The Calgary Flames were expected to be one of the worst teams in hockey this year. Pundits and fans considered this to be a rebuilding year, and the Flames had one of the lowest Stanley Cup odds of any team in the league. However, with just a few games left in the regular season, the Flames are still in the playoff hunt — defying those long preseason odds.
The present is a safe bet for the Flames, and the future looks downright rosy at this point. There are several young and in their prime players who appear likely to turn the Flames into a consistent contender. Let’s look at six players who appear as favourites to drive the future of the franchise forward.
Dustin Wolf
Dustin Wolf was expected to play back-up for the Flames this season but has asserted himself as the goalie of the present and future for the franchise. He is now one of the leading favourites for the Calder Trophy for the top rookie on major Canadian betting sites. Wolf has been arguably the top player for the Flames this year, with a save percentage that is well above the league average. He has managed to perform at an incredibly high level and is still just 23. Wolf appears likely to have a major impact as a franchise stalwart for Calgary who can provide stability in net for the next decade.
Zayne Parekh
Last season was a difficult year for the Calgary Flames, but getting Zayne Parekh out of the difficult season makes it a lot easier of a pill to swallow. Parekh is one of the top offensive defencemen prospects in the league and was drafted 9th overall in 2024. After utterly dominating the OHL, with more than 100 points in around 60 games, Calgary has decided its time to see what they have in the young defenceman. Parekh is being called up from the OHL and will finish the season in Calgary. He will be one of the favourites for the Calder next year and has the opportunity to be the quarterback of the Flames powerplay and a stud puck mover.
Matt Coronato
The Flames don’t have as much forward talent as fans would hope, which is why the strength of their defence and goaltending this year has been so instrumental. However, there is one young forward who has taken a major step this season and could continue to improve in the future. Matt Coronato is a 22-year-old right winger who the Flames selected in the first round in 2021. He has blossomed into a real piece of the puzzle for the Flames this year. He has 22 goals and counting and has his first 41-point season in the bag. There is a chance that Coronato can continue his development and be the kind of player who regularly puts up 30+ goals and 60+ points, making him a solid futures pick for bettors keeping tabs on player props.
MacKenzie Weegar
While Jonathan Huberdeau hasn’t really worked out in Calgary, the other major piece in the Matthew Tkachuk trade certainly has. Weegar has blossomed into a superstar talent in Calgary. The reason he is on this list at 31 years of age is his contract, which has him locked into Calgary at a very reasonable price range until the 2030-31 season. That means the next Flames team that has strong odds of a Stanley Cup run will still likely feature Weegar on it. Weegar is a superstar, do-it-all defenceman. He is wrapping up the third season of his career with 40+ points and also plays a responsible, physical game. Fans in Calgary are certainly having this talent on board for the next while.
Matvei Gridin
The Flames need some young forwards in their pipeline to really break out if they are going to have a chance of competing against the dynamic rosters in the Western Conference for a Stanley Cup. One player who is a betting favourite to become that top-notch piece is Matvei Gridin. Gridin is very young, but he has plenty of upside. The Russian forward was selected late in the 2024 NHL draft but has a ton of potential. He is just 19 years old and has been tearing up every minor league he’s been a part of. He had 83 points in the USHL last season and has 80 in the QMJHL this season. He has been praised for a high skill level and great competitiveness.
Connor Zary
Connor Zary was a late first round pick in 2020 and has been a regular with the flames for two years now. After a promising rookie season in 2023-24, he hasn’t taken the step forward some fans might’ve hoped, but injuries have played a role. Bet on Zary to take a step forward in his progression next year. He is dynamic, physical, and tough. He has also succeeded at every level he’s been at, so expect the same in the NHL.
