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Calgary Flames sign top prospect and he's reporting to the team immediately

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
|
Apr 2 2025, 8:34 pm
Calgary Flames sign top prospect and he's reporting to the team immediately
@umasshockey/Instagram

The Calgary Flames have signed forward prospect Aydar Suniev to a three-year, entry-level contract.

The 20-year-old winger has excelled in each of his two seasons with UMass-Amherst. In 35 games this past season, he scored 20 goals and 38 points, both of which were second amongst his teammates.

The Flames announced the signing this afternoon, while also confirming that the contract will carry an average annual value of $923,333.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman has confirmed that Suniev will report to the Flames. This means that the first year of his deal will be burned off following the conclusion of the 2024-25 season. What it also means is that there is a strong chance we see him suit up for a few NHL games down the stretch.

The Flames were the team who took Suniev in the third round of that 2023 draft, though the pick actually came there way from the New Jersey Devils. It was part of the package, which also included Yegor Sharangovich, in a trade two offseasons ago that saw Tyler Toffoli head the other way.

Going into the draft, Suniev was coming off of a season with the Penticton Vees of the BCHL in which he managed 45 goals and 90 points in only 50 games. Those are very impressive totals, though teams are often leery of taking Jr. A players in the early stages of drafts. That could work to the Flames’ benefit, as he’s quickly worked his way up the depth chart to the point that he is being viewed as one of the better forward prospects in the organization.

Suniev could wind up being the piece that proves the Toffoli trade to be worth it, as Sharangovich has really struggled in his second season with the Flames. Following a breakout campaign in 2023-24 that saw him score a career-high 31 goals, he’s managed just 13 through 65 outings this season.

It may take a bit of time for Suniev to get in some NHL action given that the Flames still do have a slim chance of getting into the playoffs. Should they fall out of the race entirely, however, fans can expect to see him get an opportunity.

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