Breaking down the current Flames roster construction

As the current roster stands, most players were acquired through a trade and then through the draft. Together, the Flames have used both those approaches to build 66% of the team. 23% of the roster was constructed through free agent signings, followed lastly by waiver claims. Let’s dive into some notable names in each option.

Trade

The Flames have been making many trades over the past two years, and it shows in their roster breakdown.

Jonathan Huberdeau

One of the biggest trades in NHL history, Huberdeau, who is now a long-time member of the Flames, was acquired through trade in 2022 in the famous Matthew Tkachuk trade.

Kevin Bahl

A staple and key piece on the blue line for the Flames this year. He was traded to the Flames by the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Jacob Markstrom. Many fans did not know much about Bahl; however, they sure do now.

Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost

It’s unclear how long the two players will be Flames; however, both are key top-six players for the team. The Flames acquired these two players from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Jakob Pelletier and Andrei Kuzmenko, both of whom are no longer members of the Flyers.

Draft

This is where a franchise will build its core group of players who will hopefully be key pieces in bringing the team to contention status. The Flames drafted Mikael Backlund back in 2007, and he has been a Flame ever since. Who else was drafted who may be long-term members of the team?

Dustin Wolf

Wolf is the new franchise goalie for years to come for the city. He just recently signed a 7-year contract extension after coming in second in Calder Trophy votes. Back when the Flames drafted him in 2019, they struck absolute gold as they found their new franchise goalie for years to come in the seventh round.

Matt Coronato

Coronato has been a member of the organization for a while now, but he is also a younger player who was not drafted too long ago. The Flames drafted him in 2021, and he also just recently signed a seven-year extension with the team, solidifying his spot as a key core piece.

Zayne Parekh

The most recent high draft pick for the Flames. Currently in his rookie season, Flames fans and the organization itself hope Parekh can become the elite defenceman that he is projected to be. The Flames just recently drafted him in 2024, 9th overall.

Free Agent Signings

The Flames have found some very good value in their free agent signings over the recent years; however, even with that, it is still just the third most used method of roster construction by the Flames.

Blake Coleman

Coleman is definitely the most notable and most valuable player that the Flames have acquired through free agency. Back in 2021, former Flames GM Brad Treliving signed Coleman to a six-year deal. However, now that the team has decided to rebuild, Coleman likely is going to move on to a new team in the near future as the Flames look to move toward a younger direction. Despite this, Coleman has been a very productive Flame and will have a long list of potential teams that will want to trade for him.

Devin Cooley

What a great story Cooley has been for the franchise. Not many thought much of it when Cooley was signed in 2024. A potential backup goalie or AHL starting goalie. However, now he has really impressed both those in Calgary and around the league as a whole. Cooley has found himself a new home here in Calgary as he has now been signed for another two years. The Flames got incredible value with Cooley.

Waivers

As no surprise, this has been the least used method by the Flames to build their roster.

Joel Hanley and Brayden Pachal

Hanley and Pachal were both claimed off waivers from Dallas and Vegas, respectively. Both players have served as good options as bottom pairing defenceman for the team, providing good depth for a team looking to grow.

A little bit of everything

The Flames overall have built through the roster through a very balanced approach. Many players that the team sees as their main core pieces were acquired through the draft, whereas support pieces have been mainly acquired through free agency and trades. The Flames will look to add more to their core in the upcoming 2026 NHL draft.