The Flames first preseason game is scheduled for September 22nd against the Seattle Kraken. Preseason doesn’t typically offer a ton of value to fans. Veterans only play a little bit and they are most concerned with getting through the preseason without injury. However, for a team like Calgary who are going through a rebuild, there are more open spots on the roster than with an expected playoff team. There are some intriguing storylines and of course plenty of new young talent worth watching. Let’s take a look now at five players that will be worth watching this preseason.
Calgary Flames to Keep an Eye on this Preseason
#5 – Anthony Mantha & Jonathan Huberdeau
Normally, watching veterans during the preseason is a waste of time. They are typically just trying to get up to speed and not get hurt. They’ve already won a roster spot and have nothing to prove, so there’s no need to exert much effort. Despite that, the pairing of Anthony Mantha and Jonathan Huberdeau will be worth a watch. Flames general manager Craig Conroy noted in his free agency press conference that one of the reasons they signed Mantha was the hopes that he and Huberdeau will mesh well. Fans will want to watch during the preseason to see if there is chemistry between the two leading into the season.
#4 – Dustin Wolf
With Jacob Markstrom being traded to New Jersey, the path is cleared for Dustin Wolf to grab the reins in goal for Calgary. Wolf is a back-to-back AHL goalie of the year and an AHL MVP winner. There is nothing left for him to prove at the AHL level, and management has cleared the path for him to be a full-time NHLer this season. The unknown is how many starts Wolf will get, and what the split looks like with fellow goaltender Dan Vladar. The preseason will be the best chance to get insight into how Ryan Huska and the Flames plan to use their goaltenders during the season. It will be fun to watch early on to see which goalie is going to be the starter for opening night and if there is any indication that Wolf has truly won the starting job.
#3 – Jakob Pelletier
A former first-round selection of the Calgary Flames, Pelletier is heading into a make-or-break season with the Flames. During his first NHL action in 2022-2023, he joined the Flames and provided a much needed spark of energy. Heading into the following season, hopes were high that Pelletier would be a full-time NHLer. Unfortunately, an injury derailed Pelletier’s season. He missed three months of the season and returned to hockey in January 2024. He played most of last season with the AHL affiliate Wranglers and found limited success during his time in the NHL. Last season while injured, Pelletier was passed on the Flames depth chart by fellow prospects Connor Zary, Matthew Coronato, and Martin Pospisil, meaning there’s less room for him with big club. To make matters worse for Pelletier, this season he is not waiver-exempt, meaning he will need to clear waivers to start the season in the AHL. As of right now, Pelletier will have a lot to prove during the preseason for the Calgary Flames. If he doesn’t show he deserves to be with there, this could be the end of his career in Calgary.
#2 – Hunter Brzustewicz
Brzustewicz came to Calgary last season as part of the Elias Lindholm trade with Vancouver. Brzustewicz is coming off a strong season in his final year in the OHL. He put up an incredible 92 points in 67 games for the Kitchener Rangers last season. He’s an excellent skater and elite puck-mover as his 79 assists from last season can attest. The Flames will be hoping he can adapt quickly to the professional game. He has the potential to blossom into a solid puck-moving defenceman who can quarterback a power play. Despite the fact that Brzustewicz is all but guaranteed to be starting next season in the AHL, fans should be excited to get a first look at him in a Flames jersey.
The Top Player to Watch in the Calgary Flames Preseason Zayne Parekh
The only defenceman to score more points than Brzustwicz in the OHL last season was the Flames ninth overall draft selection, Zayne Parekh. Parekh is a legitimate game-breaker from the backend. He scored 33 goals as a defenceman in just 66 games as an 18-year-old. He’s also a winner, helping to lead the Saginaw Spirit to a Memorial Cup victory. Parekh is the type of player you can build your franchise around. There’s no better reason to tune into the preseason than to get a first look at Parekh in a Flames sweater. Fans can expect to see some highlights from Parekh during the preseason before he’s eventually returned to the OHL. If Parekh can continue to blossom, the Flames could be in for some exciting hockey in the near future.
Fans in Calgary could be in for a long season when it comes to winning games, but there’s enough young talent and storylines to make the preseason worth a watch.
Main photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
