The Calgary Flames are heading into the 2026-27 season with a leadership group that’s going to need a serious refresh.
After the veteran purge last season, the room looks much lighter on established voices. Mackenzie Weegar, Nazem Kadri, Olli Maatta and Blake Coleman are gone, leaving Mikael Backlund, Jonathan Huberdeau and Zach Whitecloud as the only all-but-confirmed members of the group. That opens the door for a new wave of names to step into letter-wearing roles.
Joel Farabee looks like one of the cleanest fits. Ryan Huska promoted him to alternate captain in March, pointing to his energy, strong voice and team-first attitude.
Farabee made his presence felt in the last two months of the season, when the Flames had already traded away nearly the entire leadership core. He’s picked up plenty by watching Backlund, and his ability to connect with both veterans and rookies has long stood out - even back when fans wanted him to be captain during his Philadelphia days.
With Blake Coleman’s spot open, Farabee feels like a natural candidate to keep wearing a letter.
Matt Coronato belongs in the conversation too. He’s signed through the 2030-31 season, and a leadership promotion would be a clear signal that the Flames see him as part of the long-term picture.
The comparison to Matthew Tkachuk’s third NHL season in 2018 is hard to ignore here. Coronato has built real relationships across the roster, from the established players to the younger group pushing up behind them.
He keeps to himself, stays team-oriented and could use a leadership role as a push toward another step offensively.
Kevin Bahl brings a different kind of case, but an equally strong one. Like Coronato, he’s young and well-liked on both sides of the room.
He spent a good chunk of his time in Calgary shadowing Rasmus Andersson, and that experience makes him a logical option to help fill the void left by his former defence partner. Bahl plays a stay-at-home style, but he’s not shy about standing up for teammates, dropping the gloves if the moment calls for it, or raising his level when the team needs a jolt.
He’s also locked in until 2031.
Then there’s Jacob Middleton, the easiest veteran presence to read on this list. The Flames brought him in for exactly the kind of influence he can provide away from the puck.
He’s a tough, grizzled defender who can mentor younger blueliners like Simon Nemec and Zayne Parekh, and he’s already talked about how excited he is to be back in Alberta. Middleton also brings the kind of grit Flames management likes, which makes him a strong bet to wear an “A” this fall.
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