Flames Look to Boost Stale Offence by Calling Up Castagna & Suniev

The Calgary Flames heard the cries to bring up young talent and answered the call. On Wednesday, the team called up forwards Aydar Suniev and Jonathan Castagna after forward Connor Zary and defenceman Brayden Pachal cleared waivers to join the team’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate Calgary Wranglers.

Castagna and Suniev were teammates at St. Andrew’s College in Newmarket, Ontario, in the 2021-22 season and are now back together with Castagna’s NHL debut likely just around the corner.

Castagna hails from Toronto, and after he graduated from St. Andrew’s in 2023, he played the next three seasons at Cornell University. His most productive season was in his junior year in 2025-26 when he recorded 15 goals and 34 points in 34 games.

Drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in the third round of the 2023 Draft, he made his way to Calgary in the Mackenzie Weegar trade. He might be considered a late bloomer, but he really developed his game over the past two seasons at Cornell.

Castagna has excellent speed and skating ability that can turn defenders inside out quickly, leading to high-danger chances, which were on display during his point-per-game season at Cornell. In his first two seasons at the university, he was one of the hardest workers on the ice, with a non-stop forecheck bearing down on defenders, even if his offensive production dipped. He was named an alternate captain for his final season.

Some were surprised when the Coyotes selected him in the third round, as he hadn’t played any meaningful minutes in junior hockey besides one game in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL), but he has developed well and earned his call-up to the Flames after a productive start with the Wranglers, recording two goals in his first two professional-league games. His non-stop engine will excite Flames fans the most.

Many expected Suniev to make the Flames’ opening-night roster, but he was assigned to the Wranglers out of training camp. However, it was clear he would be one of the first call-ups after dominating two preseason games.

Suniev hails from Kazan, Russia, and moved to North America to continue his development. He and Castagna first teamed up during their lone season together at St. Andrew’s. A pure goal scorer, Suniev scored over a goal per game for the team. In 2022-23, he tied for the league lead in goals with 45 goals in 50 games for the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL).

Following his sophomore season at the University of Massachusetts, where Suniev recorded 20 goals and 38 points in 35 games, he signed his entry-level contract with the Flames and made his NHL debut at the end of the 2024-25 season.

During his first year of professional hockey, Suniev faced challenges adjusting to the faster pace and bigger competition but found his groove and finished with 16 goals and 24 points in 57 games. He finished the season with the Flames, recording his first point on an assist.

Calgary Flames left wing Aydar Suniev (Sergei Belski-Imagn Images)

Suniev was the Flames’ best player during his preseason contests, recording three goals in two games with six shots on goal. He was the final cut from the roster.

In two games with the Wranglers, he has one assist and five shots on goal, leading the way and creating chances for his team. He has been waiting for this moment, and he must show management it was the right decision in order to earn his spot.

Before calling up Suniev and Castagna, the Flames only had 12 forwards on the active roster. With the addition of both players, head coach Ryan Huska now has some flexibility. With a tough schedule ahead, a revamped lineup could spark the team’s offence that has yet to get anything going, recording just three goals through three games.

This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.