FN AHL Report Cards: Clark Bishop led the charge in a challenging season

Clark Bishop played his second season as captain and fourth season as a Calgary Wrangler in 2025-26. Last season was met with a lot of adversity and multiple coaching changes on top of the regular uncertainty of call-ups and roster shuffling in the AHL. This season was met with challenges as well, but in a slightly different form. This team struggled the most we’ve seen since coming to Calgary, but it was more driven by losing core members of their defence and dealing with the growing pains of inconsistent or inexperienced goaltending. Clark Bishop carried a lot this year and was a part of many difficult conversations between his teammates, other leaders and the coaching staff.

Expectations

Clark Bishop had a great year in 2024-25, earning himself some of his first NHL games in three seasons. He had 19 goals and 19 assists in 66 AHL games for a total of 38 points. He also put up a goal with the Flames for his first NHL goal since the 2018-19 season. 

For the 2025-26 season, Bishop wasn’t exactly expected to be breaking down doors for an NHL spot but was expected to bring some consistency to the Wranglers lineup. He is a productive veteran on the team who can bring it in key moments in the game. This season for Clark Bishop felt like it was going to be business as usual in the AHL, doing key duties like assisting the young guys, being an off-ice and on-ice leader and rising to the occasion in important scenarios throughout the year.

Performance

Bishop remained effective this season and had his third best year in his AHL career, only falling behind his second best by one point. He put up 14 goals and 13 assists for a total of 27 points. He was the only Wrangler to play in all 72 games of the season and likely felt the pressure of a tough season the most. Bishop led the team in shorthanded goals with two and his plus/minus finished at minus-7. He reflected on the season in Wranglers exit interviews and was understandably not too happy with how the year went. He said:

“Personally, I think I finished the year pretty strong. You know it’s tough to come up with some positives with the year that we had but I feel like everyone’s gonna be pretty disappointed with the year as a team. I think it’s a learning year for a lot of the guys and the guys will come back stronger next year.”