Flames Make Several Roster Moves
The Flames have made a series of transactions heading into their game against the Islanders. The team announced (Twitter link) that winger Matvei Gridin has been recalled from AHL Calgary. To make room on the roster, winger William Stromgren was sent back to the Wranglers. Additionally, defenceman Zayne Parekh was also sent down on a conditioning loan.
Gridin was a first-round pick by Calgary in 2024, going 28th overall. While he had a solid showing last season with QMJHL Shawinigan, he wasn’t expected to realistically contend for a roster spot in training camp. However, after potting three goals in six preseason contests, Gridin broke camp with the Flames and got into four games with them, picking up his first NHL goal before being sent down to the Wranglers a little more than a week into the season.
In the minors, Gridin has been quite impressive. He has 10 goals and 18 assists in 32 games with the Wranglers, good for a share of second overall among all rookies which has helped earn this promotion. Gridin can play up to five more games with the Flames this season without burning the first year of his entry-level contract so it will be interesting to see if the team intends to give him just a quick look or a longer opportunity that officially activates his deal.
As for Stromgren, he received his first NHL promotion earlier this month and was in and out of the lineup, getting into three games with the Flames altogether. The 22-year-old had a very limited role in those outings, playing just 7:17 per game while being held off the scoresheet. Stromgren has been one of the better playmakers for the Wranglers, however, picking up 23 assists in 33 contests. He’ll now get a chance to go back to playing a much more prominent role compared to the fourth-line minutes he was seeing with the big club.
Parekh, meanwhile, has yet to play since returning from playing for Canada at the World Juniors. The 19-year-old isn’t eligible to play full-time for the Wranglers but now that he has been scratched long enough, he is eligible for this conditioning stint which can last for up to two weeks. It seems likely that management will want him to play the full two weeks in the minors, meaning he won’t likely rejoin the Flames until the end of the month. Parekh, a top performer with OHL Saginaw to the tune of 203 points over his last two seasons, has one assist in 11 NHL contests while playing a little under 15 minutes per night of playing time.
Flames Recall William Stromgren
The Flames have recalled left wing prospect William Strömgren from the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers, per a team announcement. Calgary had been rolling with an open roster spot, so no corresponding transaction is required.
It will mark the 22-year-old’s NHL debut when he plays, although that won’t be tonight. He’s ticketed to be a healthy scratch against the Kraken, Wes Gilbertson of Postmedia reports.
Strömgren’s development has largely gone as anticipated since being drafted 45th overall by the Flames in 2021. The 6’4″ Swede spent two seasons after his draft getting limited minutes in his home country’s top league before making the move to North America.
It’s been a multi-year road, but Strömgren has firmly established himself as a top-line talent in the AHL. After breaking out for 14 goals and 49 points in 70 games for the Wranglers last year, he’s now the team’s leader in assists (23) and rating (+13) through 33 games in 2025-26.
There was worry Strömgren may have trouble standing out in a deep Calgary prospect pool – most didn’t view him as a top-10 talent in the system entering the season – but he’s done more than enough to ensure he stays on their internal radar. He’s been especially hot as of late, racking up four goals and nine points in his last five games, en route to being rewarded with his first NHL recall.
With John Beecher suspended (and injured), Strömgren could stick around as a 12th/13th forward for a while as the Flames evaluate where his checking game is at. One of his main knocks has been a lack of physicality for his tall frame. He’ll likely need to add that element into his game to transition into a fourth-line NHL role before eventually pushing to make an offensive impact in the Flames’ top nine.