With five AHL call-ups currently occupying the Calgary Flames roster, the organization is already reaping the benefits of having plenty of depth.
However, there are plenty more prospects where they came from.
It wouldn’t surprise anyone if Mark Jankowski, Andrew Mangiapane, Garnet Hathaway, Ryan Lomberg and David Rittich were soon joined in Calgary by Stockton Heat AHL all-star Rasmus Andersson.
By all accounts, the 21-year-old Swedish defenceman is ready to make the jump one quarter of his former AHL teammates have already made this year.
He heads up the list of prospects GM Brad Treliving has worked hard to build the past four years.
THE TOP 5 PROSPECTS
1. Rasmus Andersson, 21, D, Stockton Heat
Drafted: Second round, 53rd overall, 2015
Season to date: 36 GP | 4 G | 21 A | 25 PTS | +15
Those who watch the Stockton Heat regularly find it almost laughable Andersson is still in the minors. However, with the depth of the Flames blue line it will take an injury for the right-handed playmaker to be summoned.
2. Dillon Dube, 19, LW, Kelowna Rockets
Drafted: Second round, 56th overall, 2016
Season to date: 32 GP | 22 G | 27 A | 49 PTS | +11
The Kelowna Rockets star paced Canada’s power play and penalty kill at the world juniors where he was captain of the gold medal winners. Can play wing or up the middle, which is symbolic of the fact he can do everything. A leader who could push for a serious NHL look next year.
3. Tyler Parsons, 20, G, Stockton Heat
Drafted: Second round, 54th overall, 2016
Season to date: 22 GP | 11-9-0 | 2.97 GAA | .908 SP (ECHL)
The former world junior/Memorial Cup champion has spent most of his season in Kansas City of the ECHL, but recently played a game-and-a-half with Stockton where he currently plays.
The Flames want to make sure he gets as much playing time as possible, so will keep moving him to where the starts are.
4. Juuso Valimaki, 19, D, Tri-City Americans
Drafted: First round, 16th overall, 2017
Season to date: 20 GP | 5 G | 15 A | 20 PTS | +6
Valimaki has battled injuries all year, including an ailment that kept him sidelined after the world juniors until this week.
The Finnish defenceman continues to be a point-a-game player as he was last year in Tri-City. The injuries could hurt his chances of pushing for a big league spot next year.
5. Adam Fox, 19, D, Harvard University
Drafted: Third round, 66th overall, 2016
Season to date: 17 GP | 0 G | 12 A | 12 PTS | +4
The sophomore at Harvard is one of the names every team asks about when discussing possible trades with the Flames.
Smart, versatile and a two-time world junior star for the Americans, Fox is the total package.
REASON FOR OPTIMISM
Spencer Foo, 23, RW, Stockton Heat
Acquired: Free agent in 2017
Season to date: 39 GP | 12 G | 12 A | 24 PTS | +2
It took a while for the college hot shot to get acclimated to the pro game, but in the past dozen games he’s re-established himself as the top prospect they signed him to be.
He’s regained his confidence to the point he’s back in the conversation to potentially make the big jump at some point this year, should injury dictate it.
Foo was just named AHL player of the week with two goals and three assists in his past two, as part of a four-game streak. He’s the first Flames prospect to be so-honoured since Sven Baertschi.
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