This was an inauspicious start to the 2025-2026 season for the Calgary Flames. Having started the year 1–6–0, and with only twelve goals scored all season, this is a team that is in a very deep rut very early on without many signs of life.
Even this early, the team has attracted national media attention for their start, with much of the attention culminating in Kevin Bieksa bursting onto the team, and especially Yegor Sharangovich’s play on Hockey Night in Canada last weekend.
NHL insider Eliotte Friedman has also been very candid about his thoughts, but spent a lot of time discussing them on an episode of Morning Cuppa Hockey this week. This is what he said.
Yegor Sharangovich’s difficult start
While Sharangovich’s struggle has been clearly articulated, Friedman noted that the reaction to Bieksa’s comments was more interesting, with some feeling it had been exaggerated. However, Friedman noted that if there is anyone who has earned the right to say whatever he wants about the game, it is Bieksa, who has played as much as he has.
What was interesting for Friedman was that several of his teammates publicly came to his defense after the comments, but the team opted to scratch him healthy the next night. When a team is struggling, there is always one player at this point who becomes “a lightning rod” for criticism and on the Flames, and that is Sharangovich. Whether that’s fair or not is another matter, but he is the player in the spotlight.
The long-term plans of the Calgary Flames
It’s hard to predict what the Flames will do in the future. Friedman noted that the franchise’s overall goal is to have a competitive team when the new arena opens in two seasons. However, this organization has not forgotten the impact of the latest renovation on the fan base and on ticket sales. They don’t want to experience that again. Friedman was very candid here, saying, “I know it’s going to be hard to hear, but… Don’t make a short-term move… This is a great design, go for the top end of the design.”
If the Flames feel like their scoring woes will continue to plague them, they need to capitalize on that and really hit rock bottom to get a top pick this season. A short-term fix won’t help this team in the long run, and it’s time to rebuild this season on a good note.
The impact of a tough season on their veteran core
The Flames have several young players on their roster, but they also have an older core of veteran players who have been with the team for a number of years. The team is reportedly concerned about the impact of a retool or rebuild on these players. Friedman talked about how tough the 2023-2024 season was on the team, and that a number of players came to him and said if the Flames were going to rebuild, they wanted out. Conroy reportedly said no, he wouldn’t trade them and that they would evaluate the following year.
The 2024-2025 season was a good year for the team, and that changed the way the team thought about themselves and their future. This start has been weak and Friedman said the big question is how the experienced players will take this start. He specifically called out Nazem Kadri, Blake Coleman and Rasmus Andersson as players to watch.
Is it possible that the Flames want to move Kadri to the Tampa Bay Lightning? It’s too early to look at destinations, but if the Flames do try to trade him, they’ll be looking to get him some loot. Tampa may not have the pieces to make a move, with just former Edmonton Oiler Sam O’Reilly available to move.
What to look for with the upcoming Calgary Flames
The upcoming games will be crucial for the Flames. If they get hot and can stay hot, it’s hard to imagine the team starting to break down, but if they continue to struggle, Craig Conroy could start making moves sooner than expected. Friedman noted that Conroy is a “deep-thinking man” and will be watching this closely.
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