Cochrane's Dillon Dube may be starting his hockey season with the Stockton Heat of the American Hockey League (AHL) but team officials say we'll likely see him in a Flames jersey at some point this season.

Dube had a strong training camp and preseason with the Flames but was not part of the roster announced late last night for the NHL club's season opener in Colorado on Thursday night.

Flames general manager Brad Treliving says they're sensitive to salary cap and are starting their season with 13 forwards. He believes it's smarter to keep their rising stars in the AHL than have them watch the game from the press box.

"It's doesn't make a whole lot of sense to have two healthy guys scratched, especially when they're young people and they need to keep playing," said Treliving last night. "So Thursday night, Dillon is not playing in Colorado but he's playing 20 some odd minutes in Stockton. That's better for him."

He believes it also helps players bring their best game every night.

"It creates competition on a nightly basis for playing time but also players can come up and give us games and be good players for us, so that's a positive."

Dube appeared in four preseason games, scoring one goal and assisting on another. He made the starting roster last year and played 25 games before heading to Stockton. In 37 games with the Heat, he scored 15 goals and assisted on another 24 for 39 points. With the Flames, he had a goal and assist.