Flames Top 25 Under 25: #15 - Glenn Gawdin

#15 - Glenn Gawdin

Position: Centre

Age: 22

Team: Stockton Heat (AHL)

Signed on November 16 2017

Last Year’s Ranking: #18

Glenn Gawdin was originall selected in the 4th round of the 2015 draft by the St. Louis Blues, 116th overall. However, due to the Blues having to share the Chicago Wolves of the AHL with the new Vegas Golden Knights, the Blues opted to not sign Gawdin to save roster space.

Gawdin was invited to attend Flames development camp at the start of the 2017-18 season, and saw himself earn an ELC in November, before recording 56 goals and 125 points in 67 games to lead Swift Current to the Memorial Cup in his overage season.

This past season, Gawdin finished his rookie AHL campaign, recording 11 goals and 38 points in 64 games. Gawdin struggled with consistency at times, but finished the season with 9 points in his final 9 games. It should also be mentioned that Stockton had an unfamiliar, inexperienced roster, and the team as a whole struggled for long stretches of the season.

Now in his second year, Gawdin loses a lot of the benefit of the doubt rookies receive, and he should take on a more prominent role. With Dillon Dube likely cracking the NHL roster again, that leaves a top 2 centre position open, and Gawdin needs to be in the top 6 regularly to succeed.

In the final year of his ELC, Gawdin will need to prove that he hasn’t reached his ceiling, although it’s fairly certain that he’ll earn another contract.