The Calgary Flames have made their first significant round of training camp cuts halfway through preseason. 13 players have been sent to the Calgary Wranglers.
13 Cut From Calgary Camp
With Wranglers’ training camp set to start on Monday, Sept. 29, the moves are a routine step towards prepping the farm team for the upcoming AHL season. But buried in the shuffle is a name that continues to raise questions: Jeremie Poirier.
A 2020 third-round pick at 72nd overall, he has been one of the Wrangler’s most productive defencemen since turning pro. Poirier has consistently put up strong numbers from the blue line. He has ranked among the AHL’s leaders in scoring for defenceman.
There are several factors at play. The Flames’ defensive depth is established and stable, with a strong core capable of putting up big minutes and remaining healthy to not warrant the need to make call-ups to fill in for players on the IR. It’s a blessing in stability but a curse for younger players trying to break through. And with Zayne Parekh likely to get the nod to make the opening night roster, any of the youthful offensive-minded defensemen in the Flames’ system, like Poirier, may not be needed. Additionally, one of the most glaring factors on Poirier’s resume has been maintaining his health. His 2023-24 season with the Wranglers was riddled with injuries and health setbacks, with his diagnosis of appendicitis at the beginning of the 2023 Flames’ training camp bringing that campaign for an opening night roster spot was cut short.
A Big Question
This leads to the central question: if the trade rumours come to fruition and Rasmus Andersson is moved, does Poirier finally get his opportunity? Or will the Flames continue to opt for an established veteran, continuing their pattern of preferring reliability over an injection of new talent? The question will signal much about the Flames’ wider scope of how they look to shape their team throughout this rebuild. Promoting Poirier would suggest faith in their development processes. Sure, injuries are part of the game, but if anything, Poirier’s rebound year last season should underscore his resilience.
Additional Cuts
Beyond that, the broader picture of these roster moves also highlights the Flames’ depth chart crowding. Several members of the Wranglers’ 2025 playoff run were cut, including Parker Bell (LW), Lucas Ciona (LW), Martin Frk (RW), Alex Gallant (RW), and David Silye (C). The likely suspects, as these names are on the older side and likely to finish their careers in the minors, but with the occasional depth call-up to the main squad. But they simply reinforce the challenge of breaking into this roster already packed with veterans.
Meanwhile, a younger group of players with shorter resumes has also been sent down to the A for further development. Andrew Basha came into training camp fresh off four seasons with the reigning WHL champion Medicine Hat Tigers. Carter King, Simon Mack, and Carter Wilkie all had brief stints with the Wranglers following their respective NCAA seasons. Etienne Morin is also coming in from a league championship with the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL. Connor Murphy saw time after a call-up from the Flames’ ECHL affiliate, Rapid City Rush. And Arsenii Sergeev has also been sent to the Wranglers’ camp.
The Broader Issue
This mix of prospects demonstrates both the depth and the uncertainty facing Calgary’s development system. The broader issue is whether the Flames are willing to embrace internal growth as a strategy. Are these names are capable of contending for the playoffs? However, with the franchise caught between rebuilding and retooling, there’s an added question of whether the Flames have or need the star talent required to elevate the team to elite status.
Names like Poirier aren’t necessarily going to win a Cup for a team, but giving players like him a real shot seems both logical and necessary. Doing so shows the fruits of the labour of putting the resources and time into developing these young players and keeping them in the system long-term. Showcasing a homegrown prospect who has earned his stripes in the AHL that fans have watched grow into the player that he is now would serve as a beacon for times to come for the organization.
The Bottleneck
As the Flames’ roster continues to dwindle, names may fade into the background. But Poirier’s shouldn’t. His situation is representative of Calgary’s developmental bottleneck: a talented player producing at the lower level. However, he is unable to crack the glass ceiling above him due to a multitude of factors. But it’s not just him. This is a situation that is building up in the Flames’ organization for a number of players. It’s only a matter of time before decisions must be made on what to do with these assets.
Main Photo: Perry Nelson- Imagn Images
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