Last Word on Hockey’s Puck Drop Previews are back for the 2024-25 season! As the regular season approaches, Last Word will preview each team’s current outlook and stories to watch for the upcoming year. We’ll also do our best to project how things will go for each team throughout the campaign. Today, we’re previewing the 2024-2025 Calgary Flames.
2024-25 Calgary Flames Puck Drop Previews
2024-25 Season
Last season was a pivotal one for the Calgary Flames. As they headed into the 2023-2024 season the Flames had 6 pending free agents. First time general manager Craig Conroy had to make a decision on whether he felt the current Flames could become a legitimate contender or if they needed to rebuild.
The Flames didn’t get off to a great start to the season. On November 10th, sitting at 4-7-2 shortly after a 6 game losing streak, Nikita Zadorov requested a trade. This was the beginning of an incredibly active season for Craig Conroy. He and the Flames would go on to trade core players Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev, Elias Lindholm and Zadorov by the 2024 trade deadline. This marked the first time since 2013 that the the franchise acknowledged they need to take a step back in order to get better. Calgary finished last season with a 38-39-5 record, missing the playoffs by 17 points. The story of the season was Calgary’s trades and willingness to accept a new direction.
In terms of the on-ice product during this past season, Flames fans didn’t have much team success to cheer for. They did however see some good individual stories. Newly acquired Yegor Sharangovich had a breakout campaign in his first year in Calgary. He tallied 31 goals and 59 points playing all 82 games for the Flames. Centre Nazem Kadri had a bounce-back year that saw him score 75 points, and flourish in a leadership role mentoring rookie standouts Connor Zary and Martin Pospisil. As they headed into the offseason the Flames were looking to build for the future.
2024 Offseason
On June 19th, the Flames made another major move. Trading starting goaltender Jacob Markstrom to the New Jersey Devils, in exchange for Kevin Bahl and a 2025 first-round draft pick. This continued the direction Craig Conroy established during the 2023-2024 season. The Flames would also move out forward Andrew Mangiapane after seven seasons with the Flames. Following this trade, Calgary’s most pressing matter was the upcoming draft where they held picks 9 and 28. The Flames selected a game-breaking defenceman in Zayne Parekh and offensively skilled forward Matvei Gridin. Moving into free agency, the Flames had made it clear they wouldn’t be spending big on the open market. The biggest move the Flames made on July 1st, was resigning Yegor Sharangovich to a five-year, $28.75 million contract extension. The Flames would also add forwards Anthony Mantha, Ryan Lomberg, along with defenceman Jake Bean and goaltender Devin Cooley.
Overall the Flames offseason made one thing clear, they are building for the future. None of the four free agents they signed inked deals longer than two years. This gives Calgary plenty of flexibility moving forward. Look for Calgary to continue to move out veterans for prospects and picks when possible, allowing their young players oppourunity to learn and grow at the NHL level.
Lineup Projections for the 2024-25 Puck Drop Preview Calgary Flames
Forwards
Jonathan Huberdeau – Yegor Sharangovich – Anthony Mantha
Connor Zary – Nazem Kadri – Andrei Kuzmenko
Martin Pospisil – Mikael Backlund – Blake Coleman
Ryan Lomberg – Kevin Rooney – Jakob Pelletier
Top Nine
The Flames do not have clear number one or two lines, instead they have three lines that are equally relied upon. This speaks to a lack of top-tier talent on the current roster. The Flames have enjoyed a security blanket in the form of the duo of Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman. The pair are the most trusted line in the organization. They are relied upon to match up against the other team’s top line, and they are often where players who are struggling go to get back on track. Martin Pospisil plays a simple game, built on straight lines and going to the tough areas of the ice which should fit in well with Backlund and Coleman. Pospisil is also becoming quite an agitator, and matching him up against the league’s top talent should be disruptive to their opponents.
The acquisition of Anthony Mantha by the Flames was partly influenced by the hopes he would mesh well with Jonathan Huberdeau. The two have skated together the past few offseasons and Mantha’s size and shooting ability should be the perfect match for an elite distributor like Huberdeau.
Huberdeau Bouncing Back
Huberdeau’s first two seasons in Calgary have been largely a disappointment and he has struggled to find chemistry with this group. His best stretch in a Flames jersey came alongside Sharangovich so keeping them together makes sense. Sharangovich is a good skater and defensively responsible enough that this line wouldn’t be a complete liability. He’s also proven, with his 31-goal season last year, that he can score, which gives Huberdeau two legitimate threats to pass to. This line would have a ton of potential although only time will tell if they can gel.
Some Flames fans are hoping to see Connor Zary get an oppourtunity at centre ice, but keeping him on the wing alongside Nazem Kadri where he had success as a rookie makes a lot of sense. Kadri was the Flames best forward from start to finish last year, and he played well in all situations. He proved he is still a very good NHL centerman who was reliable in the all three zones. Kadri and Zary have shown they can work well together, the addition of Kuzmenko would be the one unknown. Andrei Kuzmenko has proven to be a bit of a wild card during his first two NHL seasons, but his offensive skill is undeniable. If this trio can find chemistry, they have the potential to be potent offensively.
