Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Options Author
Nothing to play for? The Calgary Wranglers disagree.
Calgary went into Place Bell this weekend and took three of 4 factors from the North Division’s first-place workforce.
The Wranglers is not going to be becoming a member of the Laval Rocket and 22 different groups within the Calder Cup Playoffs this spring. It’s the primary time {that a} Calgary Flames affiliate will miss the postseason lower since 2019.
The Wranglers had a 6-0-2-0 stretch early within the season, however issues began unraveling after New Yr’s. Calgary received to Laval carrying an eight-game dropping streak and a 5-21-3-3 document since Jan. 2.
However none of that mattered Friday. The Wranglers put collectively one in every of their greatest efforts this season, scoring 5 occasions in a span of 8:31 through the second interval and held the Rocket to 18 pictures on purpose in a 5-2 victory. Rory Kerins, again within the lineup from a 12-game absence, led the way in which with two targets and two assists.
Playoff-bound or not, late-season play all the time retains which means. Administration and coaches proceed to judge expertise for alternatives subsequent season each with the Flames and Wranglers. And there are all the time 31 different NHL organizations on the market to impress as effectively.
Calgary got here again on Saturday afternoon and earned one other level in a 4-3 shootout loss, with Martin Frk scoring twice within the third interval – together with the equalizer with 1:43 to go. Kerins added three extra factors, and rookie Arsenii Sergeev made 42 saves, shutting down Joshua Roy’s penalty shot late in additional time.
So rookie head coach Brett Sutter’s membership heads dwelling to face Abbotsford subsequent weekend, then finishes the 2025-26 season with a two-game go to to Colorado. After that, the roster will scatter throughout the hockey world. Some gamers shall be again with the Wranglers subsequent season. Possibly some transfer as much as the Flames. Others might transfer on out altogether.
Kerins, a restricted free agent at season’s finish, might be within the combine for a full-time function subsequent season with the Flames. He has 53 factors in 53 contests with the Wranglers this 12 months. Sergeev, a 2021 seventh-round draft decide, has proven that he can deal with the AHL after backstopping Penn State to the Frozen 4 final 12 months. Dryden Hunt, tied for the workforce scoring lead, is underneath contract for subsequent season and gives the Flames a dependable NHL recall possibility who offers ample offense within the AHL. Matvei Gridin, Hunter Brzustewicz, Sam Morton, Brennan Othmann, William Strömgren and Daniil Miromanov have all seen motion with the Flames this season.
The important thing to these kind of late-season video games, although, is to maintain a team-first mentality. There isn’t any room for a gaggle to stray from a team-oriented construction. Statistics can come later. The Wranglers shall be seeking to end robust in entrance of the house followers, after which play spoiler towards a Colorado membership bidding for a division title.
Calder Cup Playoff hopes could also be gone, however laying down the work for subsequent season has already began.
On the American Hockey League beat for 20 years, TheAHL.com options author Patrick Williams additionally presently covers the league for NHL.com and FloSports and is a daily contributor on SiriusXM NHL Community Radio. He was the recipient of the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for his excellent protection of the league in 2016.
