It’s the dog days of the NHL offseason and one of the slowest times of year on the sports calendar. If you’re not a Toronto Blue Jays fan, there hasn’t been a lot happening. As we patiently wait for Craig Conroy’s “big offseason” to start, we shifted our focus from trade speculation to the current roster.
The Calgary Flames have struggled to score over the last few years, but there’s potential for individual improvement within the organization.
From veterans to young guns, this week we wanted to know who Flames fans think leads the team in scoring next season? We asked, you answered.
Want to take part in Sunday Census polls? We send them out every week on our Twitter at @wincolumnCGY. Follow along or send in ideas for the next poll!
Who leads the Flames in scoring next season?
We presented the following poll to our readers:
#Flames fans, who do you think will lead the team in scoring next season? Comment for someone else!
— The Win Column (@wincolumnCGY) July 26, 2025
Nazem Kadri
In a close poll, Nazem Kadri finished second, collecting roughly 35% of the votes. The 34-year-old veteran forward has become a core piece of Calgary’s forward group, assuming the number one centre role and leading the team in points the past two seasons.
The former Stanley Cup champion was the heartbeat of the Flames at many points last season, especially down the stretch. His final 15 games were amongst the best offensively in the league as he left everything on the ice, trying to drag the Flames into a playoff spot. Despite leading the team in points, Kadri tallied 67, eight lower than his previous season.
If Kadri remains with the Flames, he will still have a major role as the number one centre and a spot on the top power play. It’s a safe bet to assume Naz leads the pack for a third straight year.
Jonathan Huberdeau
Jonathan Huberdeau collected 20% of the votes this week, good enough for third in our way-too-early prediction poll. The $10.5M man scored 115 points a mere four seasons ago before leaving Florida for Calgary. As many fans know all too well, it’s been a tale of two cities for the former third overall pick.
However, if we did this same poll a year ago, I don’t think Huberdeau would garner as many votes. Last season was one of his first in Calgary that looked somewhat comfortable for both the player and the organization in their relationship.
Despite his offensive woes since moving from the Sunshine State, Jonathan brought a grittier style to his game last season. It seemed foreign at first, standing out so much that the media began coining him a “power forward.” Although that may have been a stretch, there’s no doubt he was engaging in and winning significantly more puck battles.
He also scored goals last season, in tough areas. Some weren’t pretty, but they made it into the back of the net 28 times. He finished second on the team in scoring with 62 points, his best as a Calgary Flame.
I could see Huberdeau having a strong season this year, not 115 points, but maybe he touches 70. At this point, a win.
Matt Coronato
Matt Coronato was this week’s winner, collecting roughly 40% of the votes. The 22-year-old is fresh off a hefty extension of seven years at $6.5M a season. It’s evident the Flames believe in Coronato long-term, and he wants to be a part of the future in Calgary.
The former 2021 13th overall pick scored 24 goals and 47 points in his first full NHL season, suiting up for 77 games with the Flames. Coronato has a lot of potential, and his development trajectory seems to be rising each year. He’s a threat on the rush, in front of the net, anywhere over the blue line that he can get a wrist shot off, and his one-timer is a power play dream. Matt Coronato has the potential to lead the Flames in scoring next season and for many to come. It’s evident the organization thinks so too.
Zayne Parekh
The phenomenon that is Zayne Parekh struggled this week, pushing the limits of Flames fans’ expectations, collecting roughly 5% of the votes. Although it’s many people’s opinion that Parekh is 100% untouchable despite playing only a single NHL game, the former CHL Defenceman of the Year has been compared to the likes of Cale Makar and Lane Hutson.
Parekh’s offensive is evident when you look at his junior numbers. Back-to-back 30+ goal seasons as a defenceman in the OHL, a feat that put him in the record books alongside Bobby Orr. The legend accomplished it with the Oshawa Generals in 1964–65 and 1965–66. Parekh also tallied 107 points last season. The first D-man to hit the 100+ mark since the Windsor Spitfires’ Ryan Ellis did it 14 years ago.
Despite his outstanding amateur success and his impressive NHL debut, Parekh will likely still have some growing pains. It’s fun to imagine a rookie leading scorer, especially as a defenceman. But that would have to be yet another record-setting season for Parekh, I’d imagine. Lane Hutson might not hold that crown for long.
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