Barn Burner: Boomer & Pinder with Rhett Warrener - What Are The Calgary Flames DOING With Hunter Brzustewicz?? | BB Clips

Episode Date: September 18, 2026

Boomer, Pinder and Rhett dive into Hunter Brzustewicz and what his future looks like with the Calgary Flames after one of the more interesting developments to come out of training camp. Brzustewicz was left out of the main NHL group despite playing 34 games with the Flames last season and even getting opportunities on the power play. After arriving as an important piece of the Elias Lindholm trade, the young defenceman suddenly finds himself fighting to establish exactly where he fits in an increasingly crowded Calgary blue line. The guys debate whether this is simply part of his development, whether Brzustewicz has been passed by other young defencemen in the organization and what happens if there isn't a legitimate NHL opportunity waiting for him. Could his future still be in Calgary, or does this eventually reach the point where Brzustewicz wants an opportunity somewhere else?Video Links: https://youtu.be/emxNxBDDXrA#nhl #nhlshorts #nhlplayoffs #nhlpredictions #nhlhockey #nhlpicks #stanleycup #stanleycupfinal #calgaryflames CHECK OUT OUR STUFF ⬇️BARN BURNER MERCHhttps://nationgear.ca/collections/shirts/FlamesnationBARN BURNER SHORTS https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj_bcGtvvo-cW2DHEDZ6dEO5ePDmlhZc9&si=jo8iNGxT4ImhS2Y8📲 Follow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fnbarnburner/X (Twitter): https://x.com/barnburnerfn?lang=en🎧 Listen on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/barn-burner-boomer-pinder-with-rhett-warrener/id1648562889Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Mc6Qd5U22R2zbMlQ7RxIiProducer: Jack Haverstock Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Talk about a substitution on the blue line. Hunter Prostevich has been skating with the second group and not in the top eight for the flame. She's absolutely one of the best eight defensemen. We touched this yesterday. It will be a story to follow. I hope to, I think what you were alluding to earlier, do you know, that there's conifidence and a plan here and that short-term pain is going to equal long-term gain. Go run a power play. Play monster minutes and things happen like injuries and trades, whatever.

What is the proper approach? I think that's it. just not easy for the player. Nothing's supposed to be easy for the players. Yes, okay. Because we just talked about Perrek and the shit show that happened last year, and we understand all of it, and we're past it, and we're moving forward, and this is all hunky-during.

Is it best, because we want to say what's there and we see, but is it best, just, we know you're mad, and then we assume to her his mom and dad, or if he has to look in the mirror and talk to himself and say calm the F down. Yeah. I know I can play there, but six months or a year here of 25 minutes equals a better base. Maybe a better player.

And I'll even think that's to be six months or a season. It might be Christmas. You're an injury away. Worst case scenario. You're not an injury away because they've got eight. Well, but I don't think they're going to keep a hole over. Like, let's say you lose one of your talented young righties to injury. I think he's up right away.

I don't think they want to sleep a hole. about big minutes, if you know what I mean. And you can't play. Absolutely. Just as a, that's an injury and wish for injuries for anyone. So it's like, yeah, maybe it is six months to a year. Okay. Is that okay?

I think it depends how he's playing. And I think there's ways Connie can deal with this. If he is undeniably your best defenseman in the A and continuing to knock on the door, you have the ability to move the likes of White Cloud, because Netsov potentially even, or Middleton. Like we love the, the vet character and leadership you've seen from Middleton

in an incredibly small spell and White Cloud since the deadline. But no one's suggesting that their career flames and they're part of a core when this team's winning again. We know they're kind of placeholders, right? Yep.

But to make, to go and make a trade, like I think it's, you're making it sound a little simpler than it is. No, I'm just saying he's undeniable. Then you're listening a little more openly on White Club. Like, when you look at it's, at White Cloud's salary and how he's played, that's an asset that is going

to get you a lot at the deadline. What happens if Bristavis is like, no, I understand what you're trying to sell me. Yeah. And he's knocking on Conrad's Durk and there's a team I can play over that team. In Winnipeg? I'm of top four.

