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Dustin Wolf, Calgary Flames (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Flames’ Season a Massive Success Despite What Many Think

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Rupert McDonald | Last updated Apr 16, 2025 2:25 PM ET

The Calgary Flames will not make the playoffs this season. It’s not much of a surprise, as many projected the team to be in the running for a top-five pick at the 2025 Draft before the campaign started. Instead, they hung in the race heading into game 81 of 2024-25 but were finally eliminated on Tuesday night after the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild won their respective games.

It’s disappointing, as the Flames came very close, but they didn’t have enough to get in. Now, many are calling the season a failure, with the team stuck in the middle of the standings. They won’t have a high-end first-round pick to help their rebuild, and they are set to lose the first of their two first-round selections at the draft to the Montreal Canadiens. While it’s understandable to be frustrated, this season was far from a failure.

Flames’ Young Players Took Huge Strides

Heading into the season, one of the biggest concerns about the roster was in net. Most knew that Dan Vladar couldn’t be relied on heavily, but they also questioned how Dustin Wolf would fare in his first full NHL season. After all, he struggled in most of the 17 games he played to close out the 2023-24 season.

Instead, Wolf stepped up and carried the Flames as close as they could get to the postseason. The 23-year-old was undoubtedly this team’s MVP, compiling a 2.64 goals-against average (GAA), a .910 save percentage (SV%) and a 29-16-8 record. While Flames fans have been high on him for several years, almost nobody envisioned him becoming this good this fast.

Few expected Wolf would be in the Calder Trophy race. He’s more than deserving of the trophy. Regardless of whether or not he wins it, he proved that despite his small stature, he is a starting goalie at the NHL level. He has true superstar potential at the most important position in the league. There are still other areas the Flames need to improve on, but having a goalie like him will go a long way in helping them turn into contenders sooner.

Another impressive season came from Matt Coronato. After being a tweener between the NHL and American Hockey League (AHL) in 2023-24, he proved that he also has star potential this season. After registering just nine points through 34 games with the Flames a season ago, he came back much improved, scoring 24 goals and 46 points in 76 games this season. The 22-year-old has all the makings of a future 40-goal scorer.

The Flames were also able to add Morgan Frost, which gives them a centre option they desperately needed. He was inconsistent at times but began showing life at the end of the season, registering a goal and four points over his last five games. He’s still getting settled into his new surroundings, but his skill level is undeniable. Flames fans should be excited to see what he can provide after a training camp with his new team in 2025-26.

Meanwhile, Connor Zary struggled to stay healthy but continued his strong two-way play when he could suit up. He’s still just 23 years old, and while he may never be a massive point producer, his two-way ability suggests he will be a top-six forward for a long time.

Last but not least is Kevin Bahl, who was a bit of an unknown player heading into the season. It quickly became apparent why the Flames valued him so much in the Jacob Markstrom trade. He never looked out of place in a top-four role this season and still has room to grow at 24 years old.

Other Flames Prospects on the Way

The Flames have several intriguing prospects who could soon be making an impact at the NHL level. We will get to see two of them on Thursday: Zayne Parekh and Aydar Suniev. Parekh has a legitimate shot at cracking the Flames’ blue line next season and, like Wolf, has superstar potential.

Another dark horse to keep an eye on is Matvei Gridin. The Flames loved him in training camp, and he doesn’t have a ton left to prove at the junior level. He could very well crack the roster next season and would give the team another scoring winger who they could use in a big way. Regardless of whether or not he’s in Calgary next season, he, Parekh, Suniev, and several others point to a bright future for the organization.