Matvei Gridin is heading to the AHL All-Star Game-and if all goes according to plan, it’ll be his last.
That’s not a knock on the 19-year-old winger. Quite the opposite.
The Calgary Flames prospect is turning heads for all the right reasons, and the hope in Calgary is that this is just a brief stop on his way to a full-time NHL career. But for now, he's making the most of his rookie pro season, and his selection to the AHL All-Star Classic is a well-earned milestone.
Gridin was officially named the Calgary Wranglers’ representative for the 2026 AHL All-Star festivities, set for February 10 and 11 in Rockford, Illinois. And while there were a few other deserving names on the Wranglers roster-Dryden Hunt, Rory Kerins, and Martin Frk among them-Gridin’s inclusion isn’t exactly a surprise.
“It's awesome,” Gridin said. “To go to all-star at 19 is just awesome.”
That excitement is well-earned. From the moment he arrived at Flames training camp in September, Gridin has been on a steady climb.
He led the team in preseason scoring with three goals in six games, earning a spot on the NHL roster to start the season. He even found the back of the net in the Flames’ opener-a glimpse of what he’s capable of when he’s on his game.
But after four games in the NHL, the Flames made the call to send him down to the Wranglers. Not because he couldn’t score-he proved he could-but because the finer points of his game still needed polish. That’s a common path for young players, especially those making the leap straight from junior hockey to the pros.
And to his credit, Gridin embraced the challenge. He didn’t sulk. He got to work.
“Right from Day 1, when he came down here, he had the right mindset of making sure he gets better every day,” said Wranglers head coach Brett Sutter. “I think we’ve seen him have success offensively, but what I’m most proud of is everything else in his game and how it’s grown.”
That’s the kind of praise that speaks volumes. Gridin’s offensive instincts have never been in question-he was the Flames’ first-round pick in 2024 for a reason, taken 28th overall.
But what’s stood out in the AHL is how he’s rounding out his game. He’s making smarter reads, putting in work away from the puck, and helping elevate his linemates.
“He’s doing the right things away from the puck and it’s leading to success for himself and his linemates,” Sutter added. “I think everyone is pretty excited for him today.”
And they should be. Gridin has been one of the Wranglers’ most consistent contributors, and when you factor in his age and the level he’s playing at, the numbers become even more impressive. He could have easily been sent back to the QMJHL for another season with Shawinigan, but instead, he’s proving he belongs in the pro ranks.
The AHL All-Star nod is a recognition of what he’s already accomplished-and a reminder of just how high his ceiling might be. If he keeps trending this way, the next time we see him in an all-star jersey might be at the NHL level.
For now, though, Gridin gets to enjoy a well-deserved honor. And if everything goes right, this will be his first-and only-AHL All-Star appearance.