October 6, 2025
Matvei Gridin’s Preseason Puts the Calgary Flames in a Bind
Every NHL preseason, narratives emerge from the fog of exhibition hockey. Most are fleeting—a veteran finding his legs, a journeyman trying to hang on. But every so often, a prospect doesn’t just knock on the door; he tries to kick it down. For the Calgary Flames, prospect Matvei Gridin’s preseason performance has created the best kind of problem for management: a genuine, difficult decision. The 2024 first-round pick has been so dynamic, so undeniably effective, that he has forced his way from “one to watch” to “what do we do with him?” Letting the Puck Do the Talking When it