Dustin Wolf may not have cracked the NHL Media rankings as one of the league’s 10 best goalies, but NHL27 sees things a little differently.
The Calgary Flames netminder checked in at No. 10 among goaltenders in the game’s latest ratings, landing behind Andrei Vasilevsky, Ilya Sorokin, Connor Hellebuyck, Igor Shesterkin, Logan Thompson, Jeremy Swayman, Jake Oettinger, Jesper Wallstedt and Lukas Dostal. For a player who has spent five full seasons in the Flames organization and still doesn’t always get the recognition his game merits, that’s a notable nod.
Wolf also held steady at an 87 overall, matching his rating from last season despite a down year. The people behind NHL27 clearly weren’t swayed by one rough stretch; they’re buying into the talent that’s been on display for a while now.
That belief is easy to understand. Wolf has spent his pro career answering the same old question about his size by simply outplaying it. His quickness side to side, his skill level and the work he puts into his game have made him a central part of Calgary’s future, even as the franchise continues to lean on a prospect pool that still has plenty of names not quite ready for the NHL.
There are other young pieces in the picture for 2026/27, including Zayne Parekh, Matt Coronato and Matvei Gridin, but Wolf is the one who can swing things the most for the Flames, for better or worse.
His first full season in 2024/25 showed exactly why Calgary committed to him. Wolf was dominant, finishing with a .910 save percentage and a 2.64 GAA in 53 games. That performance pushed the Flames to move on from Dan Vladar and put their trust squarely in Wolf.
Last season looked different, with Wolf taking a step back behind a dreadful defense. Even so, his track record suggests he can adjust and keep climbing. If he does that again in 2026/27, Calgary should have a top-tier tandem alongside Devin Cooley once more.
At 25, Wolf is still nowhere near his prime. NHL27 has made its stance clear, and the Flames appear to have a future star in goal as they work their way through the rebuild.
In Other News...
Flames Ended A Painful Drought In One Of The Saddledomes Wildest Nights
The Calgary Flames 2014-15 season already felt like a turning point before the playoffs even began, with a third-place finish in the Pacific Division ending a run of frustration and putting the franchise back in the postseason for the first time since 2009. From there, the story only got better for a team and fan base that had spent years waiting for a moment like this, as Calgary knocked off Vancouver in the opening round for its first playoff series win since 2004.
Game 6 in the Saddledome was the kind of night that lingered long after the final horn, a wild, back-and-forth finish that capped the drought-breaking run in style. The Flames still had more work ahead of them before the season was done, but this was the kind of spring breakthrough that reminded everyone what playoff hockey in Calgary can feel like when the building is shaking and the stakes are real. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Have A Toughness Debate Fans Will Instantly Recognize
The conversation around toughness has become hard to ignore for Flames fans, especially with a player like Matt Rempe drawing attention as the kind of physical presence some around the league still view as useful. The 24-year-old Rangers enforcer has built his NHL reputation the old-fashioned way, through size, edge and multiple fights, which makes him an easy name to circle when a team is looking for more bite.
For Calgary, the appeal is tied less to any confirmed move and more to the broader debate over what this roster has lost and what it still values. The Flames have long had an appetite for players who can handle the rough side of the game, so it is natural to wonder whether a player with Rempes style could fit into that conversation if the opportunity ever materializes. [Read more 🡒]
Zayne Parekh Gives Flames Fans A Huge Reason To Dream And Debate
Zayne Parekh has quickly become one of the most intriguing names in the Flames system, and it is not hard to see why. Taken ninth overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, he now sits as Calgarys top prospect heading into 2026, thanks to the same traits that made him such a coveted pick in the first place: high-end offensive instincts, smooth skating and the ability to drive play from the blue line. His work with the Saginaw Spirit and his time with Team Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship only added to the belief that there is real impact potential here.
For Flames fans, the appeal is obvious, but so is the conversation around what comes next. Parekhs skill level gives Calgary a tantalizing look at a possible difference-making defenceman, yet his game still has an important area to tighten up before the hype can fully turn into NHL production. That balance of ceiling and unfinished business is what makes him so fascinating, and why he remains both a reason to dream and a player worth debating. [Read more 🡒]