The Calgary Flames took a small step toward sorting out their opening-night picture on Wednesday afternoon, reassigning two players to the Wranglers as training camp continues to wind down.
The latest moves leave the Flames with 43 players still on the camp roster, and there’s still plenty left to sort through with the season opener just over a week away. Management and the coaching staff still have work ahead of them before the group is trimmed down to its final form.
Abram Wiebe was the more notable name to head to the AHL. The defenceman came to Calgary from the Vegas Golden Knights as part of the package for Rasmus Andersson, then signed a two-year, entry-level contract after wrapping up his third season at the University of North Dakota this past spring.
Wiebe, 23, appeared in four games for the Flames last season, recording no points while logging a little over 12 minutes per game. He’s heading to the AHL to keep developing, but the organization still views him as a real prospect.
Luke Philp was the other player sent down. The 30-year-old forward joined the Flames this offseason as a free agent, returning to North America after playing the 2025-26 season in the SHL.
This is Philp’s second stint in the Flames organization. He originally signed with Calgary as an undrafted free agent before the 2019-20 season, then spent three years with the Stockton Heat before moving on to the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Flames are back in action Thursday night on the road against the Seattle Kraken, then will finish their exhibition schedule Saturday at Rogers Place against the Edmonton Oilers.
In Other News...
Zayne Parekh Is Giving Flames Fans A Very Intriguing Question
Zayne Parekh gave Flames fans something to think about in an exhibition game against Vancouver, and it was the kind of performance that stands out even in preseason. The young defenceman looked noticeably sharper than he did a season ago, using his skating to move with purpose, finding lanes with better ice vision and showing a real ability to control the offensive zone. Against a Flames lineup expected to be close to its regular-season group, Parekh did enough to draw attention in a game where every shift carried a little more meaning.
Ryan Huska came away pleased with the way Parekh stayed engaged and competed throughout the night, which only adds to the intrigue around what comes next. For a player still trying to carve out his place, those are the kind of details that matter, especially when the work translates against NHL-calibre competition. The bigger question now is how Calgary handles a young defender who is making the decision harder by the game. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Young Standouts Made A Routine Preseason Win Worth Watching
A preseason win over Vancouver usually does not amount to much more than a useful tune-up, but Calgarys 3-1 victory had a little extra to it because the Flames dressed essentially their opening-day lineup and still found a way to separate in the middle frame. Dustin Wolf started in net for Calgary, Kevin Lankinen had the crease for the Canucks, and for a night the result mattered less than the early read on how the roster pieces were fitting together.
The most encouraging part for the Flames was the second period, when they put three pucks behind Vancouver and made the game look far less like an exhibition. The Canucks did get one back late in the third, but by then the bigger takeaway was clear enough for Calgary: the lineup looked sharp, and the young players who stood out made a routine preseason game feel worth the watch. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Owner Just Moved Closer To The NHLs Inner Circle
The NHLs latest Board of Governors meeting brought a familiar name even closer to the leagues center of gravity. Capitals owner Ted Leonsis was elected chair, taking over for Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs after his long run in the role, and the Flames Murray Edwards was also elevated in the process as the board continues to reshape its leadership group.
For Calgary, Edwards move matters because it places the franchise owner in a more influential position as the league weighs bigger-picture business issues, from revenue growth to the next wave of expansion. Texas came up as a possible landing spot, with the Friedkin group viewed as a likely bidder, although nothing is finalized on the location yet, keeping the conversation open as the NHL looks ahead. [Read more 🡒]