In an ideal world, a young goaltender’s transition to the pro ranks would go smoothly. In the real world, that rarely happens. Jon Gillies’ first campaign saw him play just seven American Hockey League games before a recurring hip injury required surgery and Mason McDonald found himself in a season-long battle for an ECHL starting job.
Given those recent examples, it’s probably not shocking that Calgary Flames goaltending prospect Tyler Parsons faced some adversity during his first whirl in pro hockey. In his first full season as a professional, he faced injuries, adjustment challenges, and the difficulties of being yo-yoed between Stockton and Kansas City for much of the season.