• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Other Leagues
AHL

Flames Prospect Ryan Culkin Eyes The AHL

By Ryan Pike September 14th, 2013

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

For many, one of the more intriguing stories over the past few years has been the gradual resurrection of the Calgary Flames prospect pool. Once thought to be rather barren during the tenure of former general manager Darryl Sutter, the Flames have revitalized their farm and development system, aided by some savvy drafting over the past three or four seasons. The 2012 draft class included several big names, such as first rounder Mark Jankowski, rugged blueliner Patrick Sieloff and big-bodied goaltender Jon Gillies – the latter two of which won gold with the American entry at the 2013 World Juniors.

Ryan Culkin (bottom) could turn pro this season. (photo courtesy "bc-chris" at the CalgaryPuck forums)

Ryan Culkin (bottom) could turn pro this season. (photo courtesy “bc-chris” at the CalgaryPuck forums)

However, one player may beat all these highly-touted prospects to the professional ranks.

Drafted in the fifth round of the 2012 NHL Draft by the Flames, defenseman Ryan Culkin has found himself in a unique situation at this year’s training camp.

On one hand, he’s 19 years old and heading into his over-age year with the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts as a 1993 birthday. His post-draft season saw him nearly double his offensive production (from 25 to 45 points) while serving as an alternate captain for Quebec. If he heads back to the club, he’ll likely get a lot of ice time and be relied upon as one of the team’s offensive cornerstones and on-ice leaders. If the Remparts aren’t in the championship hunt, he’d be a highly sought-after commodity at the QMJHL trade deadline, as well.

On the other hand, due to a quirk in the NHL’s operating agreement with the Canadian Hockey League – of which the QMJHL is a member – he can elect to go pro and play in the American Hockey League. It’s his December birthday that qualifies him, as it would any player in his situation who turns 20 before the end of December.

Culkin explained that the Flames coaching staff threw down the gauntlet to him at July’s development camp, challenging him to improve in the off-season in preparation for main camp and possibility of a pro roster spot.

“They gave me a challenge after development camp,” said Culkin. “They really liked what I did. They wanted me to get bigger and stronger, so I took the challenge and worked my ass off at the gym two times a day with NHL players as well, to see what it takes to get there. So I came up to rookie camp in the best shape possible and hopefully made an improvement.”

One of two men that could be Culkin’s prospective bench boss this season, Abbotsford Heat head coach Troy G. Ward, provided some feedback on the young blueliner’s performance at Calgary Flames prospect camp and the challenges ahead at main camp. In particular, he praised Culkin for coming into camp prepared.

“He’s doing a good job,” shared Ward. “He’s getting better and better all the time. I thought he had a really good development camp. I thought he had a pretty good camp here. Now we need to see him, like, what’s the next step in NHL games? Right now I think he’s in really, really good shape. He’s done a really good job. He’s worked tremendously hard in the off-season and he’s come a long way. So whatever management decides with him, it’ll probably be based on some NHL games, and we’ll see what happens.”

To his credit, while he admitted he’s 100% focused on making the Abbotsford Heat roster for the upcoming season, Culkin would welcome the opportunity to suit up for one more season with the Remparts. With the Calgary Flames organization having 14 defensemen already under contract for the 2013-14 season (although another prospective pro, Patrick Sieloff, could also head back to junior) – not counting players on AHL deals – there’s the chance that Culkin may be sent back to juniors just due to the numbers game.

“I’d be disappointed, but I wouldn’t not want to play there,” said Culkin. “They got a great coach in [Philippe] Boucher and I think we have a great team that can go far down there.”

As Ward noted, the next challenge facing Ryan Culkin is the “live-fire” portion of training camp, pitting prospective pros like Culkin against the established Flames players. First comes inter-squad scrimmages, then comes pre-season competition in NHL rinks against other NHL clubs. Culkin acknowledged that all he can do is put it all out there on the ice.

“I guess it’s all in my power, all in my hands,” said Culkin. “If I have a good camp, then I’m going to play in the American Hockey League. I for sure want to play up there. I want to play up there as long as I can. But I can’t control whether I play there or not. I can only control how I play on the ice.”

  • Tags
  • Abbotsford Heat
  • Quebec Remparts
  • Ryan Culkin
  • Troy G. Ward
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 23rd 4:05 PM
All-Star Weekend

25 Years Later: The FoxTrax Glowing Puck Makes Its Debut

Jan 23rd 3:50 PM
Boston Bruins

Bruins Should Play Grzelcyk With McAvoy

Jan 23rd 3:23 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs Are Being Too Patient With the Puck

Jan 23rd 2:20 PM
Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins’ Pierre-Oliver Joseph Shines in NHL Debut

Jan 23rd 2:10 PM
Anaheim Ducks

Ducks Prospects: Lacombe, McLaughlin, Sundsvik & More

Jan 23rd 2:00 PM
Colorado Avalanche

Prospects News & Rumors: Clarke, Byram & Cozens

Jan 23rd 2:00 PM
New York Islanders

Islanders’ Kieffer Bellows Adapting to New Role

Jan 23rd 1:50 PM
Calgary Flames

Flames’ Monahan Vying to Be Best Center in North Division

Jan 23rd 1:40 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

NHL Rumors: Oilers, Canucks, & Truth Behind Jets and Blue Jackets Trade

Jan 23rd 1:30 PM
Vancouver Canucks

Green Says Canucks Have Looked ‘a Little Immature at Times’ [Video]

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information