Flames sign 23-year old NCAA superstar from St. Cloud State

The Calgary Flames have added one of the top available young players in the country.

According to Sportsnet's Eric Francis, the Flames are signing Tyson Gross to a contract as a college free agent.

Gross was never drafted by an NHL team, and now with his college career at its conclusion, he can sign a contract, and it's Calgary who is landing him.

He's a 6-foot-3, 195-pound center who has starred at the NCAA level for St. Cloud State.

Notably, Gross is a native of Calgary. 

The 23-year old "will make his NHL debut before season's end," Francis writes, adding, "The product of Springbank minor hockey was the only college free agent the Flames chased. Exciting day for a kid who had grown up around the Dome."

MORE: Mammoth make a huge investment in Nick Schmaltz

Gross played in the USHL for Fargo and then Cedar Rapids before heading to St. Cloud State.

He ramped up each season at the college level.

In 2023-24, Gross had seven goals and 13 assists in 34 games.

In 2024-25, it was nine goals and 16 assists in 36 games.

This season, he topped the point per game mark, going for 18 goals and 23 assists (41 points) in 36 games.

The left-shot center may have been a late bloomer, but now he'll get the chance to join his hometown team.

It'll only become more clear once he actually takes to the NHL ice what his future upside is, but this is an exciting move by the Flames with the potential to pay long-term dividends.

MORE: MacKinnon ejected after scary Oilers collision that leaves Avalanche furious