The Calgary Flames (34-39-9) have embraced a rebuild ever since the 2024 offseason. Last season, however, they overachieved, going 41-27-14 with rookie goaltender Dustin Wolf earning a Vezina-caliber season. He had a .910 save percentage and 2.64 goals against average.
This season seemed to start the rebuild officially. Dustin Wolf took a step back (.899 SV%, 3.01 GAA), and the team ranked dead last in goals scored, assists, and shooting percentage. The leader in points was Matthew Coronato with 45.
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Despite this, the Flames lost out to another Pacific Division team (Vancouver Canucks) for the best lottery odds. They still have the 4th-best lottery odds, behind Vancouver, the Chicago Blackhawks, and the New York Rangers.
The Flames also earned a lot of value at the trade deadline. They shipped off Nazem Kadri (Colorado Avalanche), Rasmus Andersson (Vegas Golden Knights), and MacKenzie Weegar (Utah Mammoth) for two first-round picks and five second-round picks. Regardless, some questions need to be answered over the offseason.
What will happen to Blake Coleman?
I was surprised that the Flames didn’t trade Blake Coleman at the NHL trade deadline. He’s a great two-way center with two years left on his contract and reasonable term at $4.9 million per year.
The 34-year-old winger doesn’t fit the timeline for the Calgary Flames, but the Flames could keep him due to his leadership and impact to the team. Some teams keep veterans around during a rebuild, such as the Ducks did with Coleman’s teammate Ryan Strome.
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Regardless, Coleman, who earned 20 goals and 15 assists through 69 games last season, should generate interest from teams. The Montreal Canadiens called about before the treade deadline, so they could revisit a deal during the offseason.
Will Matthew Coronato regain his scoring touch?
Speaking of Coronato, last season was a disappointment for him. He did lead the team in points (45) this season, but he had just 18 goals this past season.
Those are meaningful contributions for a team that is lacking that, but Coronato has the talent to score 30 goals in a season. That’s partially why the Flames signed him to a seven-year, $45.5 million deal over the 2025 offseason.
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Sure, he had an absurdly low 9.1% shooting percentage last season, and he’s still young, but he needs to take a step forward next season. The Flames can help him by getting a better playmaker on the back-end or down the middle.
Will the Flames sign veterans in free agency?
The Flames already went through step 1 of their rebuild in trading key veterans for high draft capital. They didn’t part with everyone (Coleman, Mikael Backlund), but they now have multiple first-round picks for the next three seasons, along with four second-rounders in 2026.
The next step is to raise the floor of the team, and that’s by signing veterans. There are plenty of veterans on the open market who can benefit from a change of scenery and more time on special teams.
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The key is to avoid anyone with trade protection, because the Flames could also ship off the veterans they sign this offseason for more picks in the 2027 NHL trade deadline. As it stands, general manager Craig Conroy doesn’t have a ton of players to trade entering the offseason besides Blake Coleman. It’s unlikely he’ll field calls for Flames lifer Mikhael Backlund or young defenseman Kevin Bahl.
Getting a center with some play-making abilities can help Matthew Coronato a lot, and a stable left-shot defenseman would go a long way in helping Zayne Parekh realize his offensive potential in the NHL.
