Flames Forward Caps Long Journey to NHL With First Goal

Kirkland is just one example of persistence paying off in the NHL. The Canadian-born winger was selected in the third-round of the 2014 draft by the Nashville Predators, but it's been a decade-long journey to get to his first point in the NHL. Bleacher Report's hockey X account, Open Ice, shared an incredible infographic on Kirkland's career arc.

After concluding his junior career in the Western Hockey League, Kirkland spent the start of his professional career in the ECHL (ECHL) with the Cincinnati Cyclones. He graduated to the American Hockey League (AHL), where he would play the next seven seasons without receiving any NHL call-ups.

That all changed during the 2022-2023 season, when the Anaheim Ducks called him up for seven games. He failed to record a point, but it was his first taste of the show. It would led to a contract with the now defunct Arizona Coyotes and another two NHL games with their club. Again, he spent the majority of his time with Arizona with their AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners, recording 30 points in 43 games.

That caught the attention of the Flames, who signed him to a one-year deal in the offseason. He surprisingly made the NHL team out of training camp, and now he's making an impact right out of the gate. He fared strongly in his first taste of the Battle of Alberta, scoring his first career goal against the Edmonton Oilers.

It's unclear how long this hot streak will run for Kirkland, but he doesn't care. This is a culmination of a decade of dedication and hard work finally giving him an opportunity. While he has it, he's making the most of it with the Flames.