Fourth Line
The Flames top-nine are clearly set heading into the season. Their fourth line, however, is full of potential combinations. The only player that is set in stone is newly reacquired Ryan Lomberg. The recent Stanley Cup winner will be a fixture on this line bringing physicality, energy, and speed. The next most likely player to get a consistent role on the fourth line is centreman Kevin Rooney. After dealing with an early season injury, Rooney played 33 games for the Flames and provides consistency on the fourth line.
After that, there are at least three players competing for the final roster spot. Jakob Pelletier, Walker Duehr, and Dryden Hunt. Duehr played the most games for the Flames of the three last season but struggled to be a difference maker. Hunt played 28 games for the Flames and was used further up the lineup which shows a trust factor with Flames coaches. However, at 28 years old he appears to have a ceiling and looks like a potential 13th forward. Pelletier is the biggest unknown but also has the most potential of the three. He missed most of last season with injury and wasn’t able to replicate the success from his rookie year. Despite this, the Flames should give Pelletier every opportunity to prove he can make the jump full-time. Since Pelletier has no waiver exemption, if the Flames don’t keep him on their opening day roster they could lose him on waivers. This could factor into him making the team out of camp.
Defence
MacKenzie Weegar – Daniil Miromanov
Top Four
The Flames only have two proven NHL defencemen on their roster heading into the 2023-2024 season. MacKenzie Weegar is coming off a career year offensively and Rasmus Andersson has proven to be a dependable defenceman at both ends of the ice. After this, the Flames are filled with major question marks. Newly acquired Kevin Bahl will be given greater responsibility than what he had in New Jersey. He will need to take another step to prove he can handle top-four minutes in the NHL. Daniil Miromanov is an unproven prospect. He played a career-high 24 NHL games last season. With a lack of depth and experience, fans can expect plenty of growing pains. The success of this group will be dependent entirely on the progress of Miromanov and Bahl.
Bottom Pair
The entire Flames d-core can be summed up as inexperienced, and the bottom pairing is the same. Free agent signing Jake Bean will get every opportunity to flourish with the Flames. The former first-round pick has struggled to find a role in the NHL but is coming off his best season. Calgary is hoping a return home helps him reach his potential. Brayden Pachal was solid for the Flames after being picked up on waivers last season. Pachal played a career-high 50 NHL games last season. Although he doesn’t have the highest ceiling, if he can continue his play from last year he should be a productive bottom pairing defenceman.
Goalies
Goaltending provides more question marks for this Flames roster. After trading away starting goaltender Jacob Markstrom the Flames will head into the season with two unproven goalies. Dustin Wolf comes into the season with big expectations. After twice being named the AHL’s best goalie, and winning one Les Cunningham Award as AHL MVP, Wolf has nothing left to prove in the minors. If Wolf was taller than six feet he’d likely be considered the best goaltender not yet in the NHL. This season will be his opportunity to prove if he can be an NHL starter or if doubts about his size were right all along.
Vladar has served as the backup in Calgary for the past three seasons. He has had good stretches that at times give hope he could be a true starter. Unfortunately, he’s been unable to take the starting job and remains unproven. He should see an increased workload this season which will provide clarity as to whether he can be more than a good backup. With two unproven goaltenders who have never handled a major workload at the NHL level, expect the Flames to employ a fairly equal split between their netminders.
Players to Watch
Connor Zary
Zary is coming off a solid rookie season. He played in 63 games and scored 34 points. He proved last season he could handle top-six minutes and was a difference-maker for the team. He’s likely to get more ice time this year, including power play time. He will be relied on to contribute offensively. Zary needs to take another step forward this year and prove he can be a key piece for the Flames moving forward.
Dustin Wolf
As previously mentioned, Wolf has done everything and more at the AHL level. With no clear starter for the Flames, this is Wolf’s chance to prove what he is in the NHL. Will his small stature prove too much to overcome or can he prove the doubters wrong yet again? Wolf will have more pressure on him than any other player for the Flames. Fans want him to be a franchise goaltender and each game will be heavily discussed. The time is now for Dustin Wolf to prove he can be the backbone of this team as they build for the future.
Prediction for the 2024-25 Calgary Flames
The 2024-25 Flames are in the early stages of a rebuild. With the amount of turnover from last season, and more coming this year the Flames aren’t expected to do much winning. Success for this group is all about development. The Flames have a lot of young unproven players, and seeing them take positive steps forward will be as valuable as wins. In an ideal world, the Flames young players will step into larger roles and push their way into the lineup. This will make it easier for general manager Craig Conroy to continue to move out veteran players for assets.
The Flames will need to balance the desire to get high draft picks with the concern of creating a losing culture. The perfect situation for the Flames this season would be that they are competitive in games, but lose more than they win, hopefully securing a top-five pick in the 2025 NHL draft.
Main Photo: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
