup role.

Young centers with scoring upside aren’t easy to come by, so if Kerins fails to make the Flames, he could be worth a claim.

Of note he also has Samuel Helenius, C, Los Angeles Kings on the list.
Helenius and Kerins are the only two centers on the list.