The Calgary Flames have a rising star in their prospect pool, but his remarkable performance this fall wasn't enough to earn a coveted international call-up. Ethan Wyttenbach, a fifth-round selection, has emerged as the top-scoring freshman in the entire NCAA while playing for the Quinnipiac Bobcats.
World Junior Snubs Highlight Prospect Rankings
Despite his standout season, Wyttenbach's name was conspicuously absent when USA Hockey announced its camp roster for the upcoming world junior tournament on Monday. He wasn't the only Flames hopeful left off the list. Cullen Potter, another promising forward with game-changing speed and a strong summer showcase, was also overlooked.
This omission serves as a backdrop for the latest monthly power rankings of the Flames' most promising prospects, a feature where both Potter and Wyttenbach have made significant climbs. The list excludes players currently on the NHL roster, meaning top pick Zayne Parekh—who will be loaned to Team Canada for the tournament—is not included.
Top Prospects Making Their Mark
Leading the rankings once again is Matvei Gridin. The 19-year-old forward has been a force for the AHL's Calgary Wranglers, notching 20 points in 18 games. He recently put together a seven-game point streak and sits in the Top 10 of the AHL scoring race as its only teenager. Flames GM Craig Conroy recently acknowledged the pressure Gridin is putting on the big club to recall him.
Holding steady in the second spot is first-rounder Cole Reschny. The North Dakota Fighting Hawks centre tallied 11 points in seven games during November and stepped up massively last weekend, recording four assists and winning over 61% of his faceoffs in a two-game sweep. His all-around play keeps him in the conversation for a spot on Canada's world junior team.
Snubbed Prospects Respond on Ice
The snubbed Cullen Potter has climbed to third in the rankings. After a slow start, the Arizona State Sun Devil is on a seven-game point streak, has scored two game-winning goals recently, and fired a season-high seven shots on net on Black Friday. The 18-year-old from Minnesota will have to watch the world juniors in his home state this year but will be eligible again next season.
Then there's the story of Ethan Wyttenbach. The Quinnipiac forward has been the best story in the Flames' system this fall, exploding onto the scene as the NCAA's freshman scoring leader. His production has been impossible to ignore, making his exclusion from the USA Hockey camp all the more surprising. His continued development will be a key narrative to follow as the college hockey season progresses.
As the calendar turns to December, the Flames' prospect pipeline shows considerable depth, with several players forcing the hockey world to take notice, even if world junior selectors haven't yet.
