With contract inked, can Rory Kerins score spot in Calgary Flames lineup?
Rory Kerins is now on the radar for full-time duties with the Calgary Flames.
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An afterthought last fall when he didn't even draw into the lineup for exhibition action, Kerins made a statement to the organizational brass by leading the AHL's Wranglers with 33 goals and 61 points.
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On his first career callup, he notched four assists over a five-game span.
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Kerins' quest to be an NHL regular continued Thursday when he inked a one-year, two-way contract with a cap-hit of US$775,000.
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Flames general manager Craig Conroy signed three restricted free agents in one swoop, also hammering out new deals with defencemen Yan Kuznetsov and Jeremie Poirier.
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'I think a lot about that stint up in the NHL, just how awesome it was and how much I learned,' Kerins told Postmedia toward the end of this past season. 'And I just think about how much I want to get back.'
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This 23-year-old forward definitely has earned a long look when training camp opens in September.
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It's no secret the Flames are seeking to generate more offence — they averaged just 2.68 snipes per game in 2024-25, ranking 29th in the league in that category — and one of the potential solutions is to promote the most dangerous marksman from your farm team. Kerins finished fourth in the AHL in goals and tied for 10th in points.
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While he was the Wranglers top centre for most of the season, Kerins worked the wing in his handful of appearances at the NHL level. The debate about his potential as a pivot always is focused on his ability to push the pace, something he has been determined to address in his sessions with skating coach Danielle Fujita.
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With Nazem Kadri, Mikael Backlund and Morgan Frost locked in, the Flames' only opening up the middle is in a fourth-line role and Justin Kirkland is the clear frontrunner for that job after inking a one-way deal.
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Trouble is, it's even more crowded on the wings. We will list nine names — in alphabetical order, Blake Coleman, Matt Coronato, Joel Farabee, Jonathan Huberdeau, Adam Klapka, Ryan Lomberg, Martin Pospisil, Yegor Sharangovich and Connor Zary — and remind you there only are eight every-night slots on the flank.
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His breakout campaign with the Wranglers, which included nine power-play markers, five game-winning goals and an invitation to the AHL All-Star Classic, certainly has put him in that mix.
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