7th-round pick by the Flames<\/a> in the 2023 NHL draft, but also went in the 1st round of the CHL import draft that same year. Hurtig is primarily known as a stable, defensively oriented defender who plays an old-school physical shutdown style of hockey.<\/p>\nThe 6\u201905 defender spent his D+1 year splitting time between the Swedish J20 league and the SHL with the Rogue BK organization, before eventually opting to sign with the Calgary Hitmen in the summer of 2024.<\/p>\n
Since Hurtig\u2019s debut with the Hitmen, he has been a top-4 anchor for the CHL club, and although he lacks offensive flashiness, he has earned his teammates\u2019 respect through sheer work ethic and being a tough opponent.<\/p>\n
Not even a year later, in October of 2025, Hurtig was named the 33rd captain and first European captain in the history of the Hitmen.<\/p>\n
Hurtig\u2019s Season so far:<\/p>\n
Hurtig plays a defensive shut-down role for the Hitmen. His game is best highlighted by crushing physicality, capable puck movement, and good defensive habits. Hurtig\u2019s main areas of improvement include below-average skating, hockey IQ issues, and stiff shooting. <\/p>\n
This season, Hurtig has served in a first and\/or second-pairing role in Calgary with 22:56 of TOI. The Swede\u2019s special teams usage shows a limited role with only 33 seconds on the power play per game, but is a penalty kill staple with 2:41 per game. <\/p>\n
Additionally, Hurtig starts 69% of all shifts in the defensive zone. <\/p>\n
Elements of Hurtig\u2019s game:<\/p>\n
The first element that stands out in his game is his physicality; he is an intimidating, strong, physical pressure-exerter with high aggression, good muscle mass, and a high hit frequency. On average, he delivers 1.22 hits per game, while also receiving 1.44 hits against per game. <\/p>\n
Hurtig\u2019s gap control has a strong sense of angles\/space management, high aggression, and stick\/body usage to slow down opponent pace. This is largely where his hits come into play, as they can kill plays right at the blueline. If hitting doesn\u2019t work, Hurtig uses his body leverage and reach to mitigate risk. <\/p>\n
In his own zone, Hurtig employs clean pins and is incredibly relentless with board play, leveraging his frame well, disrupting plays, and being absolutely selfless with high-quality grit. He gets under sticks no problem, and shows stoic poise and calmness, even in high-pressure situations.<\/p>\n
Hurtig\u2019s 65% win percentage on his 14 puck battles per game demonstrates his physical effectiveness in tight, while his 11 takeaways to just six giveaways show his defensive relentlessness. <\/p>\n
The 7th rounder\u2019s grit goes hand in hand with his physicality as the Swede blocks 1.7 shots per game and routinely decreases play options for his opponents by putting his body on the line with tough, relentless tie-ups and physical mitigation. <\/p>\n
Despite having 30 shifts a game and 92 puck touches, Hurtig never gives less than 100%, hinting at advanced endurance and compete level. <\/p>\n
Strengths & Weaknesses<\/p>\n
Hurtig\u2019s puck management has also improved this season, as he is a capable outlet passer for the Hitmen. <\/p>\n
The defender has improved with more consistent pass placement, better basic vision, and smoother passing. In the 2025\u20132026 campaign, Hurtig dished out 23 passes per game, with a capable 86% accuracy. Unlike his previous seasons, he is scanning more and is willing to take bumps to make plays on breakouts.<\/p>\n
Although the 2023 draftee lacks elements of puck creativity, these passing habits and accuracy should translate to the AHL level at least. <\/p>\n
The main skating issues Hurtig faces are amplifying his stride recovery, power, and improving his pivots\/agility. His mobility is passable at the CHL level, but expect his stride, acceleration, and power generation to improve if he wants to keep up with professional players.<\/p>\n
Late pivots, low power, and inconsistent stride recovery are how defenders get burned at the professional levels.<\/p>\n
The 2005-born defender is also hampered by limited hockey sense, as he is constantly stuck processing plays, which translates to delayed awareness and less effective zone scanning. Additionally, Hurtig\u2019s creativity and instincts were absent, leading to limitations in pace and simple play creation. <\/p>\n
