Bleacher Report’s final NHL power rankings of the summer put the Calgary Flames in a harsh spot, slotting them at No. 31 on Monday and making the rebuild look every bit as steep as it feels.
Lyle Fitzsimmons didn’t spend much time dressing it up. Calgary has been moving out veterans and stockpiling younger players and draft capital for the past couple of seasons, and the result is a team headed into some lean years before any real payoff arrives.
The numbers tell the story even more plainly. The Flames tied the New York Rangers for the third-worst point total in the NHL last season and managed only 208 goals, which was the fewest in the league. That came after they scored 220 goals in 2024-25, when they finished 29th overall and missed the playoffs by three regulation wins.
The drop-off from there was even uglier. Calgary followed a 96-point season with just 77 points in 2025-26, its third losing season of the decade.
The last time the Flames were in the Stanley Cup playoffs was 2022, when they fell to the Edmonton Oilers in the second round. Only captain Mikael Backlund remains from that group, with players such as Rasmus Andersson and Blake Coleman now gone to Stanley Cup contenders.
What’s left is a roster built around youth and stopgaps. Some of the young players in the mix can barely reach 20 goals, while others are filling leadership roles they wouldn’t hold on stronger teams. That’s the reality of a club trying to climb out of the bottom instead of pretending it isn’t there.
There is at least a long view to cling to. Calgary won the top pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, and next year’s prospect class is expected to bring some potential difference-makers on the forward side.
For several years, Craig Conroy focused on adding top-prospect defensemen to help Dustin Wolf in goal. Now, with many of those prospects getting opportunities with the Calgary Wranglers or, in Zayne Parekh’s case, with the Flames, Conroy can shift his attention toward rebuilding the top lines.
Fans may still want to believe the Flames can get back to the playoffs and keep the 43-year-old Saddledome alive a little longer, but that feels like a long shot right now. Fitzsimmons made that much clear as well, saying, “Unless Jonathan Huberdeau can turn back time and collect another 115 points, it's going to be a long season for Calgary, just like their provincial neighbors, the Vancouver Canucks.”
He also pointed out that Calgary would be better served embracing the NHL Draft Lottery race than chasing a Wildcard berth, only to finish 16th overall and get swept in the first round.
For now, whether the Flames can beat a No. 31 ranking will come down to how fast the young core develops. Until that happens, they’re likely to keep being viewed as one of the league’s weaker rebuilding teams rather than a legitimate playoff threat.
In Other News...
Calgarys New-Look Blue Line Comes With One Huge Camp Question
Training camp is going to look a lot different on Calgarys blue line after a major offseason overhaul. The Flames reshaped the defense for the 2026-27 season by moving on from Rasmus Andersson and MacKenzie Weegar, then bringing in Simon Nemec and Jacob Middleton, a reset that leaves the staff sorting through a mix of veterans and younger pieces as the group starts to take shape.
The early pairing ideas already hint at how much of this will be a work in progress. One combination under consideration is Zayne Parekh alongside Zach Whitecloud, with the real test being whether Parekh can handle the left side, while Kevin Bahl and Simon Nemec are also in the conversation as Calgary looks for the right balance. Those pairings are expected to keep evolving through camp and into the season, which makes the next few weeks feel especially important for a defense trying to find its identity quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Huberdeau Recovery Uncertainty Is Becoming A Real Flames Concern
Jonathan Huberdeaus road back from hip resurfacing surgery has become a bigger storyline than the Flames likely wanted this early in the offseason. Calgarys forward went under the knife in March after playing through hip pain during the 2025-26 season, and general manager Craig Conroy said the club is committed to letting the process play out without trying to speed him back before he is truly ready for contact on the ice.
There is still no firm timetable on when Huberdeau will be back at full speed, which is where the concern starts to grow for Calgary. The organization believes he could still be close to ready when the season opens, but the exact timing remains unsettled, and the setback in his skating only adds to the uncertainty around one of the teams most important veterans. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Fans Are Turning One Saddledome Night Into A Massive Event
The Saddledome is headed for one last regular-season curtain call, and Calgary fans are treating it like more than just another date on the schedule. The Flames are set to play their final home game there on April 10 against the Vancouver Canucks, with the franchise preparing to leave for the new Scotia Place arena in the 2027-2028 NHL season. Even before the closing chapter arrives, the buildings farewell has become a major moment for a fan base that has spent decades making the arena part of the teams identity.
The demand has already shown how much that night means. Tickets disappeared quickly, and the secondary market has pushed prices into a range that makes it clear this is no ordinary regular-season game. Whether the Flames are playing for positioning or simply for one last memory under the Saddledome roof, the atmosphere around that final night is shaping up to be every bit as intense as the occasion itself. [Read more 🡒]