One of the Calgary Flames’ prospects has found a new home for the 2021-22 hockey season. Sources have confirmed to FlamesNation that Russian forward Ilya Nikolayev has joined the United States Hockey League’s Tri-City Storm for training camp and has been added to their protected list.
Nikolayev, 20, was a third round pick of the Flames (88th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft. The product of Yaroslavl came up through his hometown minor hockey scene, playing primarily with Lokomotiv’s affiliate clubs. He was projected as a two-way forward, but he struggled to find consistency last season as he bounced between the VHL (minor-pro) Buran Vorenzh and the MHL (junior) Loko Yaroslavl.