4 Calgary Flames Hot Takes Entering the 2026-27 Season

The Calgary Flames are expected to struggle throughout the 2026-27 season, but that doesn’t mean they will be a boring watch. After trading Rasmus Andersson, Nazem Kadri, MacKenzie Weegar, and Blake Coleman, it’s a new era in Calgary, with plenty of young faces expected to step in and make big impacts.

The likes of Simon Nemec, Zayne Parekh, and Sam Honzek are all looking to have big seasons, as are some more established but still young players such as Matt Coronato and Connor Zary. There will be a ton of eyeballs on them all season as fans try to project what the future in Calgary could look like. With that said, here are 4 hot takes on different situations that could wind up playing out this coming season.

1. Ryan Huska Doesn’t Last Entire Season

Ryan Huska is set to enter his fourth season behind the bench in Calgary. That may not sound like anything remarkable, but is quite impressive given how often teams seem to fire their bench bosses. That said, this could wind up being his final season with the Flames.

One problem Huska faces going into this season is that the Flames aren’t expected to put up many wins. Such is the case for any team in a rebuilding situation, as management instead prefers to see the growth of younger players while also hoping to bottom out in the standings in order to add more top-end draft picks.

For Huska, however, he’s focused on doing everything he can to get wins. Last season, we saw that approach by him opting to give veteran players more minutes, while not giving younger talent a true opportunity to shine. If he continues to stay stubborn in that approach, it could force Conroy into making a change behind the bench.

2. Matt Coronato Hits 30-Goal Mark

While Matt Coronato did lead the Flames in scoring last season, his totals were somewhat disappointing. The 24-year-old regressed slightly from the 2024-25 campaign, notching 18 goals and 45 points in 80 games. By no means was it a horrible season, but there is an expectation that he will take a step forward in 2026-27.

Though scoring goals won’t be easy for the Flames this coming season, Coronato has the skill and shot to be the true offensive leader of this group. He’s at the age now where it’s fair to expect him to be a facilitator of offence, and putting up his first 30-goal season at the NHL level would be a very nice treat for the fan base.

3. Dustin Wolf Gets Vezina Consideration

As weak as the Flames are going to be in many areas this coming season, goaltending won’t be one of them. They have a very competent backup in Devin Cooley, but the one everyone will have their eyes on is Dustin Wolf.

Wolf is coming off of a mediocre-at-best 2025-26 season, giving him plenty of motivation to prove to everybody that he’s one of the best in the business. He’s excelled at every level he’s played throughout his hockey career, and could be in store for a massive season even behind a questionable roster. While it may be a tough task, fans shouldn’t be surprised to see him discussed in Vezina Trophy talk by the time the 2026-27 campaign concludes.

4. Connor Zary Gets Traded

Early in the offseason, there was some speculation that the Flames were looking to move Connor Zary. The 24-year-old was once thought of as a pillar for this franchise, but that has changed in dramatic fashion following two disappointing seasons.

While Zary is going to begin the season on the Flames roster, he is going to need to show major improvement to once again become part of the organization’s long-term plans. Based on what we’ve seen as of late, that doesn’t seem likely to happen, which may very well result in him getting traded for a change in scenery.

A New Era Begins in Calgary

There are plenty of questions surrounding the Flames heading into the 2026-27 season, and these four storylines could go a long way toward shaping the year ahead. Whether it’s Huska’s future, Coronato’s offensive development, Wolf’s emergence, or Zary’s place in the organization, there will be plenty to keep an eye on. It should be an interesting season in Calgary as the Flames continue to turn the page and build toward the future.