These hampered offensive instincts and habits are best exemplified by Hurtig\u2019s 0.25 scoring chances per game (with only a 9% conversion rate), 0.1 passes to the slot, and starting only 13% of all shifts in the offensive zone. <\/p>\n
A byproduct of these simple plays is the 20-year-old\u2019s low-danger shooting tendencies in the offensive zone. The Swede\u2019s shot needs improvements that display a cleaner shot release point, elevated deception, better lane recognition, and higher finishing ability. <\/p>\n
For the 2025\u20132026 campaign, Hurtig has a 0.08 goals expected rate.<\/p>\n
In general, Hurtig won\u2019t ever be a scoresheet machine at the AHL or NHL level, but the fundamental element is that he could pass to someone who will make more of that same opportunity.<\/p>\n
Where does Hurtig fit within the organization?<\/p>\n
The Calgary Flames certainly like their physical shutdown defenders. With the likes of Grushnikov, Phillips, Hurtig, White, Leander, and Jamieson all playing that same(ish) type of game, it\u2019s evident that they are really just looking for their next Chris Tanev(esque) defender. <\/p>\n
The question with Hurtig is: can he seperate himself from all of those other defenders that were listed to fit that niche with the Wranglers or the Flames? If his hockey sense improves and his puck skills continue to grow, Hurtig could see NHL time in the future.<\/p>\n
First, expect the newest signee to report to the Wranglers next season and see how he fares there first.<\/p>\n
NHL ETA: 4+ Years<\/p>\n
NHL Potential: Realistically, 7th defender, but possible 3rd pairing upside if everything goes right.<\/p>\n
Calgary Flames prospect updates<\/p>\n
AHL<\/p>\n
The Wranglers had mixed results this week, going 1\u20130\u20131. The Wranglers split a pair of games with the Laval Rockets. Calgary first picked up a 5\u20132 win on the 3rd, but lost 3\u20132 in the shootout the following day.<\/p>\n
With six games left in the AHL season, the Wranglers sit 9th in the AHL\u2019s Pacific Division. The Flames\u2019 AHL affiliate currently has a 21\u201332\u201315 record on the 2025\u20132026 season. <\/p>\n
With all the new signings of Gross and Castagna, expect both prospects to likely get in a couple of AHL games when they can. <\/p>\n
Defenceman Kyle Walker joined the Wranglers from the Reading Royals on a loan on the 1st. Forward Aydar Suniev got an emergency call-up to the Flames on the 2nd, and in a corresponding move, Brennan Othmann was reassigned to the AHL club that same day.<\/p>\n
ECHL<\/p>\n
Rapid City had another down week, losing a trio of games to the Tulsa Oilers, going 0\u20133\u20130.<\/p>\n
The Rush also sit outside of the playoffs, with a 27\u201334\u20136 record, and only have five games left in the ECHL regular season.<\/p>\n
There remain no Calgary Flames-affiliated prospects on the Rush. <\/p>\n
The Rush added a pair of forwards to their team on the fourth, with Will Portokalis joining from TMU (USports) and Teddy Lagerback from Stonehill College (NCAA).<\/p>\n
Europe<\/p>\n
Defensive prospect Jakob Leander appeared in one game this past week, a 3\u20132 SOW against BIK Karlskoga U20. <\/p>\n
Forward Theo Stockselius is in the midst of a playoff battle with Leksands IF U20. His team is currently up two games in the series and is lighting up the league with playmaking and clutch finishing ability. Before his game this past Sunday, the forward was on a 6-game playoff point streak.<\/p>\n
NCAA<\/p>\n
Maceo Phillips continues to be a stable physical shutdown defender for Muskegon. The 2025 3rd-rounder played his last pair of regular-season games against the Madison Capitols on the 3rd and 4th. Muskegon\u2019s playoff efforts begin on April 10th against Cedar Rapids.<\/p>\n
Flames defensive prospect Eric Jamieson and his University of Denver team play the #1-seeded University of Michigan on the 9th, in the NCAA semi-finals. Look for the defensively oriented Jamieson to be a reliable d-zone anchor for his team. <\/p>\n
UND looks to make a deep run this postseason after coming off a 3\u20130 shutout vs Merrimack College on the 26th, and a 5\u20130 shutout victory against Quinnipiac on the 28th. Wiebe, Reschny, and Littler are all expected to suit up for the Fighting Hawks when they play Wisconsin on April 9th.<\/p>\n
