Heading into the 2025–26 NHL season, expectations are muddied for the Calgary Flames. Part of the fan base is expecting the Flames to improve upon last season, while others are expecting them to be worse. First, we’ll take a look at some reasons why the Flames could be a better team by October.

Dustin Wolf’s continued progression

The reason why the Flames were even remotely good last season was Dustin Wolf. In his rookie season, Wolf posted an astounding .910 save percentage and a 2.64 goals against average. The kid from Gilroy, California, has been one of the best netminders at every level he has played at. He surpassed all expectations that were laid out for him last season, and for the 31 other teams, the scary part is that he still can get much better.

As I mentioned before, this was just Wolf’s rookie season. The 24-year-old still has a full career ahead of him. As he continues to go through his first few NHL seasons, he will continue to progress and tweak his game. If Calgary wants any chance at replicating its success from last season, it falls upon Wolf and how he progresses.

Young stars develop

Just like Wolf, the rest of the Flames’ young stars must develop if they want to succeed next year. This includes the likes of Matt Coronato, Connor Zary, and Martin Pospisil. The three of these are the premier young skaters on the roster aside from the rookies. Whether or not the rookies make the roster is its own conversation.

Zary just dealt with a season of injuries and is now in a contract disagreement with management. After the contract ordeal is sorted out between the two parties, fans can look forward to seeing Zary’s progression over the offseason. He has shown glimpses and potential of what he can truly be. He will need to deal with his recent knee injuries and not rush himself back.

Coronato just played in his first full season, making an impact on the team immediately. Over 20 goals, Coronato was a glimmer of hope on an otherwise dull offensive team. He can do so much more as well, with the 22-year-old Harvard alum having had some cold streaks with moving lines quite often.

Martin Pospisil came into the NHL at the same time as Connor Zary, and the two of them were impactful in their rookie years. Pospisil brought physicality with a bit of an offensive touch. That offensive touch faltered this season, and his physicality went over the line on multiple occasions. Pospisil must clean up his game if he wants to progress and become a more impactful player.

Continued veteran presence

The Calgary Flames have their fair share of veterans on their roster, with multiple of them having Stanley Cup-winning experience. Blake Coleman, for example, won back-to-back cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021. Coleman played on the third line during those runs alongside Yanni Gourde and Ondrej Palat, a line that garnered the attention of the entire league. All three received lucrative deals after their performances in the Lightning’s playoff runs. Coleman understands what it takes to win, the physical sacrifices one must make, to put their body on the line for the ultimate prize.

Another man who understands that sacrifice is fan favourite Ryan Lomberg. Originally signed by the Flames, Lomberg found himself on the Florida Panthers’ first Cup-winning roster in 2024. Shortly after, he rejoined his initial squad on a two-year deal and won over the hearts of the fanbase. Lomberg brings joy and the vibes in the locker room, as shown in the Flames series “The Chase.” Having a culture that players are attracted to and want to play in is vital when you have a contending roster.

Captain Mikael Backlund surpassed the 1000-game milestone last year, all of which were with the Flames. In his career, he has been a top two-way centre and consistently earns himself Selke votes. You don’t stay in the league for this long at his level without knowing what you’re doing. Backlund knows what is required to stay in the league for a long time and play at a top level for so long. His knowledge and leadership will be essential for the young up-and-comers on the roster.

Zayne Parekh

Lastly, the prospect of Zayne Parekh earning himself a full-time spot in the big leagues. While expectations for Parekh aren’t for him to be Cale Makar immediately, he is expected to bring firepower to the backend. We saw it in his first NHL game in the Flames’ last game against the Los Angeles Kings in April. He looked comfortable playing in the world’s top league. He was his normal puck-carrying self and would walk the blue line just as he would do with the Saginaw Spirit. All of that culminated in him getting his first career NHL goal. Parekh, as a rookie, will most certainly be a major improvement for his team.

For the Flames to even have the thought of potentially improving next year, they need these to work. Their young players, Wolf, Coronato, Zary, and Pospisil, must improve their games. Veterans like Nazem Kadri, Lomberg, Coleman, Backlund, and others must teach younger players what it takes to be successful, play for a long time, and win a Stanley Cup. Add in Zayne Parekh, living up to the hype and improving the defence by quite a bit. There is a chance that the Flames improve upon their “Cinderella” run and make the playoffs this year.

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