Flames Prospects Rory Kerins and Ben Jones Are Lifting the

One of the interesting things about following an NHL team is watching the players who aren't quite in the picture yet. They might not get much attention, and they might not be the names fans are talking about when the big club loses a game. But they're still working toward something.

For the Calgary Flames, a couple of young forwards are giving the organization something to watch. Rory Kerins and Ben Jones have both been finding the net, and while that doesn't guarantee either will get a shot with the Flames, it does make their starts worth noticing.

Kerins scored twice for the Wranglers.

Kerins scored twice in Calgary's 4-3 win over Bakersfield on Saturday. He's had a somewhat quiet start, with four points through seven games, but there's a little more to his story than those early numbers suggest. Last season, the 24-year-old put up 57 points in 56 AHL regular-season games.

That's a pretty good indication that he knows how to produce at that level. The question now is whether he can put together another strong season and convince the Flames that he's ready for a closer look.

The organization has younger prospects to consider, too, so Kerins isn't guaranteed an opportunity. But players can change their circumstances by continuing to do what gets them noticed. Two goals in one game is a good place to start.

Ben Jones is making his own case.

Jones has also been doing the job. He scored twice in Friday's 5-4 loss to San Jose, bringing his total to six goals and two assists in six appearances. He's already halfway to matching his AHL goal total from last season, when he scored 12 goals in 37 games.

That's an encouraging start, particularly for a player who spent part of last season filling a depth role with the Minnesota Wild at the NHL level. Jones will probably spend most of this season with the Wranglers, but that's not necessarily the end of the story. AHL players don't always know when their next opportunity will come. An injury, a stretch of inconsistent play or simply a need for fresh legs can open a door.

The Flames have plenty of reasons to watch both players.

Flames fans should keep watching both players. Kerins has shown he can produce over a full AHL season, while Jones is making an early case for himself with his scoring.

Neither needs to be rushed into Calgary's lineup, and a couple of good games shouldn't lead to grand predictions. But development isn't always about the prospect everyone is talking about. Sometimes it's about the player quietly making it harder for the organization to overlook him. That's worth watching.