FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: Which left wingers could Calgary target at 2025 NHL Draft?
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The expectation is that the Calgary Flames will look to add some top-end talent at centre with the first of their first-round draft pick in this year's draft.
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That doesn't mean they won't be adding any left wingers, though, and, if there's a talent that stands out, maybe the Flames will feel compelled to take a swing.
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Here's a look at a few of the draft-eligible wingers we think the Flames might find interesting, whether that's at No. 18 overall or a little later:
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Measurements: 6-foot-2, 190 lbs.
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The skinny: While the NHL's official draft rankings have Zonnon listed as a right winger, he is generally considered a left winger and played mostly at centre this season in the QMJHL. That sort of versatility can only be a good thing, right? If his future did wind up in the middle of the ice, that could only serve the Flames well. It's not just his versatility that makes him intriguing. After a solid rookie year that saw him collect 18 goals and 40 assists for Rouyn-Noranda, his numbers jumped dramatically this season and he finished with 83 points in 64 games — that saw him finish ahead of prized Flames prospect Matvei Gridin in the QMJHL scoring race. Praised for his hockey IQ, competitiveness and skill with the puck, Zonnon went from being projected as a second-round pick at the start of the year to a first-rounder by season's end. Will he be available when the Flames step to the podium for their second first-round pick of the night on June 27? That doesn't seem super likely.
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Michal Svrcek
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The skinny: Between Sam Honzek and Martin Pospisil, the Flames already have pretty solid young Slovakian representation. Why not add another? Svrcek is flat-out fast and is credited with a high compete level and a relentless ability to drive offence. His size is the big knock against him, with some scouting reports suggesting he needs to spend some significant time in the weight room before he is ready for the NHL. That's true of a lot of up-and-coming prospects, though, and that likely won't scare teams off of taking him in the second round. He's coming from the same Brynas IF program as William Stromgren, who will be looking to push for NHL playing time with the Flames next year, and seems like the type of high-reward talent the Flames would consider taking a swing on outside of the first round.
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