10 Thoughts on Calgary Flames’ 2024-25 Season

Wolf passed with flying colours, with a Calder Trophy-type season. He was the Flames’ MVP, posting a 2.64 goals-against average (GAA), a .910 save percentage (SV%) and a 29-16-8 record through 53 appearances. There may still be some bumps along the road, given that he is young and inexperienced, but he has all the makings of a star goaltender for years to come.

Huberdeau Still Has Plenty to Give

After a down 2022-23 season, his first with the Flames, the hope was that Jonathan Huberdeau would bounce back in 2023-24. When that didn’t happen, some considered his contract the worst in the NHL and had very low expectations for him entering this season.

Perhaps the lack of expectations eased some pressure since Huberdeau was a different player this season. While still nowhere near the 115-point player he was with the Florida Panthers, he was a huge threat for the Flames offensively, finishing the season with an impressive 28 goals and 62 points.

Coronato Can Be a Big-Time Goal Scorer

When the Flames selected Matt Coronato 13th overall in the 2021 Draft, it was clear that he had all the potential to become a big-time goal-scorer at the NHL level. He struggled in 2023-24, though his production with the Calgary Wranglers of the American Hockey League (AHL) suggested it was only a matter of time before he broke out.

Sure enough, Coronato became a very impactful player in 2024-25, scoring 24 goals through 77 games. He’s still just 22 years old, suggesting there is still plenty more room for growth in his overall game, and he could become a regular 30-goal scorer very quickly.

Bahl is a Top-Four Defenceman

When the Flames acquired Kevin Bahl in the package deal for Markstrom, few knew much about him other than his massive frame at 6-foot-6.

Bahl fit like a glove, quickly establishing himself as a legitimate top-four defenceman. Though he isn’t all that physical despite his size, his reach makes him a very effective defensive player, as he’s often able to break up passes and knock pucks away from opposing players. He’s also 24, meaning there is still room for development.

Can Zary Get Past Injury-Riddled Season?

After a very impressive rookie season in 2023-24, the 2024-25 campaign proved to be difficult for Connor Zary, though not in terms of his on-ice play. The 23-year-old was solid once again, but struggled to stay healthy due to two separate knee injuries in the new year. As a result, he was limited to just 54 games.

Thankfully, neither injury was as devastating as they originally seemed, though there will be some questions about his health going forward and whether or not he can remain healthy for a full 82-game season. Hopefully, he can get in a full offseason of training and rehab to ensure he’s fully ready to go in 2025-26.

Flames Need a Top-Line Centre

General manager (GM) Craig Conroy must find a top-line centreman for his team, who also needs to be young enough to fit into the Flames’ Cup-contending timeline, which is easier said than done.

The Flames will have two first-round picks at this year’s draft and figure to use at least one of them on a centreman. That said, neither pick will come early, so their choice might not have top-line potential. A trade may be the best way to address this need this summer, but either way, they will have to address it at some point.

Parekh Appears Ready for NHL Action

Zayne Parekh is the top prospect in the organization. The ninth-overall pick from the 2024 Draft had already established himself as an elite offensive threat in the Ontario Hockey League in 2023-24 and was even better this season, registering 33 goals and 107 points in 61 games with the Saginaw Spirit.

Parekh also got to showcase some of that offensive talent in his lone NHL game this season, scoring a goal last Thursday in a 5-1 win over the LA Kings. Given his numbers in the OHL, it doesn’t make a ton of sense to send him back to junior. He’s also too young to play in the AHL, making it very likely that he will earn a roster spot on the Flames next season.

Flames Need More from Farabee

When the Flames traded Andrei Kuzmenko and Jakob Pelletier to the Philadelphia Flyers in January, the biggest piece they received in return was Morgan Frost. After all, the organization lacked depth at the centre-ice position, and Frost helped provide some stability down the middle.

The other player acquired in that trade was Joel Farabee, who has put up decent offensive numbers in seasons past but struggled with the Flyers this season. Those struggles continued with the Flames, as he had just six points in 31 games. He has three more years on his contract with a cap hit of $5 million, meaning the Flames need him to be a lot better in 2025-26.

What Happens with Pending RFAs?

The Flames have five pending restricted free agents (RFAs): Coronato, Zary, Frost, Bahl, and Adam Klapka. Klapka should get an inexpensive, short-term deal, but it’s unknown what direction Conroy and his management team will go with the other five.

There is good reason to give both Coronato and Zary long-term deals, though both players may be hesitant to sign them, given that the salary cap is expected to continue to rise in the coming seasons. Either way, keeping them as cheap as possible would be of huge benefit for the organization going forward.

Flames Fans Shouldn’t Expect Playoffs in 2025-26

As close as the Flames were to making the playoffs this season, that doesn’t mean fans should be expecting a playoff-calibre team in 2025-26. They are a very young group, and sophomore slumps are far more common than we might think. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see this season’s overachieving group regress a little in 2025-26.

By no means would regressing be a cause for concern, as the team was never expected to be as competitive as they were this season. They still have a ways to go in their rebuilding efforts, but the future continues to look bright.

What a Season for the Flames

Though there is some frustration that the organization won’t have a top draft pick, most of the fan base rallied around the team and supported them in their race for a playoff spot. While there are still several areas on the roster that need improving, the group showed impressive heart and determination all season long, which bodes well for the future of the franchise.