5 thoughts on the first five games of the Flames season

The start of the 2025-26 season has not gone the way the Calgary Flames had hoped. They are 1-4-0 with their one win coming in miracle fashion on opening night in Edmonton. If it wasn’t for Stuart Skinner’s brain shutting off, the Flames wouldn’t have a single win.

And things don’t look like they’re getting any easier. The Flames finish off the month of October with games against Vegas, Winnipeg (x2), Montreal, New York, Toronto and Ottawa.

If the Flames don’t get their stuff together starting on Saturday night, they can kiss their playoff chances goodbye.

Here are five observations from the five games of the season.

1. Young players making an impact

One of the positive storylines to come from the first five games of the season is the play of Zayne Parekh, Sam Honzek, and Matvei Gridin.

Parekh is looking like he is getting more comfortable and confident in the NHL. He is coming off his best game of the season in Utah. His passing and shot are electric. His ability to maneuver along the blueline is elite. He will need some time to refine his defensive game. Dealing with the speed and strength of NHL players is something he is going to have to get used to. But that will come as he gains more experience in the NHL.

Sam Honzek has played some solid minutes on a line with Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman. He has done a good job using his size, speed, and reach to cause havoc on the forecheck. He’s also played some big minutes on the penalty kill, including Wednesday night wet the Flames went 6-6 on the PK.

Matvei Gridin has quietly put together some really good games. The best part of Gridin’s game is the high end plays he makes that set himself and his teammates up for grade A scoring chances. Gridin makes 1-2 elite plays per game that lead to goals or scoring chances that should be goals. It’s a skillset that this team is in desperate need of.

One of Gridin or Honzek will be sent to the AHL to make room for Jonathan Huberdeau. But it might be a smart idea to keep both of them up and roll four scoring lines.

2. Kevin Bahl has been great

Kevin Bahl has been the best defenceman on the Flames this season. Plain and simple.

In the defensive zone he has been rock solid shutting down plays with his stick checks. He is breaking up cycles, boxing out in front of the net, and playing a little more physical than he was last season. It also looks like he is more confident with his puck movement. He’s making a lot of tape to tape passes.

The numbers would back up the eye test. Bahl is the only defenceman to be on the ice for more goals for than against at 5-on- (3-2). He is first in xGF% (54.24%) and HDCF% (18-12, 60%).

Bahl has been one of the few players to step up and play above expectations.

3. Defence pairings are off

Speaking of defencemen. The pairings have been a little off this season. In an ideal world, you would have six defencemen who you know you’re going to start every game on the same pairing. But that just hasn’t happened yet this season.

The one pair that has been consistently put together is Bahl and Andersson. They’ve been the Flame best pairing thanks in large part to Bahl.

The other parings have been all over the place. We’ve seen:

Hanley – Weegar

Weegar – Miromanov

Hanley – Parekh

Bean – Parekh

Bean – Pachal

Pachal – Parekh

It’s time for the Flames to figure out duos that work. We know that the Jake Bean and Daniil Miromanov experiments needs to end. Both players have struggled at the NHL level dating back to last season and they are taking up roster spots for both forward and defencemen that should be with the Flames.

The other thing to consider is that Hanley and Weegar have not worked in the early going of this season. 5-on-5 high danger chances are 12-7 for the opposition and the score is 5-0 with that pair on the ice. They need to be broken up.

Here are a few different configurations the coaching staff could consider.

Option 1