Bristevich played 34 NHL games last year. I know that's, and he's in the B group at Calgary Flames training camp. Yeah, he played more probably than Hanley and Pahall, right? And that's the question I'm having is there's what's right for the team and they only reach and all that. But what's prescription? It's thinking and what's the right approach. Like there has to be that consideration where it's like, wait a minute.

We're not that good a hockey team anyway. I'm one of the young guys. You're blocking me from playing in the NHL, earning a real salary. Yeah, I'm getting 20, 25 minutes. That's all fine and good. but I could go a province over. He averaged 16 minutes in the NHL. And get 20 minutes in the NHL.

Yeah. I don't. So the one thing we don't know is where the players heads at and how he feels about what looks to be the plan. And the other thing is, is like, what is he right now? Because there's games where he looked like, man, this guy can be a tough one. And there's other games, like, he's so risky. He's so risky. Right now.

It was a classic first year. There was a few games where it was like, yeah, this is just a little too much right now, and that happens, and even good players of bad games. But do you believe, I guess it comes down to if you're the flames or even the agent and the player,

that you get a better player at Christmas if he's playing big minutes of the eight or not. And I don't know the answer. I'm not in player development. I have hunches. You've seen both. Like you have to play lots of hockey is a benefit, no matter what.

The question is, I can play lots of hockey over here. It's the NHL still. Like, why do I have to go play? Lots of hockey's out there. You're sort of saying he could slide into the top four in Winnipeg. I'm not quite there yet. I think he's probably a six, seven on most teams right now.

Like the guy that's, the third pair guys in Winnipeg also played the 16 minutes in the league last year kind of thing. And they're veterans and they've got more than 30 career games. I guess it's just, what's your opinion on player development for this guy at this age and this spot? Yeah. And I think probably Rhett and I are higher on them than you. I think we've kind of talked about that.

Yeah. Like, do you see a talk for defenseman in the future? he's 21 yeah i i he played 30 15 minutes a night was it was even he was not underwater at all and i would classify him as any of the other young guys i don't want him blocked he's 21 i want him to get minutes like per rec yeah and i don't need then you trade white cloud if you feel that way if you're connie well i don't want to have to do that well then who's then who you sit in like you've got that's what i'm saying so you've got three right i don't i don't want to have to take a one of my biggest trade chips to make room for

Well, I mean, if he's a trade trade trade. You're saying two things. I think you're trying. Yes, we like White Cloud. But are we going to block Abras Davis Davis-Fevich from playing? And we're going to turn White Cloud into something at some point anyway. Or you're committing to him long term.

I don't believe that's the right move. I just don't see it when you want it. He's too valuable at the price to not go. No, no, no. we're at it's asset management. Yeah. We've got to move this guy. And yeah, the level headed thing is you talk to the kid and you.

Sell him the plan. He knows what it is. They have a plan. They've had conversations, obviously. It's not like we're ahead of the curve on this. It's obvious. Like this is the guy that was that played a third of a season and is with the B group at training camp.

He sort of be feeling a certain way. So they'll have a plan. If you're the player, you want to get up there? Force their hand. Be undeniable, right? Go dominate preseason. If you have to go to the A, light it up, play to all roles, all situations, be great. And then it's, yeah, because right now, if you're telling me he's better played than Zach White Cloud, no, but in a couple of years, I think you will be, right?

I think we're all agreement there. Well, so if you're the fourth best. Black cloud long term being of an integral part or his age doesn't really fit. And they've got a lot of his side on the D. So if you're 100% of you're the fourth best ready on the team, it's like, yeah. And so Pahal will sit in the rafter so you can play in the A. There it is. Well, we talked a lot about 100%.

I know. And it is a tricky spot we saw coming because you feel for the kid, right? He had some really good results last year. I don't know what the other real, and it's not that it's a huge storyline, but what are the other story? The goalies are set, the forwards. Brendan Offman signs his signs a deal today. I don't know what.

It's the one talking point. I know that Greg from Bon Ton is always very curious. He was texting. He was like, pospals. Center ice yesterday. I'm just not sure. This guy's got a new contract. I'm not sure.

First year with three-year deal. Clapka, you know, are they the same player? How many of these guys do you need? So clapka's a better player. Well, and Klapka also doesn't play the middle. I don't know if we love Pospicol in the center, but they don't have any other options of fourth-line center.

