The New Year is here and the Calgary Flames kicked off their first game of 2026 with a tough loss at the ‘Dome against the Nashville Predators Saturday night. Tied at 3–3 late in the third, the Predators scored to seal the regulation victory 4–3 with 27.8 seconds left on the clock.
With the loss setting playoff hopes a step back, and draft lottery position a step forward to start the year, we wanted to know what Flames fans were looking forward to the most in 2026. Do you want to see a playoff push, a draft lottery push, or are you just excited to see the NHL back at the Olympics?
We asked, you answered.
Want to take part in Sunday Census polls? We send them out every week on our Twitter at @wincolumnCGY. Follow along or send in ideas for the next poll!
How many current Flames get traded in 2026?
We presented the poll below to our readers.
Playoff push
Unfortunately, it appears there aren’t many optimist Flames fans headed into 2026. Only 10% of fans who responded to this week’s poll are looking forward to the Flames pushing for the playoffs in 2026.
The Flames may have fell short on some of their 2025 resolutions but, they have managed to stay three points of a playoff spot while remaining a bottom-four team overall. The Flames hopes are still rather slim, needing to jump five teams in the standings to earn a wild card spot.
The next few weeks leading up the break will be pivotal in determining the direction the front office takes after the Olympics.
2026 Draft lottery odds
Over 60% of respondents this week are looking forward to the Flames’ pursuit of a top draft selection in 2026. The majority winner of this week’s poll echoes sentiments we’ve seen across Sunday Census for years. The Flames need a superstar and this year has been set up perfectly for the organization to let off the gas and take a chance.
It’s now or never to an astounding majority of fans. The team doesn’t have to throw games to suck, just be smart. Right now, this same faction of fans would agree the organization hasn’t met the expectations to earn a title so studious as Smart.
I’m not saying Murray Edwards has to write me an essay to prove he knows the energy sector or how to run a business. However, I’d hope a business man as happy as Murray would be willing to take a step back and see that his neighbour Daryl Katz had to fill his new arena with Connor McDavid in order to grow his franchise’s valuation from $455 million in 2015 to $2.76 billion in 2025. That’s a 6x increase for those counting at home.
Even prior to the Cup runs, the Oilers had a valuation of roughly $1.1 Billion coming out of the pandemic in 2021. That’s 2x growth in six seasons of hockey. If you remove a modest 50% for league-wide growth, economic factors, and inflation on that 2021 valuation, that’s still a massive increase that would not have happened had the Oilers been a fringe, defence-first bubble team with no exciting talent.
Only thing that’s helped Calgary earn any significant movement on the franchise price gun has been the arena deal. Certainly hasn’t been trying desperately to make the playoffs every season. If Murray Edwards is worried about season ticket holders and his bottom line, he should be on team tank, too.
The Olympics
Roughly 30% of fans are most looking forward to ignoring the Flames entirely, focusing on the Olympics for the betterment of their mental health. I like it, finally some glass-half-full people. With how exciting and uniting the 4 Nations Face-Off felt last year, I, too cannot wait to watch some best-on-best international hockey again.
With the current rosters announced, the Flames will be sending Rasmus Andersson and Martin Pospisil to the Olympics. Injury could prevent Pospisil from competing, but he was named as one of Slovakia’s preliminary six players last summer. Injuries could lead to opportunities for other players such as MacKenzie Weegar and Mikael Backlund. As well, others Sam Honzek and Adam Klapka could get the call once their country’s rosters are announced.
The Canadians will be sending a competitive team with a focus on some bigger bodies such as Tom Wilson to counteract a rough-and-tumble American squad. Combine the rivalry and heavyweight lineups with the espresso-sized ice surface in Italy and you have a matchup that may be better suited for the Colosseum.
Happy New Year
Regardless, the world seems to be continuing to tiptoe into the deep end but, I feel a sense of unity coming back between people. We felt it more in 2025 as Canadians than we have since the outset of the Pandemic.
There’s certainly still problems, grievances, and wrongdoings but remember that we’re all still neighbours and the things that separates Canadians is our attitudes.
We step up, show up and speak up together when it really matters and we’re there for each other. Moments like last February are moments that remind me why I love sports so much. They create a sense of community that’s uniquely accessible, empowering and passionate.
Embrace that sense of community in 2026, wear your Canadian and Flames colours proud and buy a new acquaintance a beer when you’re at the Dome or at the bar. Let’s get out of or comfort zone, take some chances and challenge our perspectives in 2026 Flames fans. If Murray isn’t going to learn anything this year, we’ll do it for him.
Happy New Year Folks.
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