The 2017 NHL Draft did not provide the Flames with a large number of new prospects, as they had traded away their second and third round selections. This meant that, after drafting Juuso Valimaki in the first round, their next selection was 93 picks away at number 109 where they selected lanky Adam Ruzicka, a 6’4 centreman from the Sarnia Sting.
Prior to the draft, there was a lot of uncertainty surrounding Ruzicka. Here’s what J.D. Burke had to say about him prior to his drafting:
Most expected that Ruzicka would hit his stride offensively this season, after joining the Ontario Hockey League’s Sarnia Sting in the second round of the 2016 CHL Import Draft out of HC Pardubice of the Czech Under 20 league.