Flames Top 25 Under 25: #25 - Josh Healey

#25: Josh Healey

Position: D

Age: 23

Team: Ohio State Buckeyes

Signed as a College Free Agent on March 25, 2017

To kick off our Top 25 Under 25 series for 2017, we begin with the hard-hitting Josh Healey. In his fourth season with the Buckeyes last season he put up 25 points in 35 games to go along with 70 penalty minutes. He’s known as one of the hardest hitters in all of college hockey and thrives in the open-ice.

Healey garnered a lot of interest in this year’s college free agent class but the Flames were able to bring him in. Healey had previously attended the Flames Prospect Development Camp as an invite in 2016 and obviously made a strong impact on management.

Healey has had some suspension issues in the last few years, being suspended five times. He’ll need to work on that as well as his foot speed when he begins his first professional season this year. He will likely play for the Heat this season, but could project out as a solid bottom pairing defender that could play an enforcer-like role in the future.

The Flames are fairly stacked with defensive prospects so his work will be cut out for him if he wants to move up the depth chart. If he can continue using his physical play at the pro level while improving his weaknesses, his style of play could get him time with the Flames down the road.

As an Edmonton kid, Healey grew up an Oilers fan and now that he’s a Flame (one of two Edmonton boys who left for Calgary I might add) here’s to hoping he can lay out a few Oilers in the near future.

*sound in video is loud*