The Calgary Flames have placed forward Ilya Nikolaev on waivers for the sole purpose of contract termination, which will make him available for the taking. Ilya Nikolaev is a forward born in Russia who was selected by the Calgary Flames during the third round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Well, today <a href='https://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/young_calgary_flames_forward_gets_put_on_waivers_for_the_purpose_of_contract_termination/s1_17448_41315596' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>the Flames have announced that they've placed Nikolaev on waivers</a> with the intention of terminating his contract. The Flames put Ilya Nikolaev on waivers for mutual termination. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/PuckPedia/status/1862218705259708665'> </a></blockquote></div> Born on June 26, 2001, in Yaroslavl, Russia, Nikolaev developed his talents in the Loko Yaroslavl development program before making his move to North America in 2021. A left-shooting center who measures 6 feet tall and weighs 190 pounds, he possesses elite speed and is an offensive talent. Nikolaev starred in the USHL with the Tri-City Storm, registering 72 points in 58 games during the 2021-22 season. That effort earned him a jump to professional hockey, playing both in the AHL and ECHL. With most thinking the Calgary Flames were to be in rebuild mode this season, one would have thought Dustin Wolf, Martin Pospisil, and Connor Zary would have featured more, among other young emerging players. It would appear Nikolaev did not play into those short-term plans. With his time in Calgary now in the rearview mirror, the skillset and potential that Nikolaev possesses could open doors toward a successful career with another organization.