Injury Setbacks: The Flames' Young Guns Step Up

The Calgary Flames have faced challenges this season, but the emergence of young talent offers hope. Win or lose, the young guns have come out to play, making this team a fun team to watch.

Devin Cooley

Devin Cooley has been the better goalie most of the season. That makes the news of his injury even worse. The Flames have him listed as week-to-week. If it goes longer than that, will they bring in a goaltender? Right now, that is not an issue, as the Flames brought in Arsenii Sergeev as their number three:

Arsenii Sergeev

What you get in Arsenii is a big, strong goalie who covers most of the net naturally. He has quick reflexes and moves easily from side to side. He is teachable, learning from his mistakes. Fool me once: shame on you; fool me twice: shame on me. Positionally sound, this goaltender has all the potential in the world,

Matvei Gridin

Matvei has been outstanding this season. His snapshot has proven deadly accurate; his quick release makes him a dangerous weapon. I love his speed when he finds the open ice.

Matthew Cornado

Matthew has proven that he can pass with the best of them. He has proven me wrong, showing me that he is no longer a one-dimensional player. He is becoming a 200-foot player. He has really worked on his complete game. Cornado's work ethic is second to none.

Joel Farabee

Joel has been the Flames’ best player this season, working at an almost 90-point pace. On top of his offensive stats, he has proven to be an excellent penalty killer. His speed is underrated and makes him dangerous every time he steps on the ice.

Final word

Dustin Wolf will face a lot of pressure now that Cooley is out. Can he come through and show the world the old Wolf? The fate of Wolf might be the fate of the season for the Flames. The team has to rally around Wolf if they are to succeed.

New Arena, Same Old Flames? Calgary Can’t Afford to Stand Still

In the Calgary Flames management, everyone is saying the same thing, fumbling over themselves, trying not to say “rebuild,” the dirty word. Owners can’t afford to admit they are rebuilding. They worry it will be perceived negatively. Bottom line: owners don’t want their teams to be seen as Mickey Mouse organizations. It is a marketing intrusion; new words signal a new direction.

In Calgary, a new arena is being built, so the Flames want to be perceived as a new team, not as a refurbished relic. I am using Calgary as an example, but pretty much every owner wants their team to be known as a force to be reckoned with. In Hollywood parlance, no one wants their record to read like a Diary of a Wimpy Kid. 

The “in” thing nowadays is puck control and how vital it is to winning the game. They are all monitoring Corsi (Shots At Goal or Shot Attempt Share/SAT) and Fenwick (which excludes blocked shots). Every team now has a Corsi specialist, because no one wants to be left behind the eight ball. Right now the Flames haven’t even racked the balls. Simply put, the Flames are the kid with all the hand-me-downs, while everyone else has the latest toys. Hence the owners’ position: with the new arena, the team has to start moving in a new direction. 

When a team stops moving, it stagnates and regresses, which is the last thing the Flames want as they transition to the new arena. Conroy has to show the owners he is on top of that. This is why he is acquiring young players who are ready to play now. Draft picks aren’t proven, and owners want solutions, something they can see working now.

Last word 

Conroy is under the gun. Every General Manager gets a mulligan with the coach, but his life expectancy drops with a second coach—the owners will decide the problem lies elsewhere. Craig is ready to take action and may already be looking around. In the meantime, he has Huska’s career by the [use your imagination]. 

Randy 

Calgary Flames Mock Draft 2026: Picks for Every Round

First Round

6. Viggo Bjorck — C

Viggo can skate through a telephone booth. His ability to pass in tight areas makes him a dangerous offensive weapon. He has excellent edge control and his first stride gives him the space to maneuver and make plays.

He has a deceptive shot and a quick release, and can be lethal on the powerplay. He is reliable defensively, is not a floater, and comes back to help in his own end. He makes up for his lack of size with his tenacity and determination to win.

30. Markus Ruck — C

You don’t come across a playmaker like Markus every night. He has terrific stick skills. His passing skills are out of this world because of his puck vision.

