2026/27 Calgary Flames Player Preview: Devin Cooley

In 2024/25, his first season with the Flames organization, Cooley got off to a red-hot start in the AHL, but unfortunately, a head injury limited his effectiveness down the stretch for the Calgary Wranglers. In the pre-season, he didn't look as though he was ready to make this role his own, but once the regular season rolled around, Cooley hit the ground running.

Despite only appearing in 6 NHL games before 2025/26, Cooley looked comfortable in net from the get go, and across 31 games, he established himself as arguably the best backup in the league, posting a 10-10-6 record with a 2.69 GAA and a .909 save percentage.

For the most part, Cooley outplayed starter Dustin Wolf a year ago, and while Wolf will clearly be the starter moving forward, Cooley's play earned him a two-year extension, and as a result, the Flames believe they have one of, if not the best tandems in the National Hockey League.

What Role Will Devin Cooley Play in 2026/27?

While Cooley was fantastic in 2025/26, the 29-year-old veteran isn't going to be a starter this season, but given how the Flames want to limit Wolf's minutes, there's a good chance that he still gets anywhere from 35-45 games throughout the new 84-game season.

However, Flames fans will need to temper their expectations from Cooley, as teams have now seen him after 31 appearances a year ago, meaning that to succeed again and potentially even get better in 2026/27, he will need to adjust to the adjustments that the rest of the league will be making.

Confidence should be high however, as Cooley showed he has the temprement to be a very good goaltender at the highest level, and after breaking out in 2025/26 at 29-years-old, the age goaltenders usually enter their prime, he could become a very productive player again, or potentially a big trade chip for the Flames.

Final Predictions for Cooley in 2026/27 (based on a per game average, assuming he'll play between 35-45 games): 3.06 GAA, .908 save percentage.