Dryden Hunt Bio
Dryden Hunt (born November 24, 1995) is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger for the Calgary Wranglers of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) and weighing 197 lb (89 kg), Hunt skates and shoots left and has carved out a role as a physical, energy-driving forward across the league.
Undrafted out of junior hockey, Hunt has built his professional career through persistence, moving between the NHL and AHL while suiting up for the Florida Panthers, Arizona Coyotes, New York Rangers, Colorado Avalanche, Toronto Maple Leafs, and now the Flames organization. His journey from the Saskatchewan and British Columbia midget ranks to the NHL reflects a steady climb fueled by offensive production and a willingness to embrace a checking-line identity.
Early Life and Background
Dryden Hunt was born on November 24, 1995, in Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada. Growing up in the Kootenay region, he was introduced to hockey at a young age and developed his game in the strong youth hockey culture of western Canada. Cranbrook, a small city in the Rocky Mountain Trench, is well known across Canada for producing competitive hockey players, and Hunt followed that tradition.
He began his organized junior career with the Notre Dame Argos of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League. After that initial season, Hunt returned to his home province to play for the Kootenay Ice in the British Columbia Hockey Major Midget League. These early stops allowed him to refine his two-way game and prepare for the rigors of major junior hockey.
Path to Professional Hockey
Hunt chose to pursue a major junior career in the Western Hockey League (WHL), joining the Regina Pats. During his fourth season with the club in 2014–15, Hunt was leading the Pats with 47 points in 37 games when he was traded to the Medicine Hat Tigers on January 5, 2015. He played out the season in Medicine Hat, contributing 36 points in 34 games and continuing to demonstrate the offensive skill that had made him a key piece for Regina.
Undrafted by NHL clubs, Hunt opted to play his overage year in the WHL and was acquired by the Moose Jaw Warriors before the 2015–16 season on September 23, 2015. He led the Warriors and the entire WHL with 58 goals in 72 games, finishing the regular season with 116 points as an alternate captain. After a second-round playoff exit in which he added 16 points in 10 post-season games, Hunt was selected as the WHL’s Player of the Year and earned a place on the East First All-Star Team, cementing his status as one of the top undrafted prospects in the league.
Dryden Hunt Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
Hunt signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League on March 2, 2016, beginning his professional career. He spent the majority of the 2016–17 season with the Panthers’ AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, scoring 13 goals and 31 points. In February 2017, he was briefly demoted to the Manchester Monarchs of the ECHL, where he appeared in two games and scored twice before returning to Springfield.
He was assigned to Springfield to start the 2017–18 season and, after 13 strong games, was recalled by the Panthers on November 9, 2017. Hunt made his NHL debut on November 10, 2017, in a 4–1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, and registered his first NHL point on November 27, 2017, assisting on Jared McCann’s game-winning goal in a 3–2 victory over the New Jersey Devils. After 11 NHL games with just one assist, he was returned to Springfield, where he finished the year with 23 goals and 46 points in 58 AHL games.
Florida Panthers Breakthrough (2018–2020)
Hunt opened the 2018–19 season with the Thunderbirds before receiving his first recall of the year on November 19. He made his NHL season debut against the Ottawa Senators in a 7–5 victory, earning his first NHL point of the season by assisting on Jared McCann’s first-period goal. On March 10, 2019, Hunt scored his first NHL goal against goaltender Jimmy Howard in a 6–1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings, capping a season in which he played 51 AHL games (23 goals, 41 points) and 31 NHL games (3 goals, 10 points).
He made the Panthers roster out of training camp to begin the 2019–20 season, but after playing 20 games with only four assists, Hunt was placed on waivers in November. After going unclaimed, he was assigned to the AHL, appearing in 35 games with Springfield and posting 13 goals and 29 points. Recalled in February 2020, he played one more NHL game before the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 12. When play resumed for the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, Hunt made his playoff debut in a best-of-five qualifying round versus the New York Islanders, appearing in two games.
Arizona Coyotes Era (2020–2021)
After his fourth season within the Panthers organization, Hunt was not tendered a qualifying offer by Florida, making him an unrestricted free agent. On October 10, 2020, he signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Arizona Coyotes. During the pandemic-shortened 2020–21 season, Hunt spent time on the Coyotes taxi squad before being elevated into the lineup.
He made his Arizona debut in a 4–3 defeat to the St. Louis Blues on February 2, 2021, and scored his first goal with the Coyotes against Ville Husso in a 5–4 loss to St. Louis on February 13. Adding a physical presence whenever he was inserted into the lineup, Hunt posted three goals and eight points through 26 games as the Coyotes missed the post-season.
New York Rangers Era (2021–2022)
On July 28, 2021, Hunt signed a two-year deal as a free agent with the New York Rangers. He made his Rangers debut on opening night of the 2021–22 season, featuring on the fourth line in a 5–1 defeat to the Washington Capitals on October 13, 2021. On November 5, 2021, he made his 100th NHL appearance in a 6–5 overtime defeat to the Edmonton Oilers, and he registered his first goal as a Ranger in a 2–1 defeat to the Toronto Maple Leafs on November 18, 2021.
