AHL veteran Ben Jones earns Flames call-up after hot start to season with Wranglers

With Mikael Backlund out day-to-day with an upper-body injury and likely to miss Thursday’s clash with the Minnesota Wild, the Calgary Flames needed to call up someone from the Wranglers.

They went with Ben Jones.

On one level, that’s no surprise. Nobody on the Wranglers has been putting up better number than the 27-year-old centre, who has scored seven times and added two assists in seven AHL games so far this season.

There are a few other, younger guys who might have earned call-ups, though. Tyson Gross springs to mind.

But the Flames’ decision was intentional and absolutely meant to send a message to every player trying to earn NHL playing time.

“The one thing that I love about our organization is they will reward people, no matter who you are, based on how you’re playing,” said Flames head coach Ryan Huska. “Ben was one of the better players at this moment in time for the Wranglers. He was off to a great start with seven goals in seven games and he’s been key in every situation.

“When we called about someone to potentially replace a centreman if we need that, he was the name that came back. I think it’s really important for the guys down there to know that no matter who you are or what situation you’re in, if you’re playing really well you’re going to get an opportunity. He’s done that. He’s earned this.”

That philosophy is important for the Flames to establish and stick with, especially with an influx of big-name young talent likely to be joining the organization over the next 12 months when Carson Carels, Cole Reschny, Ethan Wyttenbach and Cullen Potter all finish their college seasons and likely turn pro.

Jones is older than a lot of his Wranglers teammates. He rejoined the organization in early July after spending two years with the Wild and their AHL affiliate. He’s played 54 games in the NHL over the last two seasons, as well as two with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2021-22, but has never actually appeared for the Flames despite spending 2022-23 and 23-24 with the Wranglers.

The AHL veteran has logged 376 regular-season and 22 playoff games in the circuit dating back to the 2019-20 campaign.

His name doesn’t usually get brought up when people talk about the bright future the Flames are trying to build.

But he’s gotten off to a red-hot start in the AHL, and that’s what matters. With the Flames, that’s what earns you a shot.

“It’s healthy competition,” Jones said. “That’s what you want, you want guys pushing to be the best player for themselves but also for the team. So when you see guys like that get called up, it kind of reassures you that if you’re doing the right things there’s a chance for you there. It’s healthy competition and all the guys there are awesome.”

With Backlund likely out short-term and Sam Honzek out week-to-week, there should be opportunities for Jones to make his mark over the next couple of days.

Recent call-ups Jonathan Castagna and Aydar Suniev have been impressive since joining the Flames, and with the Wranglers off to a flying start, guys like William Stromgren, Dryden Hunt and Alex Nylander will all be pushing for playing time sooner rather than later.