The Calgary Flames will be absent from ESPN and TNT during the 2026-27 season, which means the club has been left off the U.S. national TV schedule entirely.
That’s another tough blow in a stretch that’s already felt heavy for Flames fans. In recent days, supporters have been sharing memories of Johnny Gaudreau, who passed away on August 29, 2024, and that grief quickly turned into frustration when single-game tickets for the final game at the Scotiabank Saddledome sold out within minutes. For fans hoping to make one last trip to Calgary to catch the team on home ice, the news landed hard.
The broadcast schedule only added to the sting. A few days ago, the NHL unveiled its national TV slate for ESPN and TNT, and Calgary didn’t make the cut at all.
Not one game. The rebuilding Flames, with Dustin Wolf, Matt Coronato, and Zayne Parekh among the names attached to the club, won’t be shown on U.S. national television outside of Canada.
Calgary isn’t the only team left out. The Ottawa Senators and last-place Vancouver Canucks were also shut out by ESPN and TNT.
That said, Canadian clubs did still land a few spots: the Montreal Canadiens will appear in six games across the two networks, the Toronto Maple Leafs have three, and the Winnipeg Jets get on the board by hosting the Canadians in this year’s Heritage Classic. The Edmonton Oilers, unsurprisingly, drew the biggest haul, with the NHL still leaning on Connor McDavid as its easiest sell to casual fans south of the border.
Even so, the absence of the Flames stands out. There are plenty of games on the calendar where Calgary could have fit into the spotlight - trips to Vegas, Colorado, Chicago, Boston, or Tampa Bay all would have offered the league a chance to put the team in front of a national audience. The Senators at least made the playoffs last season, while the Flames and Canucks were still chasing the Draft Lottery line.
And from a pure hockey standpoint, it means U.S. viewers won’t get a national-stage look at Wolf’s acrobatics in goal or Elias Pettersson’s highlight-reel scoring, even though the league clearly benefits when more of its teams get showcased. The timing makes the decision feel even stranger, too, because this is the final season at the Saddledome.
It will be the last time the Canadiens visit the building, where they won their 1986 Stanley Cup title. It’s also the final bow for Matthew Tkachuk, who was once a star there before leaving for the Florida Panthers.
And if Ovechkin scores on December 5 in what would be his final appearance, it could end up being the last goal he ever scores in Canada.
For fans who are already upset about Sportsnet raising subscription prices, the lack of any Flames games on U.S. national TV only piles on. For diehards in the United States, it won’t matter which service they buy into - Calgary won’t be there. It’s been a frustrating summer for Flames fans, but once opening night arrives, attention will shift back to the ice.
In Other News...
Flames Fans Will Love This Brutal Take On Edmontons Blue Line
The Oilers blue line got an unexpected little taxidermy treatment on a recent podcast, where Peng zeroed in on Edmontons habit of collecting former San Jose Sharks defensemen and used it as a shorthand for his larger doubts about the roster. With Jake Walman, Ty Emberson and Shakir Mukhamadullin all now part of the conversation around the back end after the Darnell Nurse trade, the veteran hockey voice framed the group as a reason to question how sturdy the Oilers really are when the games get tight.
There is a caveat worth keeping in mind, because past Sharks struggles do not automatically tell you what Edmontons current defense will look like. Still, the reaction captures the broader skepticism hanging over the Oilers right now, and it is the kind of take Flames fans are always happy to hear when the Battle of Alberta debate turns to who actually looks built for a long playoff run. [Read more 🡒]
Former Flame Weighs In On A Debate Calgary Fans Know Too Well
The debate over whether some NHL players would rather land in a U.S. market than a Canadian one has been around for years, and it tends to flare up any time a player asks out of a team north of the border. Around the league, there have been examples of players wanting trades or steering toward American destinations, which only adds fuel to a conversation Calgary fans know well.
MacKenzie Weegar added his own perspective to that discussion, and it carried a different tone than the usual skepticism. The Canadian-born defenseman made it clear his time in Calgary and in Canada was a positive one, a reminder that the pull of Canadian hockey can still matter to players who appreciate the passion around the game. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Radio Picture Is Clearing Up But One Spot Still Looms
The Flames radio future is starting to take shape after the closure of Sportsnet 960, with QR 770 stepping in on a five-year agreement to become Calgarys new broadcast home. Derek Wills will stay on as the play-by-play voice, giving the station a familiar lead-in as it builds out its hockey coverage around the team.
Pat Steinberg and Jock Wilson are also set to host a daily Flames show, giving listeners a fresh weekday hub for team coverage and conversation. One piece still hasnt been filled in, though, and it is the one that will matter most once game night arrives: the club has not yet announced who will handle colour commentary on Flames broadcasts. [Read more 🡒]