Seven games into the 2026-27 season, the Calgary Flames have bigger problems than their fourth line.
That’s the part worth stressing first, because the numbers say this group has been one of the more steady pieces on a 1-6-0 team trying to find its footing. The Flames have had to shuffle the unit around plenty already, but through all of that movement, the fourth line has not become the liability many might have expected.
In fact, it has done its job.
Adam Klapka has been the one constant, while Martin Pospisil handled center for three games before moving up to the third line. Jonathan Castagna also stepped into the mix.
Aydar Suniev got one look before being moved along as well. And even with all that turnover, nobody on the line has played so poorly that a swap feels necessary just for the sake of change.
The results at five-on-five back that up. The group has been on the ice for two goals for and three against. On a team that has been outscored 25-9 at five-on-five, that minus-1 mark stands out in a good way.
The usage chart tells the story of a line that’s being asked to do a little of everything and, more often than not, is answering the bell.
Game 1 against Seattle featured Tsyplakov, Pospisil and Klapka for 9:06 of five-on-five ice time, with no goals either way. Game 2 in Vancouver brought the same trio for 6:01, again with no goals for or against.
In the second Seattle meeting, that group started together and played 6:22 at five-on-five, finishing minus-1. Against Colorado, Suniev skated with Castagna and Klapka for 6:31, and that night produced one goal for and two against.
Since then, the Flames have gone back to a Tsyplakov-Castagna-Klapka alignment for three straight games, with five-on-five totals of 6:28, 5:46 and 5:25 in the two Anaheim games and the Vegas matchup.
Individually, there’s been enough to justify keeping the line intact. Pospisil posted no points in his three games there, but he went 11-for-24 on face-offs and produced a 58.4 expected goals percentage before moving up the rotation.
Suniev had no points in his lone game on the fourth line and finished with a 53.0 expected goals percentage before his own bump. Castagna has one assist in four games on the unit, has gone 16-for-32 on face-offs and owns a 52.9 expected goals percentage.
Klapka has two goals in seven games and a 54.3 expected goals percentage. Tsyplakov has one assist in six games and a 50.5 expected goals percentage.
After practice on Saturday, Klapka talked about what it’s been like working with his linemates.
“It’s awesome. You know, George, it’s awesome.
He’s winning so much face-offs for us, like, the line, so it’s awesome. And Tsyper, it’s awesome to have someone the same size almost like me on the forecheck and he’s going harder and he’s winning a lot of packs for us as well.
So yeah, I feel like it’s sitting down and we understand each other like where the other guy is gonna be. So yeah, I really like it.
I’m really enjoying playing with him.”
The Flames are back on Sunday night at home against the Carolina Hurricanes.
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