The Calgary Flames eventually traded Rasmus Andersson, and after much speculation, it was to the Vegas Golden Knights. In return, the Flames received a first-round pick, conditional second-round pick Zach Whitecloud, and defensive prospect Abram Wiebe. No doubt most people are focused on Whitecloud and the two picks, but lost in the conversation is how good Wiebe could be in a few years. Here’s what you need to know.
Who is Abram Wiebe?
The Mission, BC-born prospect was a seventh-round selection of the Golden Knights in 2022 after putting up a decent 31 points in 54 games for the BCHL’s Chilliwack Chiefs. The defenseman also had nine assists in eleven playoff games for the team that season.
Clearly the Knights saw something in him, as the following season he scored 53 points in 54 games as captain of the Chiefs, then added 12 points in 15 playoff games. Abram Wiebe finished second in scoring among defensemen that season and led his team in scoring by a wide margin. Remember, he’s a defender who gets better numbers than most forwards.
Wiebethen made the jump to the University of North Dakota and put up a decent 10 points in his first campaign, good for fourth among blueliners on his team. Last season was a breakout year for him as he scored 24 points in 38 games for the team and finished fourth in the points tally. For reference, fellow Flames prospect Cade Littler had nine points on the same team that year, and he’s a forward.
This season, Wiebe has 14 points in 24 games, which ranks him second among defensemen in scoring and eighth on the team. Flames prospect Cole Reschny leads the team in scoring this season.
What type of player is Abram Wiebe
When you see a defender who scores a lot of points, the big question is whether his defensive play is as good. For Wiebe the answer is yes! He is not only capable offensively, but also reliable defensively, able to get up on the blue line and limit opportunities against. Check out some of his numbers here:
It is clear that the attacking numbers are excellent. Being in the 90th percentile for shooting is excellent. But what’s more interesting is that his recoveries/60 are almost 80%. This indicates a player who plays hard in the corners.
Most of the other weaker numbers are determined by spending a lot of time in the offensive zone, about 90% of his time. That means Abram Wiebe will likely start a lot of shifts there, but will also likely put the puck on the ice quickly. His blocks, hits and takeways will therefore be lower.
Wiebe has spent most of the season in the team’s second combination, with some decent special teams work. These numbers are especially good because he hasn’t been used as often as some of the team’s other defenders. This may change as the season progresses, but he appears to be very good.
Could Wiebe be an NHLer in Calgary?
This is likely his last season in the NCAA, with the Flames likely not wanting him to play another season without being signed. Expect him to join the Calgary Wranglers at the end of this season and full-time next season.
Scott Wheeler had Wiebe as the sixth-best prospect in Vegas before he was traded, but given how deep the Flames’ depth chart is, he likely falls into the late teens in their system. That means he will likely start at the bottom of the AHL rankings and have to prove himself in the coming years.
At worst, Wiebe becomes useful in AHL depth, but most likely he develops into a tweener, someone who can play a sixth or seventh defenseman role in the NHL. However, Wiebe has always been a late bloomer, and there’s a chance he can do what Yan Kuznetsov did this season and find his way to being a useful center pairing defenseman in the NHL in a few years.
A big-bodied defenseman who is already the right size for professional hockey, expect the 6’3″, 209-pound blueliner to make waves next season. Abram Wiebe is a name you should know.
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