Predicting the Calgary Flames lineup: Defence

First pair

This would be the most interesting pairing, and potentially the most important one for Calgary’s long-term development.

Zayne Parekh is the offensive catalyst. The 20-year-old right-shot defenceman has the skating, puck skills and creativity to drive play from the back end. Calgary is expecting him to take another step toward becoming an elite offensive defenceman. He is also expected to have a significant role on the power play.

Zach Whitecloud provides the counterbalance. Instead of asking Parekh to constantly worry about whether an aggressive offensive play will leave his partner exposed, Whitecloud can give him the freedom to attack. He’s a veteran right-shot defenceman who brings a much more conservative approach. Calgary has already seen him play alongside Parekh during the 2025–26 stretch drive. 

The obvious question is handedness. Both players shoot right, which isn’t necessarily ideal on paper. But if Parekh is comfortable playing the left side, something Calgary has already experimented with, the pairing becomes much more logical. That will be the biggest what-if. However, this will allow Parekh to do the things that have made him so highly touted. If he is comfortable and can handle the assignment, you let him run with it all season long.

Parekh’s job will be to move the puck, activate offensively, create chances and drive possession. Whitecloud’s job will be to stay underneath the play, defend the middle of the ice and provide stability when Parekh jumps into the attack. It’s essentially a classic offensive-defenceman/defensive-defenceman partnership, even if the handedness isn’t traditional. And for Parekh’s development, that could be extremely valuable.

Second Pair

This might actually be Calgary’s most naturally balanced pairing. Kevin Bahl and Simon Nemec bring very different styles to the ice, which is exactly why they could work so well together.

Bahl has developed into a reliable defensive presence in Calgary. At 26, he has already established himself as a physical, defensive-minded player capable of handling difficult minutes. Nemec, meanwhile, represents the opposite side of the equation. He’s a former second-overall pick who is much more comfortable pushing the pace and contributing offensively.

The Flames acquired Nemec from New Jersey in June 2026. The 22-year-old is coming off a career-best 26-point season in 68 games. The Flames subsequently signed him to a five-year contract. 

That makes the Bahl-Nemec combination particularly appealing. Bahl can stay home while Nemec activates. Bahl can take the physical battles while Nemec focuses on moving the puck. Nemec can join the rush knowing that his partner is more likely to remain underneath him. There is also some history between the two. They played nearly 200 minutes together in New Jersey during the 2023–24 season, giving them at least some familiarity with one another’s tendencies. 

The Flames would be betting on Nemec taking a significant step with a larger role while allowing Bahl to continue doing what he does best. If Nemec develops into the top-four defenceman Calgary believes he can become, this could eventually be the team’s best all-around pairing. It would give the Flames a fantastic one-two punch with Parekh already in the fold.

Third pair

This is the pairing that might raise the most eyebrows. It is also potentially the most fun.

Jacob Middleton gives Calgary exactly what it would want alongside a young, offensively inclined defenceman: size, physicality, experience and a willingness to simplify the game. Hunter Brzustewicz, meanwhile, is the wild card.

The 21-year-old right-shot defenceman is one of the organization’s most intriguing young players. The Flames need to find a way to give him meaningful NHL opportunities. There has already been debate about whether he should start in the NHL or continue playing major minutes in the AHL. Brzustewicz’s development makes him a player worth watching closely. 

Putting Brzustewicz alongside Middleton would allow him to play a more aggressive game. Brzustewicz can move the puck. He can join the rush. He can look for opportunities offensively. And when he does, Middleton can provide the safety net behind him. That’s important because the biggest mistake Calgary could make with its young defencemen would be asking them to play overly conservative hockey simply to avoid mistakes. Brzustewicz needs NHL reps where he can learn what works—and what doesn’t.

Middleton gives him room to experiment. Brzustewicz proved last season that he belongs in the NHL. Being on a pairing with a guy who prioritizes the defensive side of the game could give him the push he needs to solidify himself as an NHL player.

On the cusp

The Flames have a lot of defencemen still on the roster, and it will be a battle to see who wins those last few spots, including a few guys that were regulars for the team over the last few years.

Joel Hanley and Brayden Pachal

I will put Joel Hanley and Brayden Pachal in the same category. Both of them played significant roles for the team in the 2024–25 season and were both in and out of the lineup a season ago. I think they will both be battling for the last two defensive slots on the team this year, assuming the Flames carry eight defencemen. I will have to think that one of them will be on waivers before the season starts, and if I were a betting man, I think it will be Pachal.

Yan Kuznetsov

Yan Kuznetsov was a surprise for everyone last year. He didn’t make the team out of camp, but he was called up not long after the season began and played out the entire year once he came up. The reason I have him on the cusp is that there are just other players the Flames should be prioritizing over him. Parekh, Nemec and Brzustewicz all have serious upside, whereas I see Kuznetsov maxing out as a third-pairing guy. He will make the team and he will play games, but he may do it as a tandem with another player on the roster.