15-05-2025
FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: Under-25 power rankings at centre position
Power rankings are always great for debate.
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In this case, it's not just the pecking order that should spark conversation.
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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?
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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).
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1. CONNOR ZARY
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Age: 23
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
