Training camp has shifted into its next gear for the Calgary Flames, and the next week will tell the staff plenty about who is ready to stick. With the NHL moving to an 84-game regular season, the preseason has been squeezed into four games, and that means there’s no luxury of easing in. Every shift matters now, especially for the players hanging around the edge of the roster.
The Flames have already started making cuts before the exhibition slate even begins. Several junior-eligible prospects were sent back to their WHL and OHL teams, and four more players were assigned to the AHL Calgary Wranglers, including forward Carter Wilkie and goaltender Owen Say. Those moves narrow the picture quickly and make the team’s immediate goals pretty clear: tighten the focus on the veteran group, and sort through a smaller pool of young forwards with real upside.
Health is part of the story too. Jonathan Huberdeau is still working through his recovery after off-season rehab on his hip, and the team is handling that situation carefully with a possible return late in the preseason.
On the other side of the ledger, Samuel Honzek is back in uniform and cleared for full contact after his season was cut short by a severe lower-body injury. That gives Calgary another option in the middle-six mix, and his board work and power-forward style will be under the microscope as he pushes for a permanent NHL wing role.
With only four preseason games on the calendar, Ryan Huska and his staff have to make their evaluations in a hurry. That means line combinations, power-play looks and defensive pairings will all be tested on the fly, not over some long runway. The team is expected to give Dustin Wolf and Devin Cooley early split work in goal as they begin sorting out the crease rotation heading into October.
The biggest on-ice priority is structure, especially through the neutral zone. Last season, Calgary’s transition defense could get loose when back-checking forwards were late tracking. This time around, the staff wants tighter gaps from the blue line and a game plan that forces opponents to dump pucks instead of skating in with speed.
There’s also a power-play battle worth watching. Zayne Parekh and Simon Nemec will be competing for position as the Flames sort out who leads that unit.
Here’s the week ahead for Calgary:
Sunday, Sept. 20 vs. Seattle Kraken, Scotiabank Saddledome, 6:00 PM MT
Tuesday, Sept. 22 vs. Vancouver Canucks, Scotiabank Saddledome, 7:00 PM MT
Thursday, Sept. 24 at Seattle Kraken, Climate Pledge Arena, 6:40 PM PT
Saturday, Sept. 26 at Edmonton Oilers, Rogers Place, 7:00 PM MT
In Other News...
Connor Harrington Is Giving Flames Fans A Reason To Look Ahead
An 18-year-old winger who was taken 36th overall, Connor Harrington has already found a way to get Flames fans thinking beyond the immediate training camp churn. He has been working with the NHL group in Calgary, picking up reps against bigger, older players and getting a firsthand look at the pace the organization expects, even though he is expected to head back to Spokane for the WHL season soon.
For a young player whose next stop should still be junior hockey, simply being around the main camp is a meaningful step, and it has not gone unnoticed. Flames goaltending coach Jason LaBarbera and others around the team have been impressed by Harringtons shot, a skill that can stand out quickly when a teenager is trying to make an impression among professionals. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Signing Has Already Turned Into A Public Backlash
Alex Formentons first appearance in an Edmonton Oilers sweater came with the kind of attention that had little to do with preseason hockey. The forward, who was previously acquitted of sexual assault charges tied to a 2018 incident involving five players from Canadas World Junior team, was signed by the Oilers and quickly drew public pushback from fans and survivors who questioned the decision. Even before the games matter, his addition has become one of those moves that spills well beyond the rink.
The reaction has not stayed quiet. Mary Loewen has emerged as one of the most visible voices opposing the signing, leading a petition aimed at the Oilers decision and helping fuel the protests and vocal criticism that have followed the move. For a division rival like Calgary, it is the kind of cross-border controversy that adds another layer to the seasons early backdrop, with the hockey itself now only part of the story. [Read more 🡒]
Farabee And Frost Just Landed Huge Chances In Calgary
Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost are getting a real look in Calgary as the Flames open preseason against the Seattle Kraken, and both forwards enter the year with a chance to carve out major roles in their second full NHL seasons with the club. Farabees assignment points to a more responsible lane on the wing, while Frost is stepping into a prominent center job that suggests the coaching staff wants to see what he can do with added touches and more demanding minutes.
Farabee is lining up next to Mikael Backlund, a spot that should test his defensive detail as much as his offense, while Frost is being counted on in a more offensively tilted setup with Matt Coronato and Matvei Gridin. Both players have made it clear they want to contribute in a meaningful way this season, and the early preseason look will give Calgary a first sense of how much those expectations can hold up once the games start to matter. [Read more 🡒]