The Calgary Flames’ 2026-27 season is shaping up as a farewell tour for a building that has defined the franchise for four decades. The team announced that its final home opener at the Scotiabank Saddledome will come on October 1, when the Flames host the Seattle Kraken.
“MARK YOUR CALENDARS ‼️
Our 2026-27 home opener is set for Oct. 1 when we host the Seattle Kraken 🔥 pic.twitter.com/aT92Iiyod5
- Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) July 15, 2026”
That matchup also gives Calgary a Pacific Division opponent to open the last chapter in the Saddledome, an arena that has become closely tied to the organization’s identity over the past 40 years.
The rest of the NHL schedule is expected to be unveiled this week, but one key piece is already in place: the Flames will begin their final season in the building before fans eventually move on to Scotia Place for years to come.
There’s also a new wrinkle to the 2026-27 campaign. With the NHL moving to an 84-game schedule and a reduced preseason, the season will get going earlier than usual. Calgary’s own home opener will be followed three days later by a trip to Seattle, where the Kraken will host the Flames in their opener.
On the ice, Calgary is not being projected as a Stanley Cup Playoff team this season, but there are still young players worth watching as the organization looks ahead. Zayne Parekh, Simon Nemec, Matvei Gridin and Matt Coronato are among the names trying to establish themselves as important pieces of the future.
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Flames Power Play Reset Could Change Everything Next Season
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That reset could be the most interesting part of the offseason for this group, because the options now point toward a younger, more skill-driven setup. Matvei Gridin, Jonathan Huberdeau, Morgan Frost, Matt Coronato and Zayne Parekh all fit into the conversation for the top group, while Simon Nemec gives the Flames another possible anchor on the second unit as they try to find more balance and more finish. [Read more 🡒]