Grading the Calgary Flames forwards for the 2024–25 season

The Calgary Flames’ season is officially over. It was a season that saw them fight tooth and nail until the very end. They exceeded everyone’s expectations but came up just short of an extremely surprising playoff birth. They joined NHL history as having the most points to miss the playoffs.

This season came with plenty of ups and downs. With that came some very good performances and some not-so-good performances. Today will be the first part of grading the Flames on their season, starting with the forward group. I will only be grading players who played in 30 or more games this season, but a shoutout to Justin Kirkland, whose year was cut short after just 21 games.

Nazem Kadri: A

For the second season in a row, Nazem Kadri led the Flames in points. This season, he set a career-high for himself in goals with 35—that on its own is so impressive. Kadri was fantastic in the second half of the season after a very underwhelming first half.

There were times this season when he was putting the team on his back and was trying to will the Flames into the playoffs. To his credit, he came very close to getting them there. He was awesome to watch once again this year, and he has more than lived up to his contract.

Jonathan Huberdeau: A-

This was by far and away Jonathan Huberdeau’s best season as a Calgary Flame. Like Kadri, after a rough start to the season, Huberdeau played like the player we saw when he was with the Panthers. He was making very creative plays, driving the play on most shifts, and the best part was that he was shooting and scoring.

Huberdeau faded a little bit in the final stretch when the Flames needed him the most, but his play on the ice and his leadership off the ice deserve lots of credit. He seemed so happy this season, and as someone who really wants him to succeed, I couldn’t be happier for him.

Matt Coronato: A

After a very disappointing rookie campaign, Matt Coronato came in with a chip on his shoulder this season. After starting the year as the 13th forward and being demoted to the AHL—albeit for just two games—he returned with a vengeance to prove he was an NHL player, and did he ever do that.

I would argue that Coronato was the Flames’ most dangerous shooter this season. Every time he shot the puck, you felt like it could have gone in. He got faster and stronger this season and was noticeable in a positive way almost every time he stepped on the ice, no matter who he played with.

This season, he proved that he is a major cog of the Flames’ future. If the Flames are smart, they will lock him up to a long-term extension this summer.

Blake Coleman: B

Blake Coleman had a career season a year ago, and many of us expected that he probably would not repeat his 30-goal season. Spoiler alert, he did not. That is not to say that Coleman had a bad year; he was the same old Coleman that we have come to expect. He is great defensively, drives play, and can chip in offensively when needed. He did all of that this year, but he seemed to go a little too quiet at points this season. With a team that was starved for offence, they could have used the Coleman from a season ago.

Yegor Sharangovich: C-

If the season ended a month ago, I probably would have awarded Yegor Sharangovich with an F for his season. However, when the Flames needed him the most down the stretch, Sharangovich showed up and played his best hockey in April. That was the player we needed all season.

Unfortunately, one good month does not let him off the hook. Sharangovich was horrendous for most of the season after recovering from an injury that he sustained in training camp. He was not engaged for most of the year, was not scoring, and was a negative asset on most nights.

With his big ticket kicking in next season, the Flames need Sharangovich to be the version of himself we saw in April. If that’s the case, then I have no doubt that he might be able to reach 30 goals again.

Mikael Backlund: C+

Like Sharangovich, Mikael Backlund’s start to the season left a lot to be desired. He just didn’t seem to have the usual Backlund stuff that we have been so used to seeing. Defensively, he was still great, but it looked like Father Time was coming for the offence he once had him in. After returning from an injury late in the season, Backlund came back looking like an entirely different player. He was one of the Flames’ most impactful forwards down the stretch.

Backlund is 36 now with one more year remaining on his contract. It is uncertain what the future holds for the captain. It will be interesting to see what the Flames and Backlund choose to do this summer. At the end of the day, the team will do right by him, but I do wonder if a trade to a true contender could manifest.

Connor Zary: C

If you could describe a tough season, it would be what Connor Zary went through this season. Two injuries to the same knee and a suspension would limit Zary to just 54 games this season. He had a great start to the season and then seemed to stagnate. Then, he started to really turn it on, but that’s when the first injury happened. Zary missed a bunch of time before returning, and then he was suspended not long after. After returning from that, the second injury occurred.

I still think Zary has a lot of potential to be a big weapon in the Flames’ top-six. He got plenty of time playing down the middle, and we saw plenty of flashes of his high-end skill. He is an RFA this summer, and a bridge deal is likely the outcome. All we can do is pray and hope that Zary has a full bill of health next season so we can hopefully get his long-awaited breakout.

Martin Pospisil: C+

Martin Pospisil wasn’t as impactful in his sophomore season as he was in his rookie season. However, I would still call this season a success for Pospisil. I don’t think anyone thought he would come in and light the lamp every game, but for the most part this year, he did what he is expected to do. He used his speed and his physicality to grind the opposition down and make space for his linemates.

It would have been nice for him to score a little bit more since the Flames could not score goals to save their lives this season. But when you are paying a player just $1M, you take what you get.

Morgan Frost: C

It is a little bit difficult to grade Morgan Frost since he only played 32 games with the Flames this season after being traded from the Philadelphia Flyers back in January. On most nights, Frost was noticeable due to his fantastic speed and his slick puck-handling abilities.

He made a significant impact on the Flames’ top power play unit as he became the guy they used on the entry, which he excelled at. However, he was inconsistent and only scored three goals as a member of the Flames. Maybe a full year in the Flames system will do him some good. I expect big things from Frost next year.

Ryan Lomberg: C-

Make no mistake, if you could grade Ryan Lomberg strictly on locker room presence and vibes, you could probably give him an A+. Unfortunately, I cannot do that. I cannot overstate how big of an impact Lomberg had on the culture of the team, making it a fun place to come to work every day. Just seeing the behind-the-scenes on the Flames’ YouTube series, “The Chase,” you can see how much he means to this team.

However, Lomberg’s on-ice play is not exactly stellar. He does his job; he crashes and bangs and fights when he has to. There were just too many times this season where he would get caved in on the defensive end, and that would either lead to a goal against or a total momentum shift for the opposition. I love having Lomberg on the team, but I just don’t think he is a guy who needs to play every night.

Kevin Rooney: D+

Kevin Rooney probably played too many games this season and was relied on way too much for the player he is. In a world where Rory Kerins should have played more than five games, Rooney played in 70. He just doesn’t do the things that the Flames needed this year. He doesn’t score, he doesn’t defend all that well, and was caved in way too many times for someone who they considered “reliable.”

His spot can probably go to a younger player next season.

Adam Klapka: C+

Adam Klapka and the impact he made late in the season were probably the most surprising thing of the season. Klapka was used on the Flames’ top line for the final push this season, and he did more than hold his own; he created chances and put the puck in the back of the net. It was a treat to watch because I really had no expectations for him coming into the year, and he really shocked me with the way he played. We will see how he progresses next season.

Joel Farabee: C-

Like Frost, it is a little tough to judge Joel Farabee after the trade that brought him over in January. He started on the team’s top line, and by the end of the season, he found himself battling for minutes on the fourth line. However, he did create a lot of chances and just had zero puck luck.

Like Frost, maybe a full year in the Flames system will help him adjust a bit more. With a contract that is paying him $5M a year, he will need to be much better, and I really expect him to be.