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Jonathan Castagna overjoyed to be joining the Calgary Flames: 'I'm super happy'

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
|
Mar 10 2026, 5:12 pm
Jonathan Castagna overjoyed to be joining the Calgary Flames: 'I'm super happy'

The potential opportunity of playing for a Canadian franchise has Jonathan Castagna smiling from ear to ear.

The 22-year-old junior star at Cornell was traded for the first time in his career at this year’s trade deadline, serving as part of a package that sent him from the Utah Mammoth to the Calgary Flames in exchange for MacKenzie Weegar.

The move not only allowed the Flames to acquire Olli Maatta and three second-round picks, but also added another intriguing prospect in Castagna as the organization continues working through its rebuilding phase.

The young centreman couldn’t hide just how thrilled he was after learning about the deal.

“I’m really excited,” Castagna said in an exclusive chat with Daily Hive. “One of the things that was happening after the trade happened was all my teammates were calling me like ‘Hey man, are you okay?’ I said ‘Guys, honestly, I’m super happy. I’m excited.’

“Calgary’s definitely a spot that I can see myself being in, and I do want to be there. I’ve heard nothing but great things about the organization. I’ve spoken to all the leadership from the top down and they seem like really good people. There could be some opportunity there for me, which is really cool in itself.”

Castagna first learned he could be part of the trade roughly an hour before the news broke. Once his agent confirmed he would indeed be included, the excitement only grew.

“It was a pretty cool situation — kind of like I got drafted all over again,” he said. “I was taking phone calls left, right, and centre. It’s definitely a situation that I’m grateful to be in, and one that I’m sure a lot of people would love to be in.”

It’s easy to see why the Flames targeted Castagna. Not only is he a natural centreman, but he’s also in the midst of a strong season with Cornell. Through 29 games, he has a team-leading 14 goals and 32 points.

Castagna describes himself as a player capable of contributing in all situations.

“I would say I’m a 200-foot centreman. I have a tenacious bite to my game, and I like to bring physicality and just be a presence on the ice. I’m also pretty detail-oriented, so I like to think I can contribute on both sides of the puck — whether defensively, on the penalty kill, faceoffs, or in-zone coverage. I also have some offensive potential as well.”

The offensive side of his game, in particular, has taken a noticeable step forward this season. After a strong freshman campaign, his numbers dipped slightly in 2024-25. The uptick is something he attributes largely to experience and opportunity.

“There’s not really a certain thing that I’ve started doing or anything that I’ve drastically changed in my game,” he said.

“It’s pretty cool because it shows how experience and maturity as you move up through the years in college really does play a large role. Being trusted a little bit more on the team, being an older guy, and being in positions where you can thrive has been helpful.”

For Castagna, the development process has simply been about patience.

“Just trusting the process as I’ve been going through college and knowing that I’m developing and growing every year in the technicalities of my game.”

One thing many Flames fans quickly noticed following the trade was that Castagna — selected 70th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft — has yet to sign an entry-level contract.

While his focus remains on finishing the college season, he made it clear he would welcome the opportunity to join the Flames organization if the chance arises.

“The only thing I can give you at the moment is that I’m really happy to be a part of the organization,” he said. “I could see myself being a Flame. There’s no barriers there. If the opportunity presents itself, I don’t see why not.”

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