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Calgary Flames start their final Saddledome season on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken, aiming to end a four-year playoff drought and build momentum before moving to Scotia Place.
The Calgary Flames open their 2026-27 NHL regular season on Thursday at home against the Seattle Kraken, beginning what is being called the Farewell Season at the Saddledome. It is the franchise's 44th season at the arena before moving across the street to the $1.2-billion Scotia Place next season. Calgary missed the playoffs for a fourth straight year in 2025-26, finishing 34-39-9 and ranked 29th out of 32 teams, while also being the lowest-scoring team in the NHL.
Flames Look to Young Core for Offense
Playoff expectations remain modest, but the pressure is on to show progress and generate buzz ahead of the move. Young players with NHL experience will be counted on to accelerate both the pace of play and the rebuild that began when it became clear the team would not get close to the playoffs after narrowly missing in 2025.
Matt Coronato led the Flames in points last season with 45, including 18 goals. Calgary hopes for an offensive boost from the 23-year-old and from 25-year-old forward Connor Zary, both entering their fourth NHL seasons. Wingers Samuel Honzek, 21, and Matvei Gridin, 20, along with 20-year-old defenceman Zayne Parekh, are key pieces of the rebuild.
General manager Craig Conroy acquired 22-year-old defenceman Simon Nemec, the No. 2 pick in the 2022 NHL draft, from the New Jersey Devils in July. Nemec joins Parekh in bringing puck-moving mobility to the Flames' back end.
Training Camp Focus on Net-Front Tenacity
More tenacity and execution in front of opposing nets was the message from training camp. Head coach Ryan Huska said the team must make it much harder on opposing goaltenders to make saves.
Huska noted that even when the Flames generate Grade A scoring chances, if no one is in the goaltender's eyes, the save is made nine out of ten times. He stressed the need to distract and disrupt goaltenders' rhythm by going to the net harder than in the past.
The Flames retained or acquired several veterans to guide the young core toward playoff contention. Captain Mikael Backlund signed a contract extension through 2028, saying it was important to him to still be with the team when it moves to Scotia Place.
The 37-year-old Swedish centre acknowledged outside doubts but said the room believes in itself and wants to prove people wrong by being a hard team to play against and competing for a playoff spot late in the season. He added it would be special to close out the Saddledome with a playoff clinching game.
Leadership Group and New Additions
Defenceman Zach Whitecloud, 29, arrived in January from Las Vegas. Forward Ryan Strome, 33, was a trade-deadline acquisition from Anaheim. Defenceman Jake Middleton, 30, came as part of the Nemec trade. Morgan Frost, 27, and Joel Farabee, 26, were both 20-goal scorers for Calgary last season.
Strome described a mix of franchise-pillar young players, a unique middle-aged group trying to find their place in the league, and older players providing stability. He said that while the team is younger, it does not feel super-young to him.
Calgary's fortunes ride on 25-year-old goaltender Dustin Wolf returning to the form that made him a finalist for the NHL's rookie award in 2025.
Expect Parekh and Nemec to quarterback the power play with internal competition for the top unit. Only the Philadelphia Flyers' power play was worse last season. Huska called it a luxury to have two defencemen who can run the power play, allowing the team to switch if one is having an off night.
The leadership group behind captain Backlund is being renovated after last season's trades of Blake Coleman, Rasmus Andersson, Nazem Kadri and Mackenzie Weegar. Jonathan Huberdeau is sidelined to start the season after March hip resurfacing.
Huska said Huberdeau will be missed for his intangibles on and off the ice, but noted the team has a good group of older players and likes the leadership group that is forming.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 28, 2026.
Calgary Flames Saddledome Scotia Place NHL Mikael Backlund Craig Conroy Ryan Huska
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