Examining the Calgary Flames’ organizational depth chart on defence

The left side of the blueline can best be described as quantity instead of quality for the Flames. After MacKenzie Weegar, the skill level experiences a massive drop-off. Weegar is actually a right-shot too, but has typically played on the left throughout his career. He’s a true, elite number one defender, but the Flames would probably want him to move to the right side eventually.

Kevin Bahl would be considered the best left-shot defender in the organization right now. While he’s perfectly fine as a second pairing option, he isn’t exactly a game-changer or someone who is going to contribute much in the way of offence. This is where the cracks start to show. After Bahl, the Flames don’t have a single left-shot defender who you’d feel comfortable playing in your top-four. The next option up would be Jake Bean, who can stay afloat on a third pairing but should never be lining up in the top-four of an NHL lineup.

After Bean, you have a large group of AHL defenders with limited to no NHL experience. Ilya Solovyov is the more experienced of the bunch and looks to be the next in line, but his upside likely limits him to the third pairing at best. Kuznetsov, Grushnikov, and Jurmo are a trio of shutdown, defensive defenders who all look like long shots to become NHLers at this point.

Left defence in the pipeline

Poirier, meanwhile, once looked like a promising young defender, but after a serious injury in 2023 and decreased production in 2024–25, the 2021 third-round pick is running out of time to make the NHL. He’s got potential, but at this point, it’s more likely than not that he never becomes an NHLer if he doesn’t make it soon.

Etienne Morin is the wild card here. The 2023 second-round pick is currently playing in the QMJHL final and will be pushing for a full-time spot with the Wranglers in 2025–26. A slick, talented defender, Morin has the tools to become an NHL defenceman one day. The Flames will certainly be keeping a watchful eye on his AHL progression as they are desperate for a young left-shot defender to make some noise.

Both Eric Jamieson and Axel Hurting were late draft picks and carry limited upside. The best-case scenario for both is likely to provide some depth to the Wranglers over the years, as an NHL job is a long shot for both.

All in all, the Flames have plenty of bodies on the left side of defence, but a complete lack of high-end talent after Weegar. If either Bahl or Weegar were to miss time with an injury next season, it would be Bean and Solovyov as the next two guys up, which is a scary thought for a team with playoff aspirations. Don’t be surprised to see the Flames target the left side of their defence in free agency and the draft this summer.

Right defence

The right side is a different story. It’s the complete opposite scenario, where the Flames have a lot of quality but not a lot of quantity. I count just seven right-shot defenders in the entire organization right now, and only five at the pro ranks going into 2025–26.

Rasmus Andersson is by far the best right-shot defender in the organization, and the only one with top-four or top-pairing experience in the NHL. As it currently stands, Brayden Pachal is number two on the organizational depth chart on the right side. In other words, yikes. Andersson is coming off a horrendous 2024–25 season, but when he’s at his best, he’s a good top-pairing defender. The problem is that the Flames have seen less and less of the good Andersson in recent years. There’s also the fact that he very likely could be traded this summer, leaving the Flames with a gigantic hole on the right side.

After Andersson, there are Pachal and Miromanov, who are both bottom-pairing defenders at best. You could realistically question if Miromanov is even an NHL player at this point, as his results took a nosedive in 2024–25. Not exactly what you want to hear about the number three option on your depth chart.

Right defence in the pipeline

This is where the fun starts, though. The Flames have a trio of supremely talented young defenders on the right side in Zayne Parekh, Hunter Brzustewicz, and Henry Mews. All three have lit up the CHL level and have the talent to become impact players in the NHL. Right now, the Flames are really banking on at least two of the three hitting and becoming full-time NHL players, and at least one of them becoming a top pairing defenceman.

Parekh, of course, is the best of the bunch by quite a wide margin. The 2024 ninth overall pick finished his OHL career as one of the best defenders in league history, and looked great in his one NHL game last season. There will be growing pains for sure, but Parekh has all the makings of a future elite top pairing guy on the right side. For now, I wouldn’t expect him to play big minutes in 2025–26 as the team eases him into the pro ranks.

Brzustewicz is the most NHL-ready of the young trio, given he already has a year of AHL experience under his belt. He looked really solid in his one NHL game last year, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see him land a full-time NHL gig right out of camp next year, given that his current competition is Miromanov.

There’s a ton of potential on the right side, but it’ll be a year or two before we see it start to make a real impact at the NHL level. With Rasmus Andersson potentially out the door this summer, the Flames should be in the market for a dependable veteran option for the right side in free agency this summer.

A work in progress

As the Flames look to rebuild their blueline from 2024’s mass exodus, some promising young pieces have made their way to Calgary. With that said, the Flames still have some glaring holes on the blueline both in the present and the future. They’ve made some good progress restocking the cupboards on the backend, but there is still a ways to go before the Flames’ blue line looks like one of a contender.

Calgary Flames Defensive Depth Chart: Assessing Current and Future Talent