It’s been a tough start to the Flames’ 2025–26 season. The team has scored just 12 goals through seven games and currently sits in last place in the NHL for points and goals. With so many struggles offensively, how has each forward line performed so far this year? Let’s break it down.

We’ll only consider the four lines that have played the most together at 5v5 so far. All numbers are courtesy of moneypuck.com.

Matvei Gridin – Nazem Kadri – Matt Coronato

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The most common forward trio for the Flames this season has been the above trio with Matvei Gridin and Matt Coronto flanking Nazem Kadri on the team’s top line. Gridin has since been sent down to the AHL, so we won’t be seeing this group again for a while.

With that said, it’s probably a good thing. This line just didn’t work together at even strength. In their 35 minutes together, they only managed two goals, but were on the ice for four against. Their CF% was below water at 47.4% as they were out-chanced as well. Even worse, their xGF% was a dreadful 35.7%, which is the worst among all lines with at least 20 minutes together.

Sam Honzek – Mikael Backlund – Blake Coleman

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Does the Backlund bump still exist? Apparently, it does, because this trio of Mikael Backlund, Blake Coleman, and Sam Honzek has been dynamite since being put together. They’re currently rocking a solid 57.4 CF% and 57.1 xGF% while logging 35 minutes together. In fact, they’re the only line to play at least 20 minutes together that is above 50% in terms of both CF% and xGF%. Most impressive, this line has made Honzek look like an NHLer, which was far from a sure thing before this season.

While their raw production of two goals for and five against isn’t ideal, their expected totals are two goals for and 1.5 against. In other words, they’ve been unlucky to get poor goaltending when they’re out there. Their 3.41 xGF per 60 is also miles better than any other line for the Flames this year.

Joel Farabee – Morgan Frost – Yegor Sharangovich

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Stapling three of your underperforming veteran forwards together on one line is an interesting tactic, to say the least. The trio of Joel Farabee, Morgan Frost, and Yegor Sharangovich hasn’t been great so far this season, which isn’t exactly surprising. They’re below water in terms of both CF% and xGF%, with their 44.1 CF% being the worst on the team among lines with over 20 minutes.

They’ve also mustered up just one goal together, although at the very least they’ve only been on the ice for one against. This is a trio that makes a combined $$15M a year, with Sharangovich leading the way at $$5.75M and yet they are regularly being caved in while together.

Ryan Lomberg – Connor Zary – Adam Klapka

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I truly have no idea what the idea is behind this fourth line featuring two replacement-level talents in Ryan Lomberg and Adam Klapka, as well as the dynamic Connor Zary. Trying Zary at centre is nice, but I have no idea why you would stick him between these two and expect anything good to come of it. The trio has been destroyed at even strength, posting an ugly 36.8 xGF% and 46.7 CF% in their 22 minutes.

At the very least, they haven’t been on the ice for any goals against, which is nice, I guess? Regardless, it’s time to try something new on the fourth line.

How should the Calgary Flames lineup this season?

The Flames’ lines are a bit of a mess under Coach Ryan Huska. Given what we have seen this season, here is what makes the most sense.

Left wingCentreRight wingJonathan HuberdeauNazem KadriJoel FarabeeSamuel HonzekMikael BacklundBlake ColemanConnor ZaryMorgan FrostMatt CoronatoRyan LombergJustin KirklandAdam Klapka/Yegor Sharangovich

With Jonathan Huberdeau back in the lineup, this first group has actually looked very good in limited minutes. It’s worth giving them a longer look, but it’s worth noting that they have started over 80% of their shifts in the offensive zone.

The second line is self-explanatory, and the fourth line is honestly everyone else. The good news is that the latter, without Sharangovic,h actually looked quite good in the team’s last game. It may be worth playing around with them. The Flames tend to stack their bottom line with slow, older forwards like the iconic Full Pension Line of Milan Lucic, Trevor Lewis, and Brad Richardson, so having a younger group playing the bottom line is a welcome treat.

The big question mark is the third line, which has a lot of the right player types to work but has not meaningfully been tested to this point. The Flames have moved around both Zary and Coronato a bunch to start the year, and need to find homes for both that allow them to grow into the players the team expected them to be when they were drafted.

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