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Yegor Sharangovich, Calgary Flames (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Flames Need to Address Yegor Sharangovich’s Struggles

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Rupert McDonald | Last updated Mar 17, 2025 3:25 PM ET

The Calgary Flames haven’t had too many concerning issues to address this season. Sure, they struggle to score goals, but that was always expected to be with a team that parted ways with so many veterans a season ago. They did that in order to begin a rebuild, and in the first season of doing so, sit in a playoff spot with only 17 games remaining.

The biggest reason for the Flames’ success is the play of rookie goaltender Dustin Wolf. The 23-year-old has excelled all season long, and is a frontrunner to win the Calder Trophy given annually to the NHL’s best rookie performer.

Wolf isn’t the only Flame who has stepped up, however. Jonathan Huberdeau is having a much-needed bounce-back season with a team-leading 25 goals and 49 points, while Nazem Kadri has also been solid with 23 goals and 48 points. Meanwhile, another young player in Matt Coronato has brought provided some impressive secondary scoring with 16 goals and 33 points through 60 outings.

One player who has not impressed is Yegor Sharangovich. The 26-year-old exploded for 31 goals and 59 points in 2023-24, his first season with the Flames, which helped earn him a five-year, $28.75 million extension. That signing is quickly looking like a mistake, as he has been a shell of himself in 2024-25.

Sharangovich Providing Nothing of Value to Flames

It was well known when the Flames traded Tyler Toffoli to acquire Sharangovich that they were receiving a very streaky player who had frustrated both fans and the coaching staff of the New Jersey Devils organization. For whatever reason, he was never able to put it all together in New Jersey, though that seemed to change in his first season with Calgary.

Now, the Flames organization is quickly realizing just how frustrating of a player he can be. It’s evident watching him that his confidence is completely shot. He’s generating next to no chances offensively night-to-night, isn’t shooting the puck despite having a great release, and has just 12 goals and 23 points through 57 games.

The issue with Sharangovich is that when he isn’t scoring, he doesn’t bring anything to the table. He isn’t a physical player, and struggles in the defensive zone. That’s made him a tough player for head coach Ryan Huska to use in the lineup, and even resulted in him sitting as a healthy scratch on the Flames’ latest road trip.

Flames Need Sharangovich More Than Ever

The Flames needed Sharangovich in a big way on Friday night, as they were without Mikael Backlund due to an upper-body injury as well as Connor Zary due to suspension. Backlund is one of the few natural centres the Flames have on their roster, and with him out, the expectation was that Zary would fill in down the middle.

With Zary out as well, Huska made the decision to go with Sharangovich down the middle of the ice. He hasn’t played centre a ton, but was given an opportunity a season ago to see if he was capable. He struggled last season and was moved back to the wing. On Monday, his struggles down the middle hit an entirely new low.

Not only did Sharangovich fail to create any sort of offensive chances against the Colorado Avalanche, but he prevented his team from getting any type of possession when he was on the ice. He took 16 faceoffs in total, winning just four of them. He entered the third period having won just two of 13.

Zary is set to serve the second of his two-game suspension in tonight’s game versus the Toronto Maple Leafs, meaning Sharangovich may get another crack playing down the middle. He’ll need to be far better not only tonight, but in the next few games moving forward to ensure he has a spot in the lineup moving forward. If not, he could find himself sitting as a healthy scratch several more times as the Flames look to push for a playoff spot.