The Flames placed eight players on waivers on Monday. They were Derek Ryan, Zac Rinaldo, Oliver Kylington, Buddy Robinson, Louis Domingue, Byron Froese, Justin Kirkland, and Alex Petrovic.
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1) Derek Ryan
The 34-year-old Derek Ryan scored 10 goals and 19 assists (for 29 points) in 68 games with the Flames last season. He also played in 10 postseason games.
Ryan was typically the Flames’ fourth-line center last season. However, now that Elias Lindholm and Sam Bennett are projected to play center during the 2020-21 regular season, Ryan will likely become a depth forward. If Ryan passes through waivers, he’ll be eligible for the taxi squad. Given his history with the team and his ability to contribute secondary scoring, should there be injuries Ryan would likely be one of the first players to enter games.
2) Zac Rinaldo
Zac Rinaldo was also placed on waivers Monday. Last season, Rinaldo played 19 games for the Flames and scored five points. Similar to other NHL teams, the Flames added a number of depth forwards during the offseason. Rinaldo, who’s known as a physical player, is likely to play with the Stockton Heat this season. With the aging but still physical Milan Lucic in the lineup, the Flames have the toughness category filled.
3) Oliver Kylington
Oliver Kylington was listed on waivers Monday. Because of immigration issues, Kylington arrived in training camp late. In fact, he made his first practice session with the Flames during the weekend.
That late arrival to camp probably didn’t help solidify the 23-year-old’s chance of finding a roster spot. Being placed on waivers probably means Kylington will start the season on the taxi squad or in the AHL.
4) Buddy Robinson
Buddy Robinson was placed on waivers Sunday. Last season Robinson played in five regular-season and one postseason game with the Flames. He also had 18 goals and 32 points in 45 contests with Stockton of the AHL in 2019-20.
It’s not likely the 29-year-old forward probably will see much NHL action during the 2020-21 season, falling behind both Milan Lucic and Zac Rinaldo as a big-body physical winger who could handle a checking-line role. Likely Robinson will spend most of his time in Stockton.
6) Louis Domingue
Domingue was placed on waivers Sunday. Domingue is slated to become the Flames’ No. 3 goalie for the 2020-21 season and needs to pass through waivers to be eligible for the taxi squad. Because Jacob Markstrom and David Rittich will share the team’s goalie job this season, the 28-year-old Domingue won’t likely see much action at the NHL level – if any.
In fact, even at Stockton Domingue might not play much. The Flames’ priority will be to have the 25-year-old Artyom Zagidulin play most of the games in Stockton’s this season. Zagidulin is projected to be the primary AHL starter this season and perhaps – one day soon – to vie for the Flames’ main job in net.
7) Alex Petrovic
Petrovic was placed on waivers Sunday. If Petrovic passes through waivers, which is likely, he’ll either be sent to Stockton or remain with the Flames on the team’s taxi squad. Given that Nikita Nesterov, Kylington, and Michael Stone all in a battle as one of the team’s depth defensemen, minutes for Petrovic are likely to be plentiful if he stays with the Flames. It could be that the 28-year-old Petrovic will spend much of the season in the minors.
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8) Byron Froese
Byron Froese was placed on waivers Sunday. Similar to his counterparts, Froese must pass through waivers in order to be either sent to Stockton or to join the Flames’ taxi squad. The last NHL action the 29-year-old was during the 2017-18 season. As a result, he’ll probably spend most of the season in the minors to provide forward depth for the Flames organization.
