The Calgary Flames walked away from the 2025 NHL Draft with two first-round picks, and one of them came courtesy of a blockbuster deal that dates back to the summer of 2022. That was the summer Matthew Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers in exchange for MacKenzie Weegar, Jonathan Huberdeau, Cole Schwindt, and a first-rounder that eventually became the 32nd overall pick. With that selection, the Flames added a dynamic young center: Cullen Potter.
Potter, a Minneapolis native, has been turning heads at Arizona State. He put together a solid freshman campaign in 2024-25, tallying 13 goals and 22 points over 35 games.
That performance was enough to convince Calgary that he was worth the late first-round selection. And heading into his sophomore season, there was a sense that Potter was just getting started.
He didn’t disappoint. Through 24 games in 2025-26, Potter had notched 12 goals and 26 points, showing off the kind of speed and offensive creativity that made him a top prospect in the first place. But just as he was hitting his stride-scoring 11 goals and 21 points over a 14-game stretch-his season came to a sudden halt.
On January 10, in a game against Miami (Ohio), Potter took a dangerous hit that resulted in a significant shoulder injury. He underwent surgery the next day, ending his season with a recovery timeline of 3-4 months. That effectively rules him out for the rest of Arizona State’s campaign, including any postseason or national tournament run the Sun Devils might have in them.
It’s a tough break for a player who was trending up in a big way. At just 19 years old, Potter had begun to establish himself as one of the Flames’ most promising prospects-and arguably one of the top 50 prospects in all of hockey. His blend of speed, vision, and offensive instincts made him a standout at the college level, and he was well on his way to a breakout year.
Now, the Flames-and Potter himself-have a few decisions to weigh. Like many college players in his position, Potter has three primary paths forward.
He could sign his entry-level NHL contract and make the jump to the pros, likely landing with the Calgary Wranglers in the AHL for the 2026-27 season. He could transfer to a larger NCAA program in search of a bigger spotlight.
Or, he could return to Arizona State for his junior year.
Right now, all signs point to the third option: a return to ASU. If that’s the route he chooses, it could very well be his final college season before turning pro.
And it’ll be a big one. A healthy, dominant junior year would help re-establish his trajectory and reaffirm his place among the game’s most exciting young talents.
Looking ahead, there’s also the 2027 World Junior Championship to consider. Assuming he’s healthy, Potter is a strong candidate to represent Team USA on that stage-a tournament that could serve as another springboard in his development.
For now, though, the focus is on recovery. The Flames will be watching closely, knowing they’ve got a high-upside prospect in the pipeline who, once back to full strength, could be a key piece of their future.