2026/27 Calgary Flames Season Preview

Any positives coming out of Calgary this season will revolve around players aged 23 or younger, and thankfully, there's plenty of them within the organization. Standouts include Simon Nemec, Zayne Parekh, Matvei Gridin and Matt Coronato, and this season, all four are likely to play in major roles for the Flames.

On top of that, the Flames goaltending group remains one of the strongest in the National Hockey League, and if Dustin Wolf can get back to what we saw from him in 2024/25, this team may be much more competitive than people expect.

Negatives Heading Into the 2026/27 Season

For the few positives this team has, there are many, many more negatives, with the first of all being the abundance of veterans on the team that could take away playing time from those younger players under Huska. Whether that's Zach Whitecloud on the blue line or forwards like Yegor Sharangovich, Adam Klapka, Maxim Tsyplakov or even Joel Farabee, there are positions simply being blocked by veterans that won't be key pieces on this team moving forward.

However, the biggest hole in Calgary is one that still hasn't been fixed, as they have arguably the worst centre depth in the NHL, with Morgan Frost and Mikael Backlund set to serve as 1 and 2C in 2026/27. Beyond that, it's just veteran Ryan Strome and a makeshift fourth line, and with other teams having a star along with two or three other very good centres, the Flames lack of talent becomes even more evident.

The lack of proven offense all over the ice is also a major problem, and while the Flames are expected to finish in the bottom-three in the NHL standings, it's going to get very, very ugly throughout the year.

Where Will the Flames Finish in 2026/27?

Last year, many expected the Flames to bottom out and finish 32nd in the NHL, but with some late victories, the team ended 29th in the standings, ending up with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. In 2025/26, the team moved several key veterans, trading another this off-season, and now with the team turned over to the future, it's the first true opportunity for the team to bottom out.

That won't be easy though, as Seattle, Vancouver and Chicago are all seen as teams that could finish last in the NHL, but with the Flames, more than any other team needing a top-two pick in the NHL Draft, this is their opportunity.

As their last year in the Saddledome, it's not the way that the organization would want to go out, but right now they have a plan, and finishing in a position to get a high draft pick is a key part of that plan, so for the first time ever, the Flames could be in a position to pick top-three after the 2026/27 campaign.

Who Could Break Out for the Flames in 2026/27?

We know the top young players that could produce for the Flames this season in Parekh, Nemec, Frost, Gridin, Coronato etc., but every year there appears to be a breakout campaign, so who could that be in 2026/27?

The first name that comes to mind is Yan Kuznetsov, who found himself in a solid role a year ago, and with a full year in the NHL under his belt, his confidence should be high heading into a year where he's likely to be paired with Zach Whitecloud.

However, the biggest potential breakout name remains Samuel Honzek, who showed potential in 18 games a year ago as a two-way winger, and given his growth both physically and mentally, if he finds a consistent role in the top-six, he has a chance to solidify himself as a key piece of the Flames future.

Who Could be Traded by the Flames in 2026/27?

In 2024/25, the Flames dealt the likes of Chris Tanev, Noah Hanifin and in the off-season Jacob Markstrom, and in 2025/26 they followed it up by dealing Mackenzie Weegar, Rasmus Andersson and Noah Hanifin. That means that most of their valuable assets are now gone, but the dealing won't stop for Craig Conroy, as the team are all but guaranteed to be sellers again this season.

The most obvious candidates for the Flames are Ryan Strome, Morgan Frost and Zach Whitecloud, but with positive seasons, the team could also get solid assets out of Joel Farabee, Yegor Sharangovich, Adam Klapka or Martin Pospisil if they play their cards right.

Of course, the Flames need some veterans to help lead the youth into the future, but with the 2027 and 2028 NHL Drafts being absolutely loaded, the Flames would be wise to get as many draft picks as possible.

Who Could be Acquired by the Flames in 2026/27?

While the draft is the best way to build for the future, Craig Conroy took a swing on Simon Nemec this off-season, and if the team are sellers at the deadline, it would make sense if they were looking to target more young, NHL ready players.

The names they've recently been linked too include Shane Wright, Kent Johnson and Kirby Dach among others, and if a player is under 23-years-old and has high end potential, it makes sense for Conroy to keep taking big swings.

Ultimately, the moves would depend on how much Calgary need to give up in a deal, as they shouldn't be sacrificing too much draft capital to make a deal happen,

Which Prospects Will Arrive in the NHL in 2026/27?

This season is all about the future, and while the NHL roster has plenty of young talent, it's their prospect pool that will lead them to success, and thankfully, they've got plenty of talent in their pool. As we all know, players can break out from anywhere and push for an NHL role, but right now, it appears as though the Flames plan for this season is already clearly laid out.

That will mean that late in the year, the NCAA quartet of Carson Carels, Cole Reschny, Ethan Wyttenbach and Cullen Potter will all get their opportunities, with the opening of the new arena set to be defined by the arrival of the future.

As for players to watch from the AHL, this is likely going to be Aydar Suniev's full-time promotion to the NHL if he starts well, and with players like Jonathan Castagna and Hunter Brzustewicz, depending on how things play out, the youth movement will grow stronger in 2026/27.

What Does a Successful Season Look Like for the Flames in 2026/27?

For most teams, a successful season would be qualification into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and for others like Edmonton, Florida, Carolina and Colorado, the season will be seen as a failure unless they hoist the Stanley Cup at the end.

So, what should the Flames be looking to accomplish? First of all, the biggest priority is putting Parekh, Nemec, Gridin and Coronato in positions to succeed, and if at least three of the four can have a career year, that's a good start for the organization. Beyond that, the team need to add some more draft capital ahead of the 2027 NHL Draft, and in doing so, the team could trade some veterans that open up space for the future that will continue to arrive in Calgary beyond this season.

Ultimately though, succeeding or failing this year for the Flames is dependent on getting the first top-three pick in franchise history, and with some incredible prospects waiting in the 2027 NHL Draft, this is their opportunity to land a franchise centre.