The Calgary Flames have recalled forward Rory Kerins from the AHL's Calgary Wranglers as the team prepares for the final stretch of its 2025-26 season, marking the second NHL call-up for the 24-year-old this year.
The move comes after the Flames exhausted their final "regular" roster recall opportunity following the trade deadline. Kerins, a native of Caledon, Ontario, will look to make an impact over Calgary's remaining two games — a home matchup against Colorado on Tuesday and a closing contest against Los Angeles on Thursday.
From Prospect to Real Contributor
Kerins has shown considerable growth through the Flames' farm system over the past two seasons. After a modest start to his professional career with limited production, the left-shot forward broke through this season with impressive offensive numbers in the AHL, posting 33 goals and 61 points over 63 games last year — a performance that earned him his first five-game NHL trial, during which he contributed four assists.
This season, Kerins has continued his productive pace with 22 goals and 54 points through 55 games with the Wranglers, demonstrating the kind of offensive consistency that could make him a fixture in Calgary's future plans.
A Player Built for Scoring
What makes Kerins particularly valuable is his skill at finding prime real estate in the offensive zone. The 24-year-old has made a living positioning himself around the blue paint to finish plays — perhaps the most difficult skill in hockey to master consistently.
"He's a really talented offensive player, particularly in finding open space to score goals," noted observers tracking the prospect's development. "He's not a complete player by any stretch, but he's quite good at doing the hardest thing to do in hockey."
Kerins was drafted in the sixth round of the 2020 NHL Draft following a stellar junior season with the OHL's Soo Greyhounds, where he posted 30 goals and 59 points as a 17-year-old. His junior career only improved from there, eventually earning him his entry-level contract with Calgary.
Final Roster Adjustments
With Kerins' activation, the Flames' active roster now stands at 28 players: two goalers, eight defencemen, and 18 forwards. The call-up represents Calgary's final significant roster move as the organization prepares to evaluate its roster composition heading into the off-season.
Kerins remains a pending restricted free agent, and strong performances in these final games could strengthen his negotiating position heading into contract discussions.
This story is based on reporting from FlamesNation.ca. Read the original article here.