When he was taken with the 28th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, not many knew his name. Now? Calgary Flames fans are raving over Matvei Gridin. After an outstanding training camp and preseason, Gridin was named to the opening night roster. Jonathan Huberdeau, starting the season on the IR, gave him the chance to make sure management doesn’t send him back down.

In game one, the 19-year-old Russian winger put on a clinic. He was easily the best Flame on the ice and was showing out. He had five shots on goal, which led the entire team and six shot attempts. According to Natural Stat Trick, he also provided two scoring chances to boot.

Gridin sparked the comeback with his first-career NHL goal in his first career game to make it a 3-1 game. While the bounce may have been lucky, he was knocking on the door the entire night, and thanks to him, the Flames won a season opener eerily similar to last season’s against the Canucks in Vancouver.

Playing Style

Gridin plays with a certain swagger that not many have, especially at his age. As Nazem Kadri would say, he is a dawg, and dawgs are oh so valuable to a team. Just about three minutes into the game, Gridin was rushing up the left-side boards with Evan Bouchard, the defenceman checking him. He effortlessly danced around him, getting in close to Stuart Skinner all alone. While nothing came out of the play, it is an excellent example of how the kid makes everyone play at his pace and dictates the play and flow himself when he is out there.

Someone who can be described as a dual-threat in the offensive zone, Gridin primarily showed his shooting prowess and play-driving last night. There weren’t too many opportunities for the youngster to highlight his playmaking as much. His skating has almost always been a strength of his, and yesterday it was on full display. When he danced by Bouchard, or was carrying the puck through the neutral zone. Gridin was not only quick on his feet, but his feet never stopped moving.

The game is a perfect stepping stone for Gridin, as he attempts to keep his spot in the lineup once both Huberdeau and Martin Pospisil return. There will be some setbacks along the way; however, as long as he continues to develop and produce, that is all that matters.

Where to go from here?

Moving on from game one – and now game two – there are still eighty games left in the season. Matvei Gridin can only go up from here. As he continues to shine and show out as the Flames’ best player, just as he did Wednesday night. It will remain to be seen whether or not he stays with the big team after a week or two. He certainly has a very good chance to stay up in the NHL.

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