Calgary Flames 2025–26 preseason awards predictions

We are now just mere weeks away from the NHL season starting back up, and with just a few weeks left until training camp, the Calgary Flames have been awfully busy in preparation for the new season. They just held their annual preseason golf tournament and locked up both Connor Zary and Dustin Wolf to fresh contract extensions.

The team does have some expectations heading into the new season, as they finished just one point back of the final wild card spot in the Western Conference last season. It is expected that the younger players on the roster will take another step forward in hopes of making the Flames a playoff team.

In saying all of that, let’s put some predictions together on who will lead the Flames this year and what awards will be handed out by us here at The Win Column.

MVP: Dustin Wolf

Runner-up: MacKenzie Weegar

I think many will agree that if the Flames are to go anywhere this season, it will be on the back of goaltender Dustin Wolf. Fresh on a new extension that will keep him in Calgary for the next eight years, Wolf had a historic rookie season a year ago, where he single-handedly almost dragged the Flames kicking and screaming into a playoff spot.

He gave the Flames a chance to win every single night, and even if the Flames manage to score more this season, the talent level still is not to a point on the team where they will be a shoo-in to score more than three goals a game. Wolf will need to be as good or better than he was a season ago—and all signs point to him doing that—for the Flames to have a chance at a playoff spot. However, if you are going to bet on someone being able to pull that off, there is no better choice than Wolf.

Best Forward: Matt Coronato

Runner-up: Nazem Kadri

After a breakout campaign a season ago and being rewarded with a long-term extension this offseason to go with it, I believe Matt Coronato is going to take a massive step forward this season, solidifying himself as a core piece of the team. He had a very strong season last year, scoring 24 goals, and he was one of the team’s most consistent players after his short AHL stint early in the year.

Coronato came back with a chip on his shoulder and made a name for himself within the top-six and top power play unit. He became a very reliable piece for the Flames both offensively and defensively. This season will hopefully see him take another step in the right direction, and he will be eyeing his first career 30-goal season. I think he is going to take off this season, and for the Flames’ sake, it would be huge if he could.

Best Defencemen: MacKenzie Weegar

Runner-up: Kevin Bahl

This one is a no-brainer. There is no defencemen on the team that comes close to the type of player that MacKenzie Weegar is. He is the team’s number one defenceman, plays in all situations, and he is relied on more than any rearguard on the team.

Weegar was fantastic once again last season, and I can see him being that again this season. He will be more motivated than ever, he has already talked about the Flames flying under the radar and that has lit a fire under him and he will be motivated to make Team Canada for the upcoming Olympics that is to take place in February. The defence is his now, and with Rasmus Andersson most likely on his way out, he will need to take total control of the defence group and lead them to where they need to go.

Breakout Player: Connor Zary

Runner-up: Morgan Frost

After a season riddled by injuries, inconsistencies, and a suspension, I think we are going to see Connor Zary take a huge step this season after breaking into the league two years ago with a very impressive rookie season. He will need to take a step this season after inking a three-year bridge deal last week, but he will come in this year ready to prove that he can be a core piece moving forward.

Zary could be the team’s most dynamic player on any given night when he is on, and there are some nights when you have trouble finding him on the ice. However, last season, before he sustained his first injury, Zary was rolling and looked like he was taking a major step in the right direction.

The injuries probably played a role in some of the inconsistencies he showed, but if he can have his first healthy full season, we may see Zary pull together a 50-point season. He is by far and away my pick to break out, and these next three years could be make or break for Zary in Calgary.

Rookie of the Year: Zayne Parekh

Runner-up: Hunter Brzustewicz

Now, we may only see one rookie play near a full season this year, but that rookie is one of the best in the sport, and that is none other than Zayne Parekh. Parekh is coming into camp this year with only one thing on his mind: making the Calgary Flames’ opening night roster, and he will be given every opportunity to do so.

Parekh is not going back to the OHL. He has nothing left to prove there after putting up one of the best seasons by a defenceman in CHL history. There are a few guys that he will have to jump to make the team, but I really do believe that he will be on the roster when the team kicks off their season on October 8.

Once Parekh is in, there is no other rookie close to his capabilities on the ice. While there may be some growing pains, he is so talented, and he will figure out how to play the NHL game. He will not only be the Flames’ best rookie, but if everything goes right, he could contend for the Calder Trophy.

Bounce Back Candidate of the Year: Yegor Sharangovich

Runner-up: Joel Farabee

After a horrendous season last year, I think Yegor Sharangovich is a safe bet to have a bounce-back season. Nothing went right for him last year. He dealt with injuries, couldn’t score to save his life, and was a ghost on most nights, not impacting the game at all. All of this came after he inked a massive extension last summer after scoring 31 goals in his first season as a Flame.

Sharangovich has a great shot, maybe the best on the team. He just has to get back to the basics this season and get into spots to score goals. He will not be relied on heavily to carry the load, so hopefully, after a summer of recovering, he can come into this year with a clear head and just do what he does best, which is scoring goals. It would certainly be nice to make the contract look a little better than it did a year ago.

Locked and loaded

The season is just over a month away, everyone is signed, business has been taken care of, and the vibes are high going into this season. While expectations that are put on the team may not be very high, you know the team will be ready to prove the doubters wrong. As someone who loves hockey, I could not be more excited for the Flames to be back, and another season is just around the corner.