It's Kastania or it's gross or it's Karen's like Pospasals and NHL are that needs to get back to do in what made him agree with each other. And I think he's a bangor-winger that's physical. I just, I'm just wondering. We don't have any other wingers or centermen. It's like while Zeri claims to want to be, I don't know.

I've never spoke with the guy before, but there's rumors out there that he'd prefer playing center. Can you make that fourth line, not a bang and crash? Because Klapka shows. He's got some skill. Yeah, it's not so limited that he can't have some creativity and create some offense, right?

You don't have to, yes, We all love the idea of a fourth line that goes in and creates out of there. Well, do you have that? Kind of. I mean, it all. I don't know the possible so can play. Pospical. He's a huge question mark.

And as you said, it's year one of a three year deal at two and a half. Now, again, with the money moving, two and a half is not what it used to be. But it's, is there any way of pulling up the, the different groups, Jack? Just because I'm looking at it differently where we talked about Brosevic, why are we blocking him? Well, why are we blocking him? if we're in a true pure rebuild I don't know what Cyplikov is and I guess you've got to play.

But is there a kid there you can put on the fourth line with his area that goes, yeah, no, this is, we don't have a banging crash. Maybe he's soonie of. I'm not quite there. I'd like to see more time in the A with more. It looks like he's off to a good start

in terms of like he did a good showing the prospect game. He came on stronger at the end of the year. I don't think he's not. If there's not, that's fine. Yeah. I think in the spring you're going to have a lot of these guys arriving from college. But I don't think you can look to the A and be like,

there's a future flame star this year. We do get caught up in. And again, it's the product of doing a show every day. But it was last year's, Grin, you got to make a, Gridden, I don't want, well,

Gridden came up and then he played and everyone was very happy with what they saw. It just took a little bit of time and patience. And it's probably what it's going to be with Bristavich, with some of this other, the other, but it's a good reminder, right? Like,

I don't think you could argue that Bristavit, Sorry, that Gridden going to the A for half of you heard him. He looked really good. He looked just fine when he came back. Like he's a better player than the one you saw in the fall. Now, if he had to, if he was in a spot where contracts and that dictated, sorry, you're going to be on game with group B and probably start the year in the A. Yeah.

You have to have a conversation with the young man and his agent, his parents and that whole thing. Not to say Bristevich is, but I don't see it completely dissimilar. They're the same age, more or less. Yeah, so when we look at the team black on the right, that's a lot of those guys will end up on the, the Wranglers. So, you know, Bashah,

we want to see a healthy season to him putting up points in the A. Half the year in the A, then he went down to the Western League. Costania was hurt at the end of the year, he was signed out of college. He's just got to play pro hockey against men. He hasn't done that yet. We know what Karen's and Morton are.

They're guys in their mid-20s that can put up points in the American League, but have failed to carve out roles in the NHL. Could you use them at Fourth Line Center? Sure. But yeah, like what you're seeing on the right is not many of their best 10 prospects. Most those guys are college or in junior. That's the team. I really, you could know.

Yeah, like the left, you're right. That's like the team red is, that's opening night with a couple of cuts. And it's fine. Yeah. And again, like we've seen it. The way you start October 7 or now September 29, there's usually, by the time November rolls around, it's quite different. Two years ago, we got the. Pospicill Zary up playing with

Codry and that changed the dynamic of the team. Hansik started, went down two years ago. Gridden started up, then went down to last year. They both come back better players. We'll see movement up and down. All right. But yeah, there isn't really a lot of drama, is there? No.

Aside from Bristol. Well, that's, that's right. We talk about it. He might have a bigger deal of it. No, but it, and that's, in a way, it's credit to Conroy. because if Anderson was re-signed, that would be a talking point. If Weager was still here, if Codry was still here, Coleman, all of that, they moved out a lot of those guys that you knew weren't going to be here long term

or shouldn't be if you're rebuilding. And it's not about when are you trading this guy, White Cloud, I guess, is kind of the only one. There's really no obvious backland, I assume, is going to retire as a flame. Yeah, he'll probably play one-year deals. So I don't know what drama there is.