In this week’s edition of Calgary Flames News & Rumors, Dustin Wolf, who only has one season about his contract, spoke about what he expects from himself on his way to the 2025-26 campaign. In the meantime, limited Free Agent (RFA) Connor Zary and the Flames remain far apart during contract extension interviews. In other news, Mikael Backlund recently revealed that he hopes to stay in Calgary for the rest of his career. Last but not least, defender Tyson Barrie has announced his retirement of the NHL.
Wolf not satisfied despite the excellent Rookie season
The biggest story for the Flames last season, and one of the biggest stories in the NHL, was the game of Rookie goalkeeper Dustin Wolf. The 24-year-old had high expectations on the way to his Rookie season after three excellent seasons in the American Hockey League, and certainly did not disappoint. He finished second in Calder Trophy voting with a 2.64 goals against average together with a .910 savings percentage in 53 performances. However, he does not become complacent after the strong season.
“Your goal is to come to the next season, to have a good summer and to be better. I think the term I like to use now is:” Not complacent, “Wolf said to Nhl.com’s Derek van Diest. “I am still super young and try to learn my way in the competition. I have a full year under my belt, but that means absolutely nothing. I want to come in here with a chip on my shoulder. We have a lot to prove as a team.”
Perhaps a part of Wolf’s motivation comes from the fact that he was not invited to the orientation camp of USA Hockey for the upcoming Olympic Games. It suggests that, despite his strong performance in 2024-25, he will show even more before some have complete confidence in his capacities as a top-staring goalkeeper at NHL level.
Zary and flames remain apart in contract interviews
One of the biggest stories about the flames that this season is outside of season around Zary, who stays an RFA when we are approaching September. The management has been able to work out deals for Martin Pospisil, Matt Coronato, Adam Klapka, Morgan Frost and Kevin Bahl, but still has to reach a deal with Zary. Although everyone had hoped that there would be a contract before the training camp, it sounds like the two parties remain far apart in expansion interviews.
Related: 4 Far too early predictions for Calgary Flames in 2025-26
“I have just heard that the two parties have separated,” said Elliote Friedman of Sportnet on the 32 Thoughts podcast. “I don’t think this is a situation in which the flames do not like the player or the player does not like the flames.”
Zary, 23, comes from his second NHL season, where he recorded 13 goals and 27 points in 54 games. He missed enough time due to two separate knee injuries, which can be what the Flames Brass has hesitant to give him the long -lasting deal that his side is probably looking.
Backlund hopes to be a flame for life
It has not received much attention yet, but team captain Mikael Backlund enters the last season of a two -year -old deal Signed prior to the 2023-24 campaign. Although it is 36 years old, it does not sound like he has plans to retire and he hopes to continue to play with the flames after the 2025-26 season.
“I would say for the fans of Calgary Flames, he said he, you know, a year left on his contract,” Friedman said 32 Thoughts. “He says he wants to keep playing after it is over, and he wants to be a lifelong Calgary flame. That is very clear. He would like to be a flame forever, and he said he wants to play in the new building. That is a goal of him. So he doesn’t want to go anywhere. He is proud to be a flame. And he wants to play in the new building.”
Backlund has spent his entire 1,066 game career with the Flames, during which time he achieved 215 goals and 563 points. Always reliable for a strong defensive game and some solid secondary score, he set up a respectable 15 goals and 32 points in 76 outings last season.
Tyson Barrie calls it a career
After perhaps taking some time in the low season to see if there was interest in his services, Barrie officially announced his retirement From the NHL on Monday. The 34-year-old signed a one-year-old deal with the flames prior to the 2024-25 season, but had trouble getting playing time and adapting to only 13 games.
Related: Flames News and Rumors: Wolf, Kadri and Perekh
Although his term of office was unobtrusive, Barrie had a very solid career in which he saw 110 goals and 508 points in 822 games in Stints with the Colorado Avalanche, Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Nashville Predators and of course, the flames. Undoubtedly, his best NHL season came with the oilers in 2020-21, where he led all NHL defenders in the short season with 48 points in 56 outings.
Looking ahead to the flames
The biggest points for the Flames remain the contract situation with Zary, together with trading speculation around Rasmus Andersson. It seems likely that Andersson will be in a Flames sweater to start the 2025-26 season, although whether or not Zary can still be seen in the line-up for the opening evening.
#Flames #News #Rumors #Wolf #Zary #Backlund #Hockey #Writers #Calgary #Flames #Latest #News #Analysis