Roman Horak

Horak started the 2011-12 campaign on fire, impressing coaches in camp and giving the Flames a burst of youth in the first quarter of the season. However, as the year progressed, Horak seemed a little overmatched and scored only two points the final three months of the season. If Horak can recapture his early-season magic from last season, he’s got a shot at the Flames’ lineup to start 2012-13. However, he has Roman Cervenka, Mikael Backlund, Michael Cammalleri, Matt Stajan and Lance Bouma to compete with, which could make Horak’s job status a difficult one. In all likelihood, he will spend some time with the Flames in 2012-13, but could still use a few more years in the AHL to refine his game.

Horak joined Calgary in the Tim Erixon trade this past summer and posted 78 points in 64 contests for Chilliwack of the WHL, the same squad as fellow budding Flame, Ryan Howse. Horak signed with the Rangers back in May, around the same time he turned 20, so expect the Flames to give him a good look during training camp.