Patrick WilliamsTheAHL.com Features Writer
Nothing to play for you? The Calgary Wranglers disagree.
Calgary entered Place Bell this weekend and took three of four points from the team in first place in the North Division.
The Wranglers will not join the Laval Rockets and 22 other teams in the Calder Cup Playoffs this spring. It’s the first time a Calgary Flames affiliate has missed the postseason since 2019.
The Wranglers went 6-0-2-0 at the beginning of the season, but things started to go wrong after the New Year. Calgary comes to Laval on an eight-game losing streak and a 5-21-3-3 record dating back to Jan. 2.
But none of that matters on Friday. The Wranglers put together one of their best efforts of the season, scoring five times in 8:31 of the second period and holding the Rockets to 18 shots on goal in a 5-2 victory. Rory Kerinswho returned to the lineup after playing 12 games, leading the way with two goals and two assists.
Play-off-bound or not, late-season play always holds meaning. Managers and coaches continue to evaluate talent for next season with both the Flames and Wranglers. And there are always 31 other NHL organizations to impress as well.
Calgary bounced back on Saturday afternoon and picked up another point in a 4-3 final loss, with Martin Frk two goals in the third period – including the equalizer with 1:43 left. Kerins added three more points, as well as a rookie Arsenii Sergeev made 42 saves, shutout Joshua RoyPenalty shot late in extra time.
So a rookie head coach Brett SutterThe club faces Abbotsford next weekend, then finishes the 2025-26 season with a two-game trip to Colorado. After that, the program will spread throughout the hockey world. Some players will return with the Wranglers next season. Perhaps some have ascended to the Flame. Some may opt out completely.
Krins, a restricted free agent at the end of the season, could be in the midst of a full-time role next season with the Flames. He has 53 points in 53 games with the Wranglers this year. Sergeev, a 2021 seventh-round pick, has shown he can handle the AHL after knocking off Penn State in the Frozen Four last year. The Dryden Hunttied for the team lead in scoring, is under contract for next season and gives the Flames a reliable NHL recall option that provides enough offense in the AHL. Matvei Gridin, Hunter Brzustewicz, Sam Morton, Brennan Othmann, William Strömgren again Daniel Miromanov they all saw him working with the Flames this season.
The key to these types of late-season games, is to maintain a team-first mentality. There is no room for the team to deviate from the team-centered structure. Statistics can come later. The Wranglers will be looking to finish strong in front of their home fans, then play spoiler against a Colorado team that is looking for a division title.
Calder Cup Playoff hopes may be over, but laying down work for next season has begun.
In the American Hockey League for two decades, TheAHL.com features writer Patrick Williams and currently covers the league for NHL.com and FloSports and is a regular contributor to SiriusXM NHL Network Radio. He was the recipient of the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for the league’s top scorer in 2016.
