Summer is over, and another fantasy hockey season is about to Begin Again. The Calgary Flames are a team looking to compete for a Stanley Cup this year. As a result, they have some very talented players on their roster who might be worth owning on your fantasy team. The Flames provide value at all positions, so let’s take a look at the players from each position and see what to expect from them.
Forwards
Jonathan Huberdeau
Jonathan Huberdeau should be taken very early in the draft. NHL.com has Huberdeau ranked as the 11th overall player. At his worst, Huberdeau is a point-per-game player, and he was the best point producer in Florida. Since 2014, Huberdeau has averaged a point per game, however, over the past three years, he has bumped that up to 1.25 points per game. He will provide high point totals and will be the biggest contributor to your assist category throughout the year.
On top of his incredible playmaking ability, Huberdeau will also put in at least 20 goals as he has reached that plateau for five straight seasons. Huberdeau is a must-own player in fantasy and it is worth selecting him in the top 10.
Elias Lindholm
Ever since Elias Lindholm put on his Flames jersey for the first time, he has been a vital member of the team. Lindholm has the chance to have another career year with Huberdeau on his left side. Lindholm finished last season producing at a point-per-game pace, and he shattered his previous career-high in goals, putting up 42 goals.
Look for Lindholm to once again lead the Flames in goals this year. Lindholm is ranked 56th overall, which I believe is a little low. It would be incredible value to get Lindholm at that spot in the draft as I would think he would be between 30th–40th overall in the draft.
Tyler Toffoli
Tyler Toffoli is looking to take advantage of a potential first-line spot on the Flames lineup. During training camp, the Flames have been putting out the first line of Huberdeau, Lindholm, and Toffoli. If that does end up being the lineup, watch out for Toffoli to go back to his goal-scoring ways. There is potential for Toffoli to put up around 30 goals or more if he gets first line and first powerplay time. Additionally, he is ranked 133rd overall. Getting Toffoli that late would be a steal if he puts up that many goals. Toffoli should be a sleeper for every single person who is entering a fantasy draft
Andrew Mangiapane
Andrew Mangiapane has found a way to take his game to another level year after year. From putting up 17 goals in 68 games in 2019–20 to then putting up 18 goals in 12 fewer games in 2020–21, to finally shattering his personal bests and producing 35 goals in 2021–22, Mangiapane has solidified himself as one of the most important players on this Flames roster. This year, it is very likely that Mangiapane will have Nazem Kadri as his centre, which will be the best player that he has ever played with since he has been a member of the Flames.
He does it every year, but there is a lot of potential for Mangiapane to break out even more this year compared to previous years because of Kadri joining the team. Additionally, don’t sleep on the chances of Mangiapane being slotted as the top line right winger.
Either way, Mangiapane is in a great position to succeed and while being ranked 144th overall, he is another sleeper that every fantasy hockey manager should be itching to draft.
Nazem Kadri
One of the biggest free agents on the market, Kadri had a career year in Colorado, averaging over a point per game and finishing the year with 87 points in 71 games played. Oh yeah, he also won the Stanley Cup, so there is that too. It’s safe to say it has been a very busy summer for Kadri, but after signing a long-term deal with Calgary, he will be looking to be a big contributor in the Flames’ top-six.
I would not expect Kadri to replicate his year with Colorado, however, him putting up 60–75 points for the Flames is a pretty realistic bet. Kadri is ranked 61st overall by NHL dot com. I personally think that is a little high; however, if he falls further, he would provide great value in the draft.
Defencemen
Rasmus Andersson
Now the second longest serving Flame, Rasmus Andersson had a fantastic season last year. Andersson spent the year as the defenceman on the top power play unit, and he led the team in time on ice. Andersson is likely to be on the top power play unit again this year, however, MacKenzie Weegar may move into that spot instead.
Despite that, Andersson has been a very solid defenceman for the Flames, and he will most likely get top pairing minutes again this year. Andersson is ranked 145th overall which is a solid spot to draft a potential number one defenceman.
MacKenzie Weegar
Being the big addition to the Flames defence group, Weegar is going to be a massive boost for the team. Weegar has been an underrated defenceman for quite a while now. Just last season. Weegar put up 44 points. The best part though, three of his points came from the power play. Yes, only three!
Weegar will no doubt be getting power play time on this Flames roster. He might even end up getting time on the top unit as well. On top of his offence, Weegar is just as good defensively. He had 156 blocks last year which puts him 11th out of all defencemen.
Weegar is a must-draft defenceman and is the highest ranked Flames defenceman at 72nd overall again by NHL dot com. Look for a big year from Weegar, as he might already be the Flames’ new number one defenceman.
Noah Hanifin
Noah Hanifin has been a solid depth defenceman to own in fantasy hockey. He is a lock in the Flames’ top-four, and provides value in almost every stat category. Like Andersson, Hanifin put up great point totals last year as well, as he produced 48 points in 81 games.
Hanifin is not afraid to jump into the rush and contribute offensively, and he made an effort to do more of that during the latter half of last year’s season. Depending on the number of teams in your league, Hanifin might not be worth drafting, however, he would be a fantastic add from the waiver wire in bigger leagues.
Chris Tanev
Blocks, blocks, and a couple more blocks. He won’t do too much offensively, but Chris Tanev will make sure you win the blocks stat category every single week. Tanev had the 10th most blocks out of all NHL defenceman last year. That said, because Tanev does not contribute a lot offensively from a fantasy perspective, he should only be drafted in the later rounds, or not drafted at all and kept as a waiver wire option.
Oliver Kylington
Oliver Kylington had a big breakout year last year, and I would not be surprised to see him perform just as well, and maybe even better this year. Despite that, he is probably not worth drafting. Kylington should be a solid option on the waiver wire to stream during his hot streaks.
Goalies
Jacob Markstrom
Jacob Markstrom is one of the best goalies in the NHL and is a must-draft goalie in the top three rounds. Markstrom was a Vezina Trophy finalist last year as he put up a 2.22 GAA and a .922 save %. Now, with another year of Sutter’s defensive system, and a much-improved defence core, it wouldn’t be shocking at all to see Markstrom take home the Vezina Trophy this year. Markstrom is ranked 28th overall. There isn’t much more to say besides, Markstrom is very very very good. He would be a great goalie for a fantasy team.
Great Flames available in fantasy hockey
The Flames bring a lot of value to the table for fantasy owners. Additionally, there are some great potential sleepers for fantasy hockey managers to take advantage of selecting in their draft on the Flames roster. A great team has great players, and while the players look to compete for the Stanley Cup, fantasy owners can look to compete for their fantasy hockey championship by drafting them.
Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire
