Basha’s WHL season was cut short due to a lower-body injury that prevented him from starting the year until May. Once he did hit the ice, however, he picked up about where he left of the season prior. In only 23 games, he managed nine goals, and 20 assists for a point pace of 1.26 per game. He also accumulated 30 penalty minutes, compared to 48 in 63 games the year before.

Basha doesn’t track to be a top-line talent in Calgary at this pace, but he has the makings of a middle-six scorer with the potential to increase his value in multi-cat leagues. His value is likely to be as low as it has been since his draft, and you’d be wise to knock on the door of his owners to see if you can pry him cheaply before he makes the move to Calgary of the AHL.

The Calgary Flames signed Basha to a three-year entry-level contract.

June 2024 Basha was selected in the second round, 41st overall, by the Calgary Flames in the 2024 NHL Draft. Hadi Kalakeche

Andrew Basha is a lot of fun. Basha is, first and foremost, an offensive catalyst, leading to a successful season where he was third among WHL eligibles in points. Basha is an entry machine. He’s equal parts quick and agile with a burning top speed to blow by neutral zone checkers. This quickness and a tight puckhandle allow him to slip through the offensive zone to avoid pressure and create lanes for himself. Basha’s tendency to constantly funnel to and arrive at the net lets him use his swift, hard, and accurate snapshot or slap home rebounds and tap-ins. Outside of his skating, Basha’s best attribute is his playmaking. No matter how fast he’s chugging along, Basha’s head is always up, maintaining his keen awareness of where his teammates are to make deceptive and timely slot passes. Especially with his speed, Basha has some checking upside, but he is not much of a defensive stalwart at the moment. His defensive game isn’t porous, and his checking game isn’t uninvolved, but Basha is an offensively focused player and will require a mentality shift to unlock the defensive upside. Overall, Basha projects as a high-end, top-nine transporter and playmaker