While serving as one of the Rangers’ leaders in hits, Hunt was elevated in the lineup during the season and recorded a career-high three assists on March 12, 2022, in a 7–4 victory over the Dallas Stars. He finished the regular season with career highs of 76 games played, 6 goals, 11 assists, and 17 points. Hunt went scoreless in three playoff appearances as the Rangers advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Colorado Avalanche and Toronto Maple Leafs Era (2022–2023)
In his final season under contract with the Rangers, Hunt scored one goal in three games to open 2022–23 before being placed on waivers on October 19, 2022. He was claimed the following day by the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche. Hunt made his Avalanche debut on the fourth line in a 3–2 defeat to the Seattle Kraken on October 21, 2022, and registered his first point and goal with Colorado in his 15th appearance, helping the Avalanche to a 4–1 win over the Dallas Stars on November 26, 2022.
After 25 appearances with the Avalanche and only one goal, Hunt was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Denis Malgin on December 19, 2022. He scored his first goal for Toronto against the Florida Panthers on January 17, 2023, before being waived and reassigned to the Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, on January 23. He posted four goals and nine points in 15 games with the Marlies before the next move.
Calgary Flames Era (2023–Present)
On March 3, 2023, the Maple Leafs traded Hunt to the Calgary Flames in exchange for forward Radim Zohorna, and he was directly reassigned to the Flames’ AHL affiliate, the Calgary Wranglers, for the remainder of the season. As a free agent, Hunt re-signed with Calgary on a two-year, two-way contract on July 2, 2023. He made the Flames roster out of training camp to begin the 2023–24 season, but after going pointless in four games, was placed on waivers on November 7 and assigned to the Wranglers. He was recalled on February 16, 2024, and scored his first goal as a Flame on February 24 against Stuart Skinner in a 6–3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. He finished the season with the Flames, appearing in 28 games with 3 goals and 8 points, and added 7 goals and 22 points in 23 games with the Wranglers.
Driving Style and Strengths
Dryden Hunt is best known for his physical, energy-driven approach, and he has been among hits leaders in multiple locker rooms, including during his time with the New York Rangers. He combines forechecking intensity with a willingness to block shots and play a responsible defensive game, while still contributing offensively on lower lines. Coaches have consistently trusted him in fourth-line and penalty-killing roles, and his ability to deliver a hit or spark momentum has made him a valuable complementary forward.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Hunt’s signature career moments are his first NHL goal against Jimmy Howard on March 10, 2019, his 100th NHL appearance on November 5, 2021, and a career-high three-assist performance against the Dallas Stars on March 12, 2022. He was also a WHL Player of the Year and East First All-Star Team selection in 2015–16 with the Moose Jaw Warriors, and he made his NHL playoff debut with the Florida Panthers during the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Dryden Hunt Career Wins
Dryden Hunt has accumulated a versatile professional resume that includes NHL, AHL, and ECHL experience across multiple organizations. While he is not primarily a goal-scoring star, his offensive totals in junior, AHL, and NHL play reflect a player who has produced wherever he has been given opportunity.
WHL Highlights
In the Western Hockey League, Hunt’s most decorated season came in 2015–16 with the Moose Jaw Warriors, when he led the league with 58 goals in 72 games and finished the regular season with 116 points. That year he was named WHL Player of the Year and earned a place on the East First All-Star Team, while adding 16 points in 10 post-season games.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the WHL, Hunt was an AHL contributor with the Springfield Thunderbirds, posting 13 goals and 31 points in 2016–17, 23 goals and 46 points in 2017–18, and 23 goals and 41 points in 2018–19. He also produced for the Toronto Marlies in 2022–23, with 4 goals and 9 points in 15 games, and added 7 goals and 22 points in 23 games with the Calgary Wranglers in 2023–24. He won the Mann Cup in major midget hockey with the Notre Dame Argos.
Dryden Hunt Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Dryden Hunt was raised in Cranbrook, British Columbia, a community with a strong hockey tradition in the Kootenay region. His early development through the Notre Dame Argos and Kootenay Ice reflects the influence of western Canada’s midget and major midget systems on his formative years.
Personal Life
Hunt is a Canadian citizen who has spent his professional career based in the cities of his various NHL clubs, including Sunrise, Glendale, New York, Denver, Toronto, and Calgary. Public details about his spouse, children, or extended family are not widely documented.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Dryden Hunt remains under contract with the Calgary Flames and is expected to compete for a bottom-six roster spot while splitting time between the NHL club and the Calgary Wranglers of the AHL. After a 2023–24 campaign in which he posted 3 goals and 8 points in 28 NHL games and 7 goals and 22 points in 23 AHL games, Hunt enters the new season with momentum and a clearer role within the organization.
His ability to provide physicality, energy, and penalty-killing reliability has made him a consistent option for the Flames’ coaching staff. As the Flames continue to balance development and competitiveness, Hunt’s two-way game and familiarity with the Wranglers system position him as a reliable call-up candidate whenever injuries arise.
The outlook for Hunt in 2025 hinges on earning consistent NHL ice time and translating his physical, hard-working style into measurable offensive contributions. With a two-year deal in hand, he has stability and an opportunity to cement himself as a regular contributor for the Flames or play a leading role with the Wranglers if assigned there.