Second Round

36. Simas Ignatavicius — RW

Simas uses his size to get into scoring opportunities. He uses his size to work the puck, and his playmaking skills make him a dangerous offensive threat. He has the potential of being a third-line center with the second powerplay unit.

53. Gleb Pugachyov — RW

The Tasmanian devil is the best way to describe Gleb. He will make a great third-line winger whose no-quit attitude is contagious. He plays the cat-and-chase game to perfection. Heaven help the opponent that stands in his way.

55. Tomas Galvas — LD

Tomas is a refined skater who uses his speed to get back to his own zone when he is caught up. He uses his stick skills to break up plays. He is not the most physical defender, but he is reliable in the defensive zone. He often jumps in when he sees an opportunity.

3rd Round

65. Lars Steiner — RW

Lars’s hockey IQ is very high. He plays a physical game. He plays with a chip on his shoulder. His passing skills are excellent. He will get his share of garbage goals in front of the net.

68. Brek Liske — RD

Brek is a skilled defenceman who can play in all situations. He has an active stick, deflecting and blocking. He wins his battles along the boards. He is good at puck distribution; he gets the puck to the forwards and gets out of the zone.

4TH Round

100. Yaroslav Bryzgalov — C/LW

Yaroslav’s best skill is his ability to dish the puck in and out of the center. He is fun to watch as a talent to mark in the NHL. He needs to improve on his skating, but his playmaking skills will attract the GMs.

5th Round

132 Tyrus Sparks — C

Tyrus is a solid center who has a deadly one-time shot. He can adjust on the fly; he thinks several plays ahead. Tyrus needs a little help with defensive play.

Round 6

164. Nathan Amidovski — C

Nathan is a skilled offensive centre who has some kills. His best offensive skills are passing and puck-handling, and he has soft hands that make the puck go wherever he wants it to.

A Peek at the Flames’ Shopping List

Flames prospect watch

The Flames seem to be loading up on centers. Jonathan Castagna is another big-bodied center who has speed to burn. He is very good defensively and equally adapted to the offensive game. The Flames are showing their true colours, looking for well-rounded players. Most people seem to think Castagna will be a third-line center with some scoring punch.

Second Round Draft Possibilities - William Håkansson

William is the defenseman the Flames need. He is known for being a shutdown defenseman with great stick work, breaking up plays. William Big is a physical dman who is not shy, something the Flames desperately need. He is not the fastest skater, but he has high potential to be a second-pairing defenseman.

The Colorado Debacle

Despite the clown show last night, there are some bright spots. I refer to two players in particular. For whatever reason, these two players have fit in really well:

Olli Määttä

I love how Olli fits in with the team. He seems to have been given carte blanche to pitch in. He has been very good at pitching in to keep the offensive zone. Olli has been a nice fit in our second pairing of the defense.

Ryan Strome

Ryan has found a new offense in the Flames game. He is constantly finding his way to the front of the net. He is picking up these garbage goals that the Flames so desperately need. He has come in and taken a veteran role, becoming a leader in the dressing room. Q and Coleman seemed to have gotten some help in the leadership role.

Final word

There will be other nights like the one in Colorado. This team will panic and make mistakes. The key is to learn from these mistakes and move on. This comes with a rebuilding team with a young defense; it is what it is.

Randy

Flames Watch: Tyson Gross, Ilya Morozov, and the Road Ahead

Tyson Gross

What do the Flames have in free agent Tyson Gross? Tyson is known for his work on the circle. He won sixty percent on a draw. The Flames desperately need to improve. His offensive parallels are strong, scoring 18 goals, 23 assists for 41 pts. Defensively sound, he uses his size and is hard to take the puck off; he is excellent in all situations of the game.

The prospect of the week

This week, I thought I could share a prospect the Flames may be interested in: the Vegas Golden Knights selection. The options are out there, as picks 15-20 are similar. Right now, that is about the range of the pick.

Ilya D. Morozov Centre Left-handed

A big, strong Brodie centre who can play in all aspects of the game. Ilya is a strong passer and has a high hockey IQ. He has a solid one-timer on the power play. He reminds me of a Joel Otto type player. Not a flashy/spectacular pick, he is more of a reliable player, one who can grind it out with the best.

