PENTICTON, British Columbia — As the calendar turned to 2024, Calgary Flames prospect William Stromgren found his rhythm, potentially positioning the 21-year-old for his first NHL opportunity this season.
“I believe he made the most significant progress from last year to the end of the season,” said Flames general manager Craig Conroy at Calgary’s development camp in July. “He looks like a completely different player. If he keeps this up, I can definitely see him playing in the NHL.”
In the 2023-24 season, Stromgren recorded 27 points (seven goals, 20 assists) over 68 games with the Calgary team in the American Hockey League, especially thriving in the latter half of the season during his first professional year outside of Sweden.
“It was largely about finding comfort,” Stromgren mentioned at the Young Stars Classic. “I was adjusting to a new team, a new country, and a different style of hockey. It took time to acclimate. My team has really supported me, and I’ve learned a lot from the coaches while trying to play my game, which eventually came together.
“Things changed for me after Christmas, and I began playing a different style.”
The statistics reflect a significant improvement.
Stromgren, selected in the second round (No. 45) of the 2021 NHL Draft, struggled initially, accumulating only three points (one goal, two assists) in his first 28 AHL games. However, he rebounded to score 24 points (six goals, 18 assists) in his last 40 regular-season games, and also added four points (one goal, three assists) in six Calder Cup Playoff games.
Despite this turnaround, the 6-foot-3, 190-pound Stromgren remains grounded. While he appreciates the recognition and is pleased with his development, he is determined not to become complacent.
“A year ago, I was unclear about how I would evolve as a player,” he reflected. “Now, I feel secure in my role and have improved significantly since last year.
“I’m glad about my progress, which indicates that I’ve worked hard. If Conroy is pleased, that’s a good sign. However, I still have much to prove and want to continue building on this. I can gain some confidence from it, but my focus is on improving every week and performing my best.”
If he stays on track, Stromgren could climb the ranks on a Flames team that is undergoing a rebuild after finishing fifth in the Pacific Division last season and missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Leave a Reply