Flames sign former first-round pick Sonny Milano to a professional tryout contract

The Massapequa, New York native was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets 16th overall in the 2014 NHL Draft. He played for the U.S. National Under-18 team in his draft year, alongside future stars Jack Eichel Auston Matthews, and Dylan Larkin. Milano finished second on the team in points with 39 in 25 games.

After getting drafted Milano switched development tracks, playing for the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League. He was the best player on a weak Whalers team, finishing with 68 points in 50 games.

Later in the year, he turned pro, playing 10 games in the American Hockey League for the Springfield Falcons. The following season, he earned a full-time job in the AHL, scoring 31 points in 54 games for the Lake Erie Monsters, the Blue Jackets’ minor-league affiliate.

Milano made his NHL debut that season, playing three games for the Blue Jackets and scoring his first NHL point. For the 2016-17 season, he returned to the AHL, showcasing his offensive talents and leading the team in scoring as a 20-year-old.

The next couple of seasons represented a series of highs and lows for Milano. In 2017-18, he was a regular on the Blue Jackets roster, scoring 14 goals and 22 points in 55 games. However, he played only eight NHL games in the 2018-19 season. His time in Columbus came to an end when he was traded for Devin Shore in February 2020.

Milano played eight total games in his injury-riddled 2020-21 season, split between the Anaheim Ducks and San Diego Gulls of the AHL.

Just when it seemed his career was grinding to a halt, Milano caught fire in the 2021-22 season, often playing alongside Rickard Rackell and Trevor Zegras. In 66 games, he scored 14 goals and 34 points, placing seventh on the Ducks in scoring. However, most of his scoring was done in the first half of the season. In the last 27 games of the season, Milano scored a total of three goals and five points.

Milano is an offensively gifted but inconsistent winger. If the Flames end up signing him to an NHL contract, he will be a useful addition to their top nine, assuming he can stay healthy.