The Calgary Flames are heading into 2026-27 with expectations as low as they’ve been in years, but that doesn’t mean the season lacks drama. In fact, the rebuild has given this team a fresh set of questions that could shape not just this year, but the direction of the franchise.
At the top of the list is Simon Nemec, the biggest swing Craig Conroy has taken as general manager so far. Calgary paid a king’s ransom to land the former second overall pick and quickly made him the highest-paid defender on the roster, even though he had yet to prove he could handle top-pairing NHL duty over three seasons in New Jersey.
His 11-goal, 26-point campaign last year offered a little hope, but the deeper numbers have been rough. Nemec hasn’t posted an xGF% above 50% since 2023-24, and his HDCF% hasn’t cleared that mark since 2024.
His EVD WAR last season sat at -0.71, the second-worst among Devils defencemen and ninth-worst among all 271 qualifying NHL defencemen. Calgary is counting on a bigger role to unlock him, because he’s set to be the team’s unquestioned No. 1 defenceman and should easily push past 20 minutes a night.
The real question is whether that trust finally brings out the player who went in the lottery in 2022, or whether New Jersey was the warning sign.
Ryan Huska is another major piece of the puzzle. He’s taken plenty of heat from Flames fans, and the frustration makes sense.
His choices have often felt stubborn, and his resistance to a more open, attack-minded style has been a steady source of criticism. That issue becomes even more glaring now that Calgary has fully leaned into a youth-driven rebuild.
The Flames were brutal defensively down the stretch last season anyway, ranking 31st in the league in CA/60 and xGA/60 from January 1st onward. For a coach associated with a defence-first identity, that wasn’t exactly a selling point.
If the plan is to build around younger offensive players, Huska has to loosen the reins and stop treating mistakes like crimes.
Goaltending could be the one thing that keeps this team from finishing where many expect. Dustin Wolf and Devin Cooley are the only position group that looks even remotely solid on paper, which is a problem for a team trying to land high in the 2027 draft.
Wolf already showed what kind of damage he can do to a tank when he dragged a middling Flames group to within one point of the playoffs in 2024-25. Cooley then took his turn last season, putting together a remarkable run with Vezina-calibre numbers and grabbing a few points on his own.
If Wolf rebounds toward that 2024-25 level and Cooley stays hot, Calgary’s shot at a top-three pick gets shaky. If not, the Flames could be staring at the bottom of the standings.
Then there’s the young skill that gives this rebuild any real upside at all: Zayne Parekh and Matvei Gridin. Both made their NHL debuts last season and flashed real game-breaking ability.
Now the question is whether they can turn that promise into meaningful production in their second year. They’re both only 20 and still have fewer than 50 NHL games under their belts, so the learning curve is real.
But if Gridin gets to 60-plus points and Parekh takes over PP1 while piling up 40-plus, the offensive picture changes fast. If they stumble, the Flames’ attack could be stuck with almost no hope.
The final question circles back to Jonathan Huberdeau, who won’t be in the lineup on opening night. How long he’s out is still unclear, and there’s a real chance the surgery means he never gets back to full health on the ice.
Even if he does return, there’s no guarantee he looks like the same player. Right now, it’s a question of whether he returns at all, let alone at anything close to peak form.
That matters because, despite his struggles in Calgary, he’s still one of the most talented players on the roster when he’s right and remains important in the room. If he’s out for a long stretch, the Flames’ already thin offense gets even thinner in 2026-27.
In Other News...
Flames Opening Night Roster Sends A Clear Message About Priorities
The Calgary Flames have set their 23-man roster for the 2026-27 season and, in doing so, made their opening-night priorities pretty plain. With their opener against the Seattle Kraken on deck, the group leans on familiarity at the back end and stability in goal, as Dustin Wolf is set to start with Devin Cooley backing him up.
Jonathan Huberdeaus absence at the start of the year leaves a noticeable opening in the lineup, and Brennan Othmann is the one stepping into that spot for now. The Flames also opted to keep eight defensemen, a choice that underscores how much they value depth on the blue line, with veterans Joel Hanley and Brayden Pachal among the skaters who made the cut. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Face A Real Kirby Dach Gamble As Trade Talk Heats Up
The Flames search for help down the middle has led them back to a familiar type of target: a young centre with pedigree, upside and some uncertainty attached. Kirby Dach fits that profile. Calgary has reportedly shown interest in the Montreal Canadiens forward, and general manager Craig Conroy has the kind of draft capital that could make a move possible, including multiple second-round picks that could be used to improve the offer.
It is an appealing fit on paper for a Flames team still sorting out its centre depth, especially with recent draft selections adding to the long view but not necessarily solving the immediate need. The risk, of course, is the same one that has followed Dach in Montreal, where he has struggled to establish himself. If Calgary decides to press ahead, it would be betting that a change of scenery and a meaningful trade package can unlock more than the Canadiens have been able to get so far. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Rebuild Suddenly Looks Bigger Than Just The Roster
The Calgary Flames rebuild has already been framed as a long game on the ice, with general manager Craig Conroy leaning into a young roster that is still searching for the kind of elite talent that can speed up the process. Industry projections suggest the 2026/27 season could still be a difficult one for the club, but the bigger-picture story in Calgary is starting to stretch beyond wins and losses.
Sporticos latest franchise valuations hint at why: the Flames have become a more valuable asset even while the roster is being reshaped, with the organizations place in the league climbing alongside the anticipation around ScotiaPlace. The new arena is expected before the 2027/28 season, and its arrival should matter not only for the teams long-term business outlook but for the city as a whole, making this rebuild feel as much about infrastructure and market growth as hockey. [Read more 🡒]