Flames Promote Castagna and Suniev to Spark Offense
Calgary recalled forwards Aydar Suniev and Jonathan Castagna after Connor Zary and Brayden Pachal cleared waivers. Castagna, a former Cornell standout, is likely close to his NHL debut, while Suniev earned a call-up after a strong preseason. The moves aim to add young offense to a struggling Flames attack.
Calgary made the recalls after Connor Zary and Brayden Pachal cleared waivers and joined the Wranglers. Castagna, from Toronto, spent three seasons at Cornell and was Arizona’s third-round pick in 2023 before arriving in Calgary via the Mackenzie Weegar trade. He has two goals in two AHL games.
Suniev, born in Kazan, Russia, was Castagna’s St. Andrew’s teammate. He scored 45 goals in 50 BCHL games with Penticton, later played at UMass, and debuted in the NHL late in 2024-25. He recorded three goals in two preseason games.
The recalls may give Flames fans a reason to watch a struggling offense, while Castagna and Suniev could inspire young hockey players who follow college and junior development paths. Their success might also raise interest in Calgary’s AHL affiliate and local game-day culture, though the on-ice impact remains uncertain and depends on opportunity and performance.