Mikael Backlund is still the face of the Calgary Flames’ leadership room, and that isn’t changing as the team heads into its final season at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
The Flames officially announced their leadership group for 2026/27 on September 30, 2026, with Backlund serving as captain and Jonathan Huberdeau and Zach Whitecloud joining him as alternate captains. Backlund, who is set to pass Jarome Iginla as the franchise leader in games played this season, remains the steadying presence for a team in transition.
For Calgary, the setup reflects a roster that has moved on from a number of familiar veteran voices. In recent years, players such as Elias Lindholm, Chris Tanev, Rasmus Andersson, Nazem Kadri and Mackenzie Weegar all wore an “A” with Backlund. All of them are now gone, dealt away for future assets.
The Flames are still leaning on experience, though, and Huberdeau and Whitecloud are the other two names in the group. Calgary shared the announcement on social media with the message: “Introducing your 2026-27 #Flames leadership group!”
Huberdeau, however, will miss time to open the season, so the team already has a plan for the vacancy. During his absence, Ryan Strome, Jake Middleton and Joel Farabee will rotate through the second alternate captain role.
That leaves Calgary with a veteran-heavy leadership structure around a younger core, and the group is clearly built to help guide the next phase of the organization. For now, Backlund remains the anchor, with a small but experienced leadership cast beside him.
In Other News...
Flames Just Gave Fans A New Prospect To Watch Closely
The Flames have locked up another young piece in forward Chase Harrington, signing the 18-year-old to an entry-level contract after selecting him 36th overall in the 2026 NHL Draft. Harrington is still with the Spokane Chiefs in the Western Hockey League, where he has already earned the captaincy, a sign Calgary sees both talent and maturity in a prospect still early in his development.
For the Flames, the move adds another name to the pipeline without forcing an immediate decision on his NHL future. Harringtons contract was structured with some flexibility, giving Calgary room to let him keep developing in junior hockey while the organization watches closely to see how quickly he can push toward the next level. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Just Set Up An Important Next Step For Chase Harrington
The Flames have taken a clear next step with Chase Harrington, signing the forward prospect to a three-year entry-level contract while he remains in the middle of his final full season with the WHLs Spokane Chiefs. Harrington, the Chiefs captain, has been on Calgarys radar since the 2026 NHL Draft, when the club made him the 36th overall pick and added a player it expects to keep pushing forward.
For now, the contract gives Calgary a way to lock in a promising young center of attention without rushing his path. Harrington can finish out his junior run in Spokane, and the Flames will continue to watch his development closely from afar, with the real clock on his NHL future still tied to what happens over the next couple of seasons. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Cap Space May Be Setting Up Conroys Next Asset Play
The Flames were in the mix on a busy trade front as a third-party salary cap facilitator in the deal between the Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets involving Kirill Marchenko and Matthew Knies. Calgary was not the centerpiece of the move, but its presence mattered, with the club helping create the kind of financial flexibility that can make a complicated deal possible in the first place.
For a team still trying to shape its next wave of assets, that sort of role can be more than a one-off favor. Calgary was aiming to come away with a draft pick in exchange for providing cap relief, a reminder that every bit of space can become a bargaining chip if the timing is right. In a market where teams are constantly hunting for help on the books, the Flames may already be signaling how Conroy intends to squeeze value out of the roster around him. [Read more 🡒]