After rampant speculation that the Flames were closing in as the favourites to land hometown NCAA free agent Tyson Gross, the signing has been made official this morning. The 23-year-old centre is expected to join the Flames this season.
Who is Tyson Gross?
Gross is a 6’3″ right-shot centre hailing from Calgary, currently in his third season of NCAA hockey. The big centre is having a tremendous season at St. Cloud State, leading his team in points with 41 in 36 games, while also donning the C. He also currently ranks in the top 20 in scoring across the entire NCAA.
Through three seasons of NCAA hockey, Gross has totaled 86 points in 106 games, increasing his output in each successive season. Gross was widely considered the top NCAA free agent available this year, so this is a major get for a Flames team in desperate need of young, right-shot centre’s in the organization.
What’s next for Gross?
Gross will almost certainly be joining the Flames this season and should get into the lineup at some point before the end of the year. With Nazem Kadri departing the organization via trade, the Flames’ centre depth has become a major weakness. Gross provides the organization with another young centre in the pro ranks. This is a zero-risk, potentially high-reward move.
Gross will likely start in the AHL next season, but given the lack of depth at the position, it’s not hard to envision a future in which he challenges for an NHL roster spot sooner rather than later.