| Nolan Flamand | Brandon Wheat Kings | WHL | L | LW | 5’9″ | 159 | Kelowna Rockets | 2019 | Saskatoon, SK | 2004 | 2022-2023: Free Agent 2021-2022: C+ |
Neutral Zone’s Ian Moran, February 26. 2023: Honestly he’s probably not NHLer because of his lack of offensive production, but he is player who could be very useful to an NHL organization. As an undersized player I feel his compete level is so high that an organization’s General Manager might take a flyer on him because on a day to day basis he might set the tone for the team’s minor league franchise. This doesn’t mean that he’d be running the power play, but it does mean that sometimes organizations need players who bring it every day and this day to day accountability will help teach the younger higher draft picks what it takes to be a pro. We’ll have to see how the rest of his junior career playout on the offensive side of the puck, but I would not be surprised if you see Flamand wearing a letter in the minor leagues for a team with some highly skilled kids who might lack the day to day passion.
Neutral Zone NHL, July 4, 2022: Why an NHL draft pick, he’s won 54.5% of his puck battles over the past two seasons in the WHL. He was a key contributor to both special team’s units. He can make plays in traffic. Why not an NHL draft pick, he is undersized and not a burner. His shot on net percentage dropped from 59% in 2020/21 to 46% in 2021/22. He had 78 shots on goal during 2021/22.
WHL: Prince George Cougars at Kelowna Rockets, February 17, 2022: All we can say about Flamand is that he plays his ass off and he competes like someone we would love to have as a teammate. If you just look at his impact on this one while playing shorthanded you’ll see a player who impacted the game as much as anyone. He was an absolute puck hound up the ice forcing poor decisions and bad passes. He showed that he was not only willing to block shots, but that he was also fearless as he got big low to eat pucks including laying down to block a one-timer from 25′ away. He also showed the awareness of when to pressure or when to be passive and he generated a breakaway by forcing a Cougar’s defenseman across the blueline to his backhand before stripping him of the puck. As a center he won 19 of 33 face-offs while playing a team high 21:52 for the including a game high 2:40 while shorthanded. Flamand also had a game high six grade “A” scoring chances, including three that were one-timers from inside the house. He won 56% of his puck battles and had 4 giveaways compared to 6 takeaways. Flamand is a gamer.
WHL: Kelowna Rockets Draft Prospects, January 10, 2022: Flamand is an undersized forward who excels in transition showing the understanding of when to use his quickness to stretch the zone or when to provide close support to create quick 2 on 1s. As a puck carrier he may not be a straight line burner, but he has high end edge control and explosiveness that generates time and space in all three zones. We like his vision and ability to pass through defender’s legs as they try to close on him. As his game continues to mature and develop, we feel Flamand will need to continue working on his release and shot as to not become predictable at higher levels. Flamand plays with high energy and his mentality of expecting to win every loose puck will only enhance his appeal to NHL teams as the season progresses.
WHL: Kelowna Rockets as of January 6, 2022 Season stats: Games played 29, Goals 5, Assists 19, Points 24, plus/minus 17, Penalty Minutes 4, Penalties Drawn 7, 2021 Game Averages: Time on ice per-game 16:42, Power play time 1:54, Short-handed time 1:47, Shots 2.6, %Shots on goal 53%, Face-off % 51%, Puck battles 14, %Puck battles won 58%, Hits 0.5, Hits against 0.8
WHL: Kelowna Rockets at Kamloops Blazers, December 9, 2021: Nolan had a solid game and works well with his line mate Andrew Cristall. The two of them work off of one-another and have similar hockey IQ’s. Nolan’s skating is sold, but not dynamic. He can get from point A to point B at a fairly rapid pace, but when it comes to blowing the doors off a defenseman on a rush it wasn’t in the cards on this night. His hands are above average, picking up passes and making quick handles in traffic wasn’t an issue. Furthermore he uses his smarts combined with those skills to make things look a little too easy sometimes. Kelowna has had high hopes for Nolan and he has delivered to some extent as he sits fourth in team scoring and is averaging 0.75 ppg. He has a strong offensive upside, but also consider his defensive play, which is quite strong and responsible. Grade C+