WHL<\/p>\n
Captain Axel Hurtig and the Calgary Hitmen swept the Brandon Wheat Kings in the first round of the WHL playoffs. Hurtig has been his usual shutdown self and has prominently generated some key elements of secondary offence, posting three points across his first four playoff games.<\/p>\n
Andrew Basha and the Medicine Hat Tigers bested the Regina Pats four games to one in the first round of the WHL playoffs. The dynamic forward enters the second round of the WHL playoffs, primed to play the Calgary Hitmen. Expect some stingy defensive efforts from the Hitmen to reduce Basha\u2019s production.<\/p>\n
Hunter Laing and the Blades beat the Edmonton Oil Kings in Game seven with an OT winner to secure their second-round matchup. Expect Laing to be a handful for the Prince Albert Raiders. <\/p>\n
Russia<\/p>\n
Krill Zarubin\u2019s AKM Tula\u2019s season is officially over after their pair of losses to (a Yegorov-less) MHK Spartak Moskva. AKM Tula lost 1\u20130 in OT on the 2nd, won 5\u20131 on the 3rd, but then dropped the follow-up game 1\u20130 in OT again.<\/p>\n
*Denotes playoff stats<\/p>\n
Forwards<\/p>\n
PlayerPositionGPGAPP\/GPPIMTeamLeagueRory KerinsC\/LW532132531.0016Calgary WranglersAHLBrennan OthmannLW\/RW36813210.5858Calgary WranglersAHLCullen PotterC\/LW241214261.0816Arizona State UniversityNCAACade LittlerC\/RW3558130.3728University of North DakotaNCAAHunter LaingC\/RW73581.144Saskatoon BladesWHLCarter KingC\/LW6358130.218Calgary WranglersAHLCole ReschnyC\/LW35629351.0022University of North DakotaNCAAJaden LipinskiC\/RW3039120.4033University of MaineNCAALuke MisaC\/LW37811190.512Penn State UniversityNCAATrevor HoskinsRW\/C341322351.0314Merrimack CollegeNCAATheo Stockselius*C\/LW756111.574Djurg\u00e5rdens IF U20U20 NatYan MatveikoC501522370.7420Krasnaya Armiya MoskvaMHLWilliam StromgrenLW\/RW621133440.7150Calgary WranglersAHLMatvei GridinLW\/RW371020300.8118Calgary WranglersAHLLucas CionaLW\/RW465490.2081Calgary WranglersAHLParker BellLW\/RW512350.1034Calgary WranglersAHLAndrew Basha*LW\/RW53691.804Medicine Hat TigersWHL:Aydar SunievLW\/RW55158230.4212Calgary WranglersAHLEthan WyttenbachLW\/RW402534591.4820Quinnipiac UniversityNCAAAiden LaneRW\/LW3467130.3818Harvard UniversityNCAAMax CurranC\/LW311427411.3223Edmonton Oil KingsWHLJonathan CastagnaC\/LW341519341.0031Cornell UniversityNCAATyson GrossC361823411.1430St. Cloud StateNCAA<\/p>\n
Defence<\/p>\n
PlayerGPGAPP\/GPPIMTeamLeagueYan Kuznetsov100220.202Calgary WranglersAHLEtienne Morin381560.1610Calgary WranglersAHLArtyom Grushnikov551120.0419Calgary WranglersAHLJacob Leander*70330.434HV71U20 NatHunter Brzustewicz3449130.388Calgary WranglersAHLAxel Hurtig*41230.750Calgary HitmenWHLHenry Mews100990.906University of MichiganNCAAEric Jamieson41710170.4145University of DenverNCAAMace\u2019o Phillips44110110.254Green Bay GamblersUSHLAbram Wiebe39524290.746University of North DakotaNCAAGavin White 4838110.2312Calgary WranglersAHL<\/p>\n
Goaltenders<\/p>\n
PlayerGPGAASV%RecordSOTeamLeagueArsenii Sergeev273.22.8985\u201312-120Calgary WranglersAHLOwen Say193.36.8896-7-51Calgary WranglersAHLYegor Yegorov382.97.91813-17-61MHK Spartak-MAH MoskvaMHLKirill Zarubin*61.59.9443-1-20AKM TulaMHLDaniil Chechelev142.18.9234-6-10Olimpiya Kirovo-ChepetskVHL<\/p>\n
\n\tRelated<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The season is cooling down for the Flames as Europe\/Russia, the NCAA, and the CHL are all ending.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":548787,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5124],"tags":[895,26,5294,896,5,4],"class_list":{"0":"post-548786","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-calgary-flames","8":"tag-calgary","9":"tag-calgary-flames","10":"tag-calgaryflames","11":"tag-flames","12":"tag-hockey","13":"tag-nhl"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nhl\/116375267767529644","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/548786","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=548786"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/548786\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/548787"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=548786"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=548786"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=548786"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}