Examining how the Calgary Flames defence pairings have fared so far this season

Ryan Huska’s favourite duo has been surprisingly decent so far this season, sitting above water in both CF% and xGF%. They’ve also been carrying the load offensively among the Flames’ defensive pairings. More often than not, when the Flames score at even strength, it’s Bahl and Andersson out there. Of their six even strength goals this year, this duo has been on the ice for five of them.

What’s interesting is that although their totals for CF% and xGF% look decent, they’re actually both the worst among regular Flames pairings this season. Their xGA/60 of 2.44 is also the second worst. So while the duo has been better than last year, they’re still arguably the least effective pairing on the roster. At this point, it’s probably worth mixing things up and separating this duo for a bit.

Joel Hanley – MacKenzie Weegar

Another one of the Flames’ favourite 2024–25 duos on defence, Joel Hanley and MacKenzie Weegar have spent a ton of time together once again this season. With that said, it’s been a mixed bag so far this year. First, let’s start with the good. The duo has posted a really strong 56.1 xGF% while on the ice together, the second-best total among regular Flames pairings. Their 2.3 xGA/60 is also the second best among regular pairings.

Now for the bad. The duo has been absolutely destroyed at even strength when it comes to actual goal production. Together, Hanley and Weegar have not been on the ice for a single Flames goal at even strength, but have been out there for six against. Their -6 GD at even strength is by far the worst among Flames pairings, with the next worst pairing at an even 0. Whether it was just bad luck or bad goaltending, the duo has really struggled to keep the puck out of the net while together this year.

Jake Bean – MacKenzie Weegar

Poor Weegar. The Flames’ top defender has been thrown out there with just about everyone this season, and it’s been a struggle each time. At the very least, Bean and Weegar looked better than Hanley and Weegar did. The duo’s results are all over the place, though. Their 61.5 CF% is actually the second best among regular Flames pairings, while their 2.66 xGA/60 is the worst among regular pairings. In other words, the duo was gaining more shot attempts than the opponent, but they were getting crushed in terms of scoring chances and expected goals against.

They also generated just one goal together while on the ice, which is sadly the second-best total among Flames pairings. They also only gave up one against, so that’s good at least? While this pairing wasn’t terrible, it defies logic to staple an anchor like Bean to your best defender in Weegar.

Joel Hanley – Zayne Parekh

Zayne Parekh has looked better with every game he’s played this season, and there’s no further proof than just how good his pairing with Joel Hanley has looked since being put together. The duo has been dominant at even strength, posting the best CF% and xGF% among all Flames pairings this year. While they haven’t found the back of the net while together yet, they also haven’t given up anything coming back either. Their 0.94 xGA/60 is the best among all Flames pairings this season.

They haven’t just been the best among Flames pairings; they’ve been one of the best pairings in the entire league. Among pairings with at least 30 minutes together this season, Hanley and Parekh have posted the second-best CF%, xGF%, and xGA/60 across the entire NHL. Huska would be wise to keep this duo together, as it’s only a matter of time before they start chipping in offensively.