FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: Under-25 power rankings at centre position
Power rankings are always great for debate.
In this case, it's not just the pecking order that should spark conversation.
As part of our Flames Retool Tracker, we'll be examining their current stockpile of under-25 talent at each position. What you'll notice on this list of centres is that several of these guys come with the same asterisk — does he more likely project as a winger at the NHL level?
We are not breaking news when we tell you the Flames are short on future faceoff men. This rundown will only reinforce that, although it's worth noting that a couple of candidates just aged out in Morgan Frost (26) and Sam Morton (25).
Without further ado, our power rankings of Calgary's current U-25 depth at the pivot position:
Age: 23
How acquired: Selected in first round, No. 24 overall, of 2020 NHL Draft.
Working in his favour: Zary loves to attack on offence and has both the hands and the moxie required to dance around a defender in a one-on-one scenario.
Still working on it: Could he become a better distributor? He collected just six even-strength assists in 54 games with the Flames this season.
Big-league potential: He's already a fixture and will feature in the top-six for a long time, but is that at centre or on left wing?
Earlier this week, we made the case the Flames must continue to invest in determining if Zary can be a difference-maker up the middle. That's why he lands in the top spot on this list. If not for injuries, Zary likely would have potted 20 goals this season and that's certainly a realistic target for 2025-26. As the Flames move across the street to Scotia Place, he will be both a fan fave and one of their most dangerous offensive weapons.
Age: 23
How acquired: Selected in sixth round, No. 174 overall, of 2020 NHL Draft.
Working in his favour: He's high on hockey sense and has that knack-for-the-net thing that is tough to teach.
Still working on it: Kerins has put in a lot of hours with Flames skating coach Danielle Fujita and, while he has made major gains, he is still striving to push his pace.
Big-league potential: Could he be a middle-six sort who also contributes on the power-play?
Kerins worked the wing during his five-game call-up in January, but he was primarily a centre during a breakthrough campaign with the Wranglers. While he doesn't do anything that is going to drop your jaw, Kerins just finds a way to produce offence, plain and simple. With 33 goals and 61 points, he was the youngest dude to finish inside the Top 10 in the AHL's scoring race. He already has four assists on his NHL stat sheet.
Age: 23
How acquired: Signed in April as a college free agent.
Working in his favour: A two-time NCAA champion with the Denver Pioneers, King has gobs of that winning know-how that the Flames value so highly.
Still working on it: King has high hockey IQ, but as he transitions to the pro game, he'll be challenged to process everything a little faster.
Big-league potential: How about a bottom-six centre who can also log a steady shift on the penalty kill?
This Calgary-raised centre was the Flames' top target in college free agency and there's a realistic route for King to live out his childhood dream with his hometown team. This lefty does a lot of little things right. He had strong faceoff stats in the NCAA and since that has been an organizational weakness, it could be King's key to a call-up.
Age: 19
How acquired: Selected in fifth round, No. 150 overall, of 2024 NHL Draft.
Working in his favour: Misa can wheel and has the skills and smarts to play with top-end talent.
Still working on it: The Flames are stressing to Misa that a guy his size — he's listed at 5-foot-10 and 176 pounds — must always be the most competitive cat on the ice.
Big-league potential: You hear a lot of comparisons to Andrew Mangiapane, who is now nearing 500 games as a trustworthy two-way type, albeit on the flank.
While not as big or as highly touted as his younger brother Michael, who will be a lottery pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, this Misa is also on an encouraging trajectory. After averaging 1.26 points per game across his past two campaigns in the OHL, the Flames hopeful is headed to Penn State. His stature suggests he may ultimately wind up on the wing, but he led the Brampton Steelheads in faceoff wins this winter.
FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: Could Carter King be solution at centre?
FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: The case to continue auditioning Connor Zary at centre
FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: The state of the centre position
Age: 20
How acquired: Selected in fourth round, No. 112 overall, of 2023 NHL Draft.
Working in his favour: At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, Lipinski has a prototypical power-forward frame. Unlike the others on these power rankings, he also has a righty curve on his stick.
Still working on it: His skating must continue to improve as he chases his NHL dream.
Big-league potential: If he can complete the climb, he'd likely fit as a hard-to-play-against fourth-liner.
Lipinski committed earlier this week to the NCAA's Maine Black Bears. The Flames initially were facing a June 1 deadline to get his signature on an entry-level deal, but it's believed they will now retain his rights as he continues his development. Lipinski put up 58 points in 59 games as an overager with the WHL's Vancouver Giants. He is an ace at the faceoff dot, winning 58.2% this season.
wgilbertson@postmedia.com
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