Flames season preview: Wolf, healthy Huberdeau can fuel rebound

The 2026-27 NHL regular season begins Sept. 29. Leading up to the season opener, NHL.com is identifying six things to watch for each team. Today, the Calgary Flames.

Last season: 34-39-9, seventh in Pacific Division; missed Stanley Cup Playoffs

Coach: Ryan Huska (fourth season)

Biggest challenge

The Flames need to find a way to generate more offense. They were the lowest-scoring team in the NHL in 2025-26, averaging 2.54 goals per game. Matt Coronato led them with 45 points (18 goals, 27 assists) in 80 games, and fellow forwards Morgan Frost (22 goals, 21 assists) and Mikael Backlund (17 goals, 26 assists) each had 43 in 82 games. It will require more from players such as forwards Jonathan Huberdeau and Yegor Sharangovich (29 points; 15 goals, 14 assists in 78 games). Huberdeau has struggled since being acquired in the trade that sent Matthew Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers on July 22, 2022. The 33-year-old had 115 points (30 goals, 85 assists) in 80 games in his final season with Florida (2021-22) but hasn’t had more than 62 since the trade. He had 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in 50 games with the Flames last season, when he had season-ending hip resurfacing surgery in March. Huberdeau said on Sept. 10 he will not be ready for the start of the regular season but hopes to be back "as soon as possible." He is entering the fourth of an eight-year, $84 million contract ($10.5 million average annual value).

How they make playoffs

Calgary came close to qualifying in 2024-25 despite averaging 2.68 goals per game (29th in the NHL), missing out on the second wild card from the Western Conference to the St. Louis Blues with fewer regulation win. If the Flames can be better defensively and receive quality goaltending from Dustin Wolf their chances increase exponentially. Wolf was a Calder Trophy finalist that season as one of the NHL’s top rookies (29-16-8, 2.64 goals-against average, .910 save percentage in 53 games), but he was 23-29-3 with a 3.01 GAA and .899 save percentage in 57 games (55 starts) last season. Core players such as Coronato, Frost, Sharangovich, Joel Farabee, Connor Zary and Martin Pospisil need to take another step in their development as well. 

Most intriguing addition

Simon Nemec was acquired in a trade with the New Jersey Devils on June 23, and the 22-year-old defenseman signed a five-year, $36.25 million contract ($7.25 million AAV) with Calgary on July 6. He is expected to receive a bigger opportunity to contribute offensively after playing behind Luke Hughes and Dougie Hamilton in New Jersey, where he still managed to have 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) in 68 games last season. Nemec, the No. 2 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, averaged 19:40 of ice time, and that’s expected to increase.

Biggest potential surprise

Forward Matvei Gridin was impressive last season after being recalled from Calgary of the American Hockey League, finishing with 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) in 37 games. The 20-year-old, who was selected by the Flames in the first round (No. 28) of the 2024 NHL Draft, is expected to compete for a full-time NHL role in training camp. Gridin had 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists) in 37 AHL games last season, his first as a professional.

Ready to contribute

Zayne Parekh dipped his toes in the NHL last season, when the 20-year-old defenseman had nine points (four goals, five assists) in 37 games. He also played for Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he had 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in seven games. Selected by the Flames with the No. 9 pick in the 2024 draft, Parekh has the ability to contribute offensively; he had 107 points (33 goals, 74 assists) with Saginaw of the Ontario Hockey League in 2024-25 and scored his first NHL goal in his only game with the Flames that season. Parekh is expected to land a full-time role this season but will have to earn his ice time and prove he can be effective at each end of the ice. 

Fantasy sleeper with EDGE stats

Matvei Gridin, F: He had 20 points, including six power-play assists, in 37 games as a rookie last season and emerged as one of the Flames’ most-productive players once he became a regular in the lineup; from Jan. 17 to the end of the season, he was among Calgary’s leaders in assists (14; tied for most), primary assists (nine; tied for most), points (19 in 33 games; tied for second), power-play points (seven; tied for most) and blocked shots (25; led forwards). Per NHL EDGE stats, Gridin ranked highly among forwards in both average shot speed (60.56 mph; 92nd percentile) and hardest shot (89.70 mph; 82nd percentile) last season. Gridin is expected to play on the first line and power play in his first full NHL season and is a deep sleeper to consider late in fantasy drafts (undrafted on average for 2026-27) or off the waiver wire. -- Chris Meaney

Projected lineup

Matvei Gridin -- Morgan Frost -- Matt Coronato 

Connor Zary -- Mikael Backlund -- Joel Farabee

Jonathan Huberdeau -- Ryan Strome -- Yegor Sharangovich

Maxim Tsyplakov -- Martin Pospisil -- Adam Klapka

Jake Middleton -- Simon Nemec

Kevin Bahl -- Zach Whitecloud

Yan Kuznetsov -- Zayne Parekh 

Dustin Wolf

Devin Cooley