Brzustewicz has taken a meaningful step forward this year, earning his NHL callup in December and working his way into a third-pair role with Calgary. The Flames’ decision to trade both Rasmus Andersson and Mackenzie Weegar opens the door further, though the opportunity is not as straightforward as it might appear. The remaining veteran core have multiple years left on their deals, and Olli Maatta, who was acquired in the Weegar deal, provides NHL depth for another two years. Brzustewicz and Zayne Parekh are currently splitting a sheltered third-pair role, which suits both players at this stage of their development. He was sent back to the Wranglers during the Olympic break to get some extra games, though his AHL stint was underwhelming – something the organization will have taken note of. Two points in 19 NHL games at 14:04 of ice time is modest, but expected given the role he is expected to play. A dynasty holds upside if he can tighten his defensive game enough to earn a larger role.

After a 92-point campaign with the Kitchener Rangers last year in the OHL, this year Brzustewicz made the jump to professional hockey and impressed in his first season. He was second in Wranglers’ scoring among defensemen. He scored 32 points in 70 games and even got a taste of NHL action late in the season versus the LA Kings, where he played 18 minutes and was a +2. This is an encouraging sign for Brzustewicz that the organization trusts him enough to play him in an NHL game, even if it is one where the Flames were already eliminated. He could benefit from another year in the AHL. Still, with the uncertainty that surrounds the Flames’ defensive core, specifically Rasmus Andersson, it could lead to Brzustewicz seeing significant action and eventually getting some power play time down the line after MacKenzie Weegar wraps up his career.

As part of the package that the Flames received for Elias Lindholm, Brzustewicz was traded from Vancouver to Calgary. The Kitchener Rangers defenseman has an outstanding season, ranking second in points by a blueliner with 78 in 55 OHL contests. He instantly becomes one of Calgary’s best prospects on the back-end.

Despite finishing eighth in points among all defensemen in the OHL last year (57 points), Brzustewicz was initially projected to be a second-round pick. However, he ultimately fell to the 75th pick in the draft. Past injuries and inconsistent performance were the primary factors contributing to this drop in the draft. In the first five games of this season, Brzustewicz has been on fire, recording two goals and five assists. He has a real opportunity to become an outstanding offensive defenseman in the NHL if he can improve his consistency.

Brzustewicz was selected 75th overall by the Canucks.