As the Flames run out the season, they may not be in a hurry to rush Zack Whitecloud. Look. They need to take their time to make sure he is healthy. Wolf and Cooley have been splitting the duties in the goal. In all honesty, Cooley has been struggling a little to get the ship straightened out before his next start.

Final word

I approve of the decision to hang on to Blake Coleman. Blake is a leader who can inspire the kids down the stretch. Also, Coleman and Backlund have been a dynamic duo. I know we are hoping the Flames lose as many games as possible, but I worry about how this could affect the kids' development; it's not good for their trajectory. 

Draft Nuggets and Deadline Decisions: A Flames Outlook for 2026

This year, I’m starting the draft selection early! In this article, I am looking for some nuggets in the draft. These are players the Flames might be interested in during the third round or later. I will try to highlight players who don’t get much ink.

Now, let’s get on with what the Flames might be doing over the next week before the deadline. I have heard so much speculation this season about certain players.

Colin Fitzgerald

Colin is a solid two-way centre with some offensive drive. He is defensively sound and works hard. He plays a good physical game and works hard for the loose puck. He has tons of potential as a third-line centre. Colin has a hard shot and could get some garbage goals.

Nazem Kadri

Who wouldn’t want a veteran who knows how to win? Kadri is a solid option for teams in need of a third-line centre with a scoring touch. The teams I think could use him are Montreal, Dallas, Minnesota, Colorado, and Detroit.

Blake Coleman

What I really like about Blake is his versatility, his ability to play forward and centre, which makes him valuable to teams. He is an excellent penalty killer and will help any team in the defensive game. He was on track for a thirty-goal season. The teams that I think he fits with are Tampa, the Islanders, and, of course, the Dallas Stars.

Mackenzie Weegar

Mackenzie is a hot commodity in this deadline. Top pairing/second pairing, who could work on the power play. He is reliable on both ends, which will help a contender in all aspects of the game. Two teams, especially, will need him: Detroit and Ottawa.

Final word

The Flames have to develop a plan if they want to be competitive next season. The Flames have a great statement to make for the future. The 2026 draft is filled with prospects who can play for years to come. Really depends on how patient they are.

Randy 

The Churn Report: Who’s On The Move—and Who’s Safe?

There are a few topics I want to talk about in this article. So let’s get on with it, shall we? No use beating around the bush.

Ethan Wyttenbach

Ethan is making quite a statement around the hockey world. He is a highly gifted winger with strong offensive skills. He has an explosive shot, and his quick release often fools goalies. His hockey IQ is off the charts as he creates scoring chances. His ability to get to the open ice for scoring chances reminds me of someone. Do not be deceived by his size; His intensity, guts, and will make up for his diminutive stature.

There are similarities between Ethan’s and Johnny’s size and their manner of play. There is a lot of evidence to back that up this season. I asked around about him, and this is the quote I got back:

“I do not doubt that he is a on-the-rise prospect. Can we please put the brakes on that comparison already? It’s only his first season. Let’s see how he does the next couple of seasons.”

I do not doubt that the Flames are happy with Ethan. But they will take their time with him and not rush him. I have no doubt he has a good chance to play with the Flames.

Team Tank to take a Holliday: Devin Cooley

Devin might be a huge obstacle to the “team tank.” Cooley has been nothing but excellent. He is a terrific stand-up goaltender with great vision. He is playing the best of his career, and he has caught my eye—and I am sure others’ as well. But someone has to send him the memo. :)

I wish I had more on the plight of Coleman and Kadri. I don’t have any info on either of them.

We have heard that half the team is getting inquiries. Well, maybe not that many, but quite a few teams are inquiring about them. There are even more players to be added to the rumour board:

Zach Whitecloud

A big, stay-at-home defenceman who could be an excellent piece for several teams.

Mackenzie Weeger

The latest rumour is that the Senators want him.

Joe Farabee and Morgan Frost

A couple of young forwards who could help several teams in the stretch run.