The Calgary Flames stayed out of season this season, spent almost nothing in free freedom of choice and retaining their enormous amount of cap space for the future. With that in mind it is worth looking on the road to see who will be available for the next two years in a free desk such as Craig Conroy is looking for a part of the spacious cap space it has.
We will only consider players who will be 30 and younger when their next contract starts, because it is not logical to go for veterans, seen where the flames are in their retool.
Flames Free Agent -Goals in 2026
| Position | Player | Age at the start of the next contract | Current AAV |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | Conner McDavid | 29 | $ 12,500,000 |
| C | Jack Eichel | 29 | $ 10,000,000 |
| W | Kirill Kaprizov | 29 | $ 9,000,000 |
| W | Kyle Connor | 29 | $ 7,142,857 |
| W | Adrian Kempe | 30 | $ 5,500,000 |
| W | Patrik Laine | 28 | $ 8,700,000 |
| W | Alex Tuch | 30 | $ 4,750,000 |
| W | Martin Necas | 27 | $ 6,500,000 |
| D | Jake Wallman | 30 | $ 3,400,000 |
There are currently some huge names that were put on the free agent Market next summer. That said, the number that actually comes until July 2026 will not be that long. Let’s remove this first: Connor McDavid does not come to Calgary. The chance that he will even become a free desk, his slim for no one, and the chance that he will come to the arch rival of the oilers are almost zero. However, it would be the wildest timelines.
After McDavid, the biggest names are of course Jack Eichel and Kirill Kaprizov. Again, I doubt if one of these two makes it until July. Just like McDavid, even if they were not signed in one way or another in the next 10 months, there would be 20+ teams in line for their services, and the chance that they will come to Calgary would essentially be zero.
Players Calgary was able to realistically aim
However, this is where the realistic options come forward. I could certainly see a case in which a player like Kyle Connor or Adrian Kempe reaches a free agency next year, especially if their respective teams do not make an impression in the play -offs. I personally think that both players would be great attacks in Calgary. Both Connor and Kempe are high-end First Line Wingers-Ise that currently have zero. They are also both under 30 next summer, which means that they still have many years in the tank to help the flames to fight during their currently planned 2027 Cup window.
Patrik Laine and Alex Tuch don’t interest me much. Both players are one step lower what one would consider as a high-end winger. Laine in particular comes defensively with a lot of luggage and has a history of exercise issues. Unless you could take it for a cheap contract, I don’t see much from Calgary.
The most intriguing name here is Martin Necas. If you remember, the Flames reportedly almost had a deal to send Matthew Tkachuk to Carolina in 2022, where Necas returns the primary piece. Since then, Necas has made great progress and looked like a legitimate top player with 83 points in 79 games last season.
There have already been rumors that the avalanche may not have him signed in the long term, so I would not be surprised at all to see him available next summer. Necas only becomes 27 when his new contract starts and plays a position of emergency as a right-shot winger. He would be a photo-perfect addition to the Flames next summer and would be my primary target if it became available.
In defense there is not exactly an interesting free agent class or someone who fits well in Calgary next year. At the moment, the largest projected free agent Defender Rasmus Andersson is, and we know he will not come back.
Flames Free Agent -Goals in 2027
| Position | Player | Age at the start of the next contract | Current AAV |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | Nico Hischier | 28 | $ 7,250,000 |
| W | Alex Debrincat | 29 | $ 7,785,000 |
| W | Drake Batherson | 29 | $ 4,975,000 |
| D | Cale Makar | 28 | $ 9,000,000 |
| D | Quinn Hughes | 27 | $ 7,850,000 |
| D | Vince Dunn | 30 | $ 7,350,000 |
| D | Bowen Byram | 26 | $ 6,250,000 |
Unlike in 2026, the 2027 class Free Agent class is full of high-end defenders. The group is of course marked by the local Calgary Kid Cale Makar.
The Makar factor in 2027
From the day he drew his current six-year-old deal to take him to the free desk, there has been a movement among Flames fans to take him home. I mean, I see the argument. By 2027 the avalanche can very well approach the end or leave all their Stanley Cup window, while hopefully the flames should just start theirs.
Add to the fact that Makar has won just about everything you can in Colorado, and the Flames are going to the newest and chiciest arena from the NHL from 2027, and you have a real solid thing to bring Makar home. No matter how crazy these theories are, Makar to Calgary has a lot of merit. You know, if he reaches the open market in 2027, the flames will throw everything they can go to him to take him home. They are currently looking at more than $ 64 million in available cap space for the 2027–28 season, which means that they could give Makar every song he wanted.
Unlike Makar, there is really no case for Hughes who comes to Calgary. If the American decides to leave Vancouver, it will almost certainly be to play with his brothers in New Jersey or another American city. Vince Dunn, however, could be a sneaky good fit. The left-shot defender meets a need in Calgary and has been one of the more underrated defenders in the NHL in recent years. At the age of 30 he would still have a few good years in him, although a long-term deal could be a risk.
Nico Hishcier would also fit perfectly in Calgary. A 28-year-old center for top rule? There is nothing that the flames now need more. Without plans to find a first lining in the middle in the middle, it would be free of Hischier’s caliber a huge get for the flames. He would be my best target after Makar.
Much to work with for Calgary
The flames are currently planned to have some of the most cap space in the entire NHL for the next two years. With the cap that shoots up and the flames only sitting on a few long -term deals, their flexibility can be an enormous force in building their selection. If Conroy has his way, there is a good chance that one of the aforementioned names is a flame about the next two offseasons, if not multiple.
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