Flames add Sharangovich, new coach Huska to veteran group

After the NHL Draft, free agency and other offseason moves, NHL.com is examining where each team stands in preparation for the 2023-24 regular season, which starts Oct. 10. Today, the Calgary Flames:

2022-23 season: 38-27-17, fifth in Pacific Division; missed Stanley Cup Playoffs

Key arrivals

Yegor Sharangovich, F: The 25-year-old was acquired in a trade with the New Jersey Devils in exchange for forward Tyler Toffoli on June 27 and the next day signed a two-year contract. He had 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists) in 75 games last season. … Jordan Oesterle, D: The 31-year-old signed a one-year contract July 2. Oesterle had 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 52 games with the Detroit Red Wings last season. ... Ryan Huska, coach: The 48-year-old was hired June 12 to replace Darryl Sutter. Huska had been a Flames assistant for five seasons. ... Craig Conroy, general manager: The 51-year-old was named GM May 23, replacing Brad Treliving. Conroy has worked in the Flames front office since 2011 and had been assistant GM since 2014.

Key departures

Tyler Toffoli, F: The 31-year-old was traded to the Devils after he led the Flames with an NHL career-high 73 points (34 goals, 39 assists) in 82 games. … Michael Stone, D: The 33-year-old announced his retirement July 5 and was hired by the Flames in a player development role. He had 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 48 games in his 12th and final NHL season. … Milan Lucic, F: The 35-year-old signed a one-year contract with the Boston Bruins on July 1. He had 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) in 77 games last season. ... Darryl Sutter, coach: Fired May 1, he was 103-63-28 in three seasons in his second stint with the Flames. ... Brad Treliving, GM: Announced April 17 he would not return after nine seasons.

On the cusp

Jakob Pelletier, F: The 22-year-old, who was selected in the first round (No. 26) of the 2019 NHL Draft, had seven points (three goals, four assists) in 24 games with the Flames after making his NHL debut Jan. 21. He also had 37 points (16 goals, 21 assists) in 35 games with the Calgary of the American Hockey League and 10 points (four goals, six assists) in nine AHL playoff games. Pelletier's time with the Flames last season should give him an advantage toward earning a full-time NHL spot this season. … Connor Zary, F: The 21-year-old was selected in the first round (No. 24) of the 2020 NHL Draft. He had 58 points (21 goals, 37 assists) in 72 AHL games last season. Zary is expected to challenge for a bottom-six roster spot this season. … Matt Coronato, F: The 20-year-old, chosen in the first round (No. 13) of the 2021 NHL Draft made his NHL debut April 12, after signing a three-year, entry-level contract March 26. He had 36 points (20 goals, 16 assists) in 34 games as a sophomore at Harvard University last season.

What they still need

The Flames may need another top-six forward to make up for the offense Toffoli provided last season. There will be pressure on forward Jonathan Huberdeau to have a bounce-back season. He had 55 points (15 goals, 40 assists) in 79 games in his first season with the Flames after he had 115 points (30 goals, 85 assists) in 80 games with the Florida Panthers in 2021-22. Calgary has several key players unsigned beyond this season, among them forwards Mikael Backlund and Elias Lindholm, and defensemen Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev and Nikita Zadorov. The Flames may need to add another established defenseman if the feeling is they won't be able to keep the three beyond this season.

They said it

"If you're watching our team as a young player, you're probably excited and you're going to be in that gym and training that much harder and be ready to come to (training) camp. When they don't see a lot of moves and a lot of signings, because as players we all look to see how many are on the roster and who has one-way contracts and things like that. So I think it's good for the young guys to be able to see that there is going to be some opportunity. Now they have to go out and prove it and take it, but I think that should be good for them." -- general manager Craig Conroy

Fantasy focus

The Flames have plenty of fantasy bounce-back hopefuls, ranging from forwards Huberdeau, Lindholm and Nazem Kadri, defenseman MacKenzie Weegar and starting goalie Jacob Markstrom. The new wrinkle is Huska, who is familiar with the group and will be tasked with getting more out of the offense after Calgary traded Toffoli to New Jersey. Huberdeau, who was tied for second in the NHL in points in 2021-22 before having less than half of that total last season, could have a new linemate in Sharangovich, who has deep sleeper potential. -- Pete Jensen

Projected lineup

Dillon Dube -- Elias Lindholm -- Jonathan Huberdeau

Yegor Sharangovich -- Nazem Kadri -- Andrew Mangiapane

Jakob Pelletier -- Mikael Backlund -- Blake Coleman

Adam Ruzicka -- Connor Zary -- Matt Coronato

Noah Hanifin -- Rasmus Andersson

MacKenzie Weegar -- Chris Tanev

Jordan Oesterle -- Nikita Zadorov

Jacob Markstrom

Dan Vladar