Big summer for several Calgary Wranglers hoping to make fulltime jump to the NHL

Several players with the Calgary Wranglers are looking to make the full-time switch to the NHL after subbing in for the Calgary Flames this season.

In his first full season with the Calgary Flames organization, forward Aydar Suniev made an impression.

In 57 games with the Wranglers, he scored 16 goals, added eight assists and got better as the season wore on.

That earned the 21-year-old a six-game audition with the Flames to close out the season. It gave him a ton of confidence heading into next year.

“Obviously it’s a big summer for me and (one) where can I get better,” Suniev said.

“I played six games in the NHL at the end of the year and now I know what that’s like and what I need to bring to be the best version of myself.”

First callup for Stromgren

Twenty-two-year-old William Stromgren also got his first callup with the big club this season. He played three games with the Flames and says he learned a lot.

“You always see how these guys work and everything but it’s just good being there,” the forward said.

“I think just being around people that play at that level and stay at that level, you just kind of look and learn what they do.”

Whatever it takes

Twenty-three-year-old forward Brennan Othmann was acquired from the New York Rangers organization in March in exchange for Jacob Battaglia.

He got into two games with the Flames, scoring a goal and adding an assist. Othmann has played 44 games in the NHL and thinks he knows what it will take to stay.

“I’m not afraid to hit or to fight and show my true colours out on the ice,” he said.

“I just want to be given a fair chance and opportunity to show that and hopefully I can earn that going into September and October next year.”

The goal for all those players is to become fulltime NHLers. Wranglers veterans like Rory Kerins and Sam Morton say they’ll also put in the hard work over the summer and with hopes it pays off.

“(I’m) going into the off season with the mindset that I’m going to make the team next year,” the 24-year-old Kerins said.

“Just working a lot on speed work and doing things fast with the puck. I think that’s one of the biggest things for me.”

“For me it’s just consistency,” the 26-year-old Morton added.

“I know my role in both leagues, and that’s working hard and competing and just continue to do that and continue to get stronger.”