There are two teenagers on the Calgary Flames’ opening roster, although it’s possible only one will be in the lineup for Wednesday’s curtain-raiser against the arch-rival Edmonton Oilers.
With a pair of veteran forwards unavailable due to injury, 19-year-old winger Matvei Gridin is poised to log his NHL debut at Rogers Place.
Zayne Parekh, meanwhile, could be watching from the press box. Based on Monday’s practice pairs, it appears the blue-line blue-chipper will be scratched for Game 1 of the new season.
“It feels great to make the team,” beamed Gridin, who forced his way onto the roster with three goals — and one filthy shootout snipe — in exhibition action. “I’m proud just that I was able to show my game and how I can play. Like I’ve said before, happy to score goals and bring my best on the ice.”
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This marks the first time in the 2000s that a pair of teens cracked Calgary’s initial roster, but Monday’s news from the Saddledome was somewhat bittersweet.
Flames head coach Ryan Huska confirmed that Jonathan Huberdeau and Martin Pospisil would be unavailable against the Oilers. Both have been stashed on injured reserve to start the new season, with Sam Honzek called up from the AHL’s Wranglers as a reinforcement. (With a back-to-back right out of the gates, which includes Thursday’s clash against the Canucks in Vancouver, the Flames didn’t want to hit the road with only a dozen forwards.)
Calgary Flames forward Sam Honzek battles against Seattle Kraken forward Eeli Tolvanen in first-period pre-season NHL action at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025.
Asked after Monday’s practice if the absences of Huberdeau and Pospisil would be short-term, Huska replied: “That’s my hope.”
Indeed, they’ll be missed on opening night — and for however much longer they’re out.
Huberdeau notched 28 goals and 62 points last season, second on the team in both categories. The 32-year-old left-winger was injured on a head-first, net-front collision in the late stages of Wednesday’s pre-season loss to the Vancouver Canucks and hasn’t been spotted on the ice since.
Pospisil rubbed more shoulders than any other Flames player during the 2024-25 campaign, finishing third in the league with 301 hits. The 25-year-old exited early from Monday’s practice, the latest sign of a nagging injury.
Calgary Flames forward Jonathan Huberdeau battles Vancouver Canucks forward Aatu Räty in second-period pre-season NHL action at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025.
Gridin will sub in Huberdeau’s spot alongside centre Morgan Frost and right-winger Matt Coronato, while Pospisil’s absence means that the Flames will likely roll with a fourth line of Justin Kirkland, Ryan Lomberg and Yegor Sharangovich. Honzek, who appeared in five NHL games last season, could also be in that mix.
Unless Huska adjusts his plans prior to Wednesday, Parekh and Daniil Miromanov will be the spare defencemen against the Oilers.
When the 19-year-old Parekh does don his game jersey, he’ll have new digits on the back. He’s switched to No. 19 — last worn by Matthew Tkachuk.
Calgary Flames defenceman Zayne Parekh battles Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025.
Gridin will go with No. 92, which has been collecting dust since Michael Nylander’s stint at the Saddledome in the 90s.
“We’re excited about both these young guys,” Huska said. “We’re looking forward to having them around.”