There were no surprises when the Calgary Flames announced their leadership group for the 2026-27 season.
Some decisions just make sense.
With Mikael Backlund returning as captain, the Flames revealed that Zach Whitecloud and Jonathan Huberdeau will serve as alternates this season. Both guys are veteran voices in a locker room that has gotten younger and are natural choices to wear the ‘A.’
“When you look at Huberdeau, when we’re trying to think of players who are team-first guys, Jonathan over the years has really proven that that’s what he’s all about,” Flames head coach Ryan Huska said. “He’s also a guy who has had lots of ups-and-downs throughout his career, so when you think about someone you can go to as an older player or a younger player and ask about situations, Hubie’s done it all, even with what he’s battling through right now.
“I can say about him, in regards to being a team-first guy and a really good person, he is it. Everybody goes to Hubie if they need something, he’s very much a you-before-me type of guy.”
Huberdeau is recovering from hip resurfacing surgery that he underwent earlier this year and was placed on injury reserve earlier this week. He’s skating on his own and working in the gym, but hasn’t been on the ice with his teammates during training camp and there’s no firm timeline set for his return.
While he’s out of the lineup, the Flames will rotate the alternate captaincy among Joel Farabee, Jake Middleton and Ryan Strome.
RelatedHow did Whitecloud earn a leadership role?
Whitecloud, meanwhile, stepped into a leadership role almost as soon as the Flames acquired him in the trade that sent Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights in January.
“Honestly, not a whole lot changed to be honest with you,” Whitecloud said of taking on more leadership duties this season. “One of the main lessons I learned is don’t change who you are. I think good leaders are examples of that, if you have to change who you are you’re probably not in the right spot.
“Treating everyone how I want to be treated, that’s my first rule when I enter rooms and that’s how I try to leave them, that usually carries me throughout my day.”
While he hasn’t been in Calgary for long, there couldn’t have been anyone who was shocked to see him get an ‘A’ on his jersey this season.
The 29-year-old was one of the players who kept spirits up during the final stages of last season after management had effectively committed to a rebuild by dealing away Andersson, Nazem Kadri and MacKenzie Weegar.
Going into a year where there may be more valleys than peaks, his approach could be a major asset for both the veterans and younger players in the locker room.
Calgary Flames head coach Ryan Huska talks with media at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. The Calgary Flames season home opener goes on Thursday.
“Whitecloud is a guy that nothing was ever given to him along the way. I think he embodies what our team is about in a lot of ways,” Huska explained. “He was never drafted, had to work his way up, is the only member of our playing group who has won a Stanley Cup right now and it never came easy for him.
“The way he handles the room is a bit different from our other players; he is a bit of a kinder, gentler soul. He does things differently from maybe a Backlund may do things now.
“The three of them working together will be important, but so will the other guys who are in our leadership group, so Strome and Middleton and Farabee, they all bring different things to our group and we’re going to lean on them very heavily again this year.”
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