The Calgary Flames didn’t have a single name on the NHL’s waiver dump Sunday.
This is a relief for Daniil Miromanov — and for any other waiver-eligible veterans who may have worried about their immediate job security, as it guarantees they will start the season on the NHL roster.
The decision to keep the 28-year-old Miromanov will spark some frustration among fans who have been calling for the Flames to demote their eighth defenceman to the AHL’s Wranglers.
And what does Sunday’s news — or lack thereof — mean for rookie winger Matvei Gridin?
That remains a bit of a guessing game.
The Flames are still carrying 24 players on their active roster — two goalies, eight rearguards and 14 forwards.
That number must be trimmed to 23 by Monday’s 1 p.m. MT deadline.
That leaves general manager Craig Conroy with a few options as he finalizes his initial crew …
Option 1: Huberdeau to injured reserve, Gridin stays
Jonathan Huberdeau hasn’t been spotted on the ice since he was injured Wednesday on a net-front collision and there hasn’t been much in the way of an update — only that he’s “day-to-day.”
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It’s possible the 32-year-old left-winger skated on his own over the weekend, but if that’s not the case, it raises the likelihood that Huberdeau won’t be available for the start of the season and makes him a candidate for a stint on the injured reserve.
This is hardly a preferable option as it would be a significant absence for a squad that leans heavily on ‘Huby’ as a key piece of their attack and focal point of their power-play. He was Calgary’s second-leading scorer last season with 28 goals and 62 points.
If Huberdeau does land on injured reserve, the Flames wouldn’t need to make any further cuts, so Gridin would be sticking around.
Option 2: Gridin assigned to AHL’s Wranglers
This wouldn’t be a popular decision, but it can’t be ruled out just yet. It is, after all, the easiest route.
Gridin does not require waivers to be assigned to the minors, so the Flames could simply announce Monday morning that they’re sending the 19-year-old speedster to the farm.
Matvei Gridin puts the puck past Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025.
While Conroy & Co. wouldn’t have to worry about losing Gridin to another organization, the risk here is sending the wrong message.
The brass at the Saddledome have been adamant that they will reward youngsters who earn the opportunity, and there’s no arguing that Gridin was among the Flames’ biggest bright spots during exhibition action. The first-year pro scored three pre-season goals and also sniped a shootout beauty in Seattle.
Head coach Ryan Huska has stressed that he doesn’t want to keep an up-and-comer around as a spare, so if Gridin makes the grade, he should be in the lineup for Wednesday’s opener against the arch-rival Oilers in Edmonton.
Option 3: Parekh returned to the OHL
This would be a jaw-dropper.
Everybody is anticipating that blue-line blue-chipper Zayne Parekh, also 19, is a lock for the Flames’ opening roster.
Unlike Gridin, Parekh isn’t eligible to skate in the AHL this season — it’s a bit of a complicated rule that varies depending on where you played during your draft year — so he either needs to remain with the NHL club or be returned to the Ontario Hockey League’s Saginaw Spirit.
Parekh won’t benefit much from another dominating campaign against junior competition, so we can’t see Conroy going this direction.
Calgary Flames defenceman Zayne Parekh battles Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025.
Option 4: Swing a trade
Another unlikely scenario, since most rival GMs are struggling to whittle their numbers, not looking to add to them.
But perhaps Conroy’s phone will ring with an offer that he can’t refuse, especially one that might help to clear his logjam of wingers.
We don’t mean to complicate matters, but there’s also the potential for a trade — or a waiver claim — that would add to the crowd in Calgary. Is there somebody available who Conroy has coveted or an appealing proposal from a team that is desperate to clear a cap crunch?
While Rasmus Andersson’s name has been in the rumour mill for months already, it seems certain he will open the season as one of the Flames’ big-minute blue-liners and locker-room leaders. The pending free agent will likely draw shutdown duties Wednesday against another guy in the final year of his contract — Oilers superstar Connor McDavid.