Calgary native Tyson Gross has emerged as one of the top undrafted free agents this season, and he's got his hometown Flames on his radar. The 23-year-old center, fresh off his junior season with St. Cloud State, is set to make his decision in the coming days.
Gross, who served as the team captain, made quite an impression by doubling his previous career high in goals, finishing with an impressive 18-23-41 scoring line over 36 games. Standing tall at 6'3" and weighing 194 pounds, Gross saw his season come to an end after a tough sweep by Minnesota-Duluth in the NCHC tournament quarterfinals.
With St. Cloud not making the national tournament, he wraps up his college career with 34 goals, 52 assists, and 86 points over 106 games.
While Gross may not replicate those numbers in the NHL, he has the potential to fill a valuable role as a depth checking center for Calgary or even shine as a standout in the minors. Initially eligible for the draft in 2021, Gross had limited exposure due to COVID, playing only nine junior 'A' games and understandably being overlooked.
His post-draft year in the USHL with the Fargo Force was also modest, but a move to the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in his DY+2 saw him blossom as a playmaker, carrying that momentum into a strong freshman year at St. Cloud.
The Flames, looking to bolster their size down the middle, have a keen interest in Gross. They've already taken steps in this direction by acquiring the rights to 6'2", 203-pound Jonathan Castagna from the Mammoth in the MacKenzie Weegar trade. Castagna, another promising junior center, is open to joining the Flames once his season at Cornell concludes.
Gross's decision could be a pivotal moment for the Flames as they aim to strengthen their depth